ORISE Funding Manager

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular (FTR)

LOCATION: Oak Ridge, TN

SALARY RANGE: $118,331.20 - $174,108.69

PURPOSE:
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Funding Manager provides team leadership and manages all aspects of Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP) and the ORISE Budget Office. Works closely with programmatic customers (both internal and external) through all phases of the funding process. Provides day-to-day leadership and guidance to the funding team. Responsible for complex special projects as assigned by the ORISE Deputy Director.

Employee Management: 

• Plans, organizes, directs, and schedules the work of employees within budgetary and quality standards.
• Defines organizational goals and implements strategies for addressing these goals, consistent with maximizing organizational efficiency and performance.
• Recommends and institutes measures to improve operations and increase efficiency.
• Proposes, monitors, and complies with project budgets.
• Examines work for exactness and conformance to policies and procedures.
• Analyzes workforce needs and establishes personnel requirements.
• Requisitions and selects qualified employees necessary to meet established requirements and organizational goals.
• Assigns employees to jobs, establishes standards and training for the proper performance of work and familiarizes staff with company rules, procedures, and policies.
• Maintains discipline of employees under supervision in accordance with established policies.
• Assumes responsibility for the proper application of established human resource administration policies, safety, and health regulations as well as local, state, and federal regulations.
• Initiates action and approves or recommends approval of hires, disciplinary actions, leaves of absence, promotions, reductions-in-force, performance evaluations, salary increases, terminations of employment for cause, separations, transfers, and other personnel actions.
• Approves or disapproves leave requests, timecards, and work schedules.
• Prepares reports concerning activities in areas of responsibility.

Financial Management: 

• Develops, monitors and manages the budget for ORISE funding functions. 
• Monitors all actual expenditures against the budget monthly. 
• Resolves any issues and aligns future costs within the budget. 

Operational Leadership: 

• Provides day-to-day leadership and guidance for more than $300,000,000 of inbound funding over approximately 3,000 transactions. 
• Resolves complex funding issues in regard to the terms & conditions, appropriation laws, periods of performance, and unique agency requirements on thousands of active projects and funding instruments. 
• Ensures all work assigned to the team is processed in a timely manner, meeting applicable regulations, procedures, guidelines, and customer requirements/expectations. 
• Monitors management metrics and adjusts processes accordingly. 
• Provides assistance to the staff in resolving complex issues as required.   
• Develops standards for preparation of and performs periodic review of Department of Energy (DOE) and SPP funding packages. 
• Ensures appropriate documentation is included in all packages.
• Reviews and approves work prepared by the ORISE funding staff.
• Develops innovative techniques to streamline and improve the DOE direct, intercontractor, and SPP funding processes which will result in more timely and effective operations thereby improving support to customers.
• Develops, gains federal approval, and implements several complex reports and robust procedures, to include, but not limited to, ORAU’s SPP Policy, Annual Activities Report, ORISE Strategic Plan, the annual budget submission, and ORISE Performance Evaluation Measurement Plan (PEMP) Self-Assessment.

Customer Engagement: 

• Serves as ORAU’s contact with our DOE Contracting Officer and hundreds of federal contracting/financial sponsor agents.  
• Works closely with all internal programmatic customers to provide training on ORISE funding processes, regulations, and system use. Also ensures requirements are met timely, effectively, and with highest quality.
• Trains ORAU technical contacts to certify them as authorized technical representatives for projects and funding. 
• Conducts customer visits in order to resolve issues, provide training on funding processes, and find efficiencies. 
• Conducts quarterly meetings with DOE Contracting Officers, Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs), and financial staff in order to report on Funding Office activities. 
• Represents ORAU/ORISE in meetings at DOE HQ.     
• Develops innovative techniques and procedures used by sponsors to streamline and improve the ORISE funding process resulting in effective workload operations for ORISE staff, DOE, and sponsors. 
• Works with sponsors on open items, compliance corrections, terms & conditions, and any other issues (i.e. collect payments).

Special Projects: 

• Accomplishes complex special projects as assigned by the ORISE Deputy Director.  This includes but is not limited to contributing to metrics and self-assessments, researching and writing policies and procedures.
• Contributes actively to the Funding Office digital modernization initiatives by supporting the integration and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies into workflows and other operational processes. This includes identifying opportunities where AI can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure seamless adoption.

Bachelor's degree in business, scientific, technical, education, or related field and 6-10 years of job-related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience performing duties as described may be substituted for the minimum requirements.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Q clearance is required.
• Strategic Partnership Projects (SPPs) and DOE funding experience is desirable. 
• Experience accomplishing contract administration for a federal government prime contractor in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) is preferable.
• SPPS and G-Invoicing experience in order to understand SPP project proposals and the funding process is preferred.
• Familiarity with accounting terminology in order to interact with ORAU Finance and DOE Budget personnel is required.
• Extensive knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local procurement laws, regulations, procedures, and SPP guidelines.
• Extensive experience and knowledge of SPP and financial procedures with a focus on processes and procedures in accordance with the DEAR.
• Working knowledge of and interaction with other functional areas including Legal, Financial Operations, and program technical personnel.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting and/or, Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM), Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM), or similar certification.

*The candidate’s starting salary will be determined upon hire and ORAU will use salary survey data, internal comparators, and the candidate’s qualifications to determine salary.

TOTAL REWARDS:

ORAU has a strategic approach to providing total rewards to employees through a fair, equitable, and competitive total compensation package. The goal of our total rewards system is to integrate compensation, benefits, work-life balance, performance, recognition, development, and career opportunities to attract, engage, and retain the talent required to achieve ORAU’s business objectives. The benefit component of our total rewards program supports business goals by offering the following benefits based on employee eligibility:

• Legally required benefits
• Group Health insurance including: Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision
• Retirement plan contribution matching
• Disability insurance
• Group life insurance
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Section 125 reimbursement accounts
• Other voluntary employee paid benefit and insurance offerings

The ORAU total reward package also promotes work-life balance. Mindful of the need for employees to care for themselves and their families, ORAU offers the following additional work-life benefits based on employee eligibility: 

• Telework
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible work schedules or compressed work weeks
• Occupational Health and Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Program