Proposal and Contracts Manager

Birch Creek Energy, a utility-scale solar and storage developer, owner, and operator with projects across the United States is seeking to add a Proposal and Contracts Manager to our growing team. The successful candidate is someone who thrives in a team-oriented, entrepreneurial, fun and vibrant culture, and shares our mission to advocate for our clean energy future.

In 2023, Inc. Magazine ranked Birch Creek as #3 on its “Inc. 5000” list of Fastest Growing Companies, identifying and highlighting the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States based on revenue growth.

This is a unique opportunity for a professional with demonstrated experience in the request for proposal process, strategic commercial decision-making, and EPC contracting process to join a growing and dynamic company.  This cross-functional position will support the buildout of our project pipeline from development to operations and continue Birch’s growth in the renewable energy sector.  This role will closely collaborate with development, commercial, and project execution teams as well as finance, legal, EPC, and accounting.

Birch Creek’s main offices are in St. Louis (HQ) and Los Angeles. Remote-work candidates are welcome.

 

Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Procurement, the Proposal and Contracts Manager oversees the preparation and submission of bid proposals, assists the team with contractor selection, manages contract negotiations and commercial decision-making, and enforces contractor compliance with contractual obligations related to renewable energy projects. This role requires a strategic thinker with excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and managing relationships with stakeholders to support the successful execution of renewable energy projects.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Bid Management:

  • Lead the preparation and submission of bid proposals, ensuring they meet all requirements and objectives while maintaining the project schedule.
  • Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams, such as engineering, construction, procurement, development, finance, and legal, to gather necessary proposal information and documentation.
  • Develop, maintain, and update a bid library with templates and standard requirements
  • Manage all inquiries and requests for information from suppliers, subcontractors, and contractors.
  • Assemble bid-tabs to summarize overall bid results
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze proposal results.
  • Prepare bid-award recommendations and present them to leadership
  • Continuous improvement of bid processes

• Contract Management:

  • Support negotiations of contracts with suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors.
  • Contracts include LNTPs, EPCs, and long-term service agreements (LTSAs) for PV, High Voltage (HV), and energy storage.
  • Assist with legal and regulatory requirements. Knowledge of IRA requirements as they relate to domestic content and prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements is a plus.
  • Manage and lead the creation of contract exhibits and amendments in close collaboration with stakeholders.
  • Manage and lead the final conformance and compilation of all contract documents for EPC to prepare them for executive signature. 

• Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for all bid and contract-related inquiries.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholder engagement and external collaboration, seeing the contract through from bid to execution.

• Reporting and Documentation:

  • Manage contract management tools and repositories and ensure accurate documentation control, including tracking milestones and obligations.
  • Maintain accurate records and document management of all bid proposals and contracts.
  • Maintain and update contract and exhibit templates.
  • Prepare regular reports on bid and contract activities for senior management.

• Market Analysis:

  • Conduct market research to identify new partners to engage with.
  • Develop strategies to enhance the competitiveness of bid proposals.
  • Maintain contractor qualification matrices.

 

Knowledge & Skills

• Contract Law:

  • Understanding of legal principles related to contracts, including terms and conditions, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
  • A general understanding of EPC contract terminology related to renewable energy would be a plus.

• Procurement Processes:

  • Familiarity with procurement procedures, tendering processes, and supplier management.

• Financial Acumen:

  • Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimation, and financial analysis to ensure proposals are financially viable.

• Project Management:

  • Understanding of project management principles to coordinate and manage bid proposals effectively.
  • Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines

• Negotiation:

  • Strong negotiation skills to secure favorable terms and conditions in contracts.

• Communication:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate proposals clearly and persuasively.

• Attention to Detail:

  • High level of accuracy and attention to detail to ensure all aspects of proposals and contracts are correct.

• Analytical Thinking:

  • Ability to analyze complex information and make informed decisions.

• Time Management:

  • Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines.

• Problem-Solving:

  • Creative problem-solving skills to address any issues that arise during the bid and contract process.

• Interpersonal Skills:

  • Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with contractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.

• Adaptability:

  • Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Software Proficiency:

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and contract management software.

Abilities

• Curious, creative, flexible, and open-minded
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Team player with strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills
• Sense of humor

 Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, engineering, finance, law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in bid proposals and contract management.
• Minimum of 3 years of renewable energy experience