Assistant Project Engineer Jobs in Covington, LA

Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) provides a wide range of services to Federal Agencies involving planning and design of water supply and flood control infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and military facilities and infrastructure. Current Federal Agency clients include agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with contracts and projects throughout the U.S.

FNI has an opportunity for a Senior Contract Administrator to join the Contract Services Team with a focus on contract administration support for contracts and task orders issued by Federal Agencies through Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts or Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOCs). This role supports Federal Program Managers, Project Managers, Group Managers, and other internal stakeholders throughout the contract lifecycle. The location is flexible across FNI offices.

This position independently performs Contract Services tasks for standard and complex contracts, including specialized federal contracts, for assigned projects and groups. The role serves as a federal contracting subject matter expert, supports continuous improvement of federal contracting procedures and templates, and may provide oversight to other Contract Services staff.

• Independently perform all Contract Services tasks for standard and complex contracts, including federal contracts and subcontracts, for assigned projects and groups.
• Partner with Federal Program Managers, Project Managers, and Group Managers to support contract compliance, project delivery, and achievement of contract requirements.
• Provide advanced contract administration expertise, including analysis and interpretation of non-standard and complex agreements.
• Serve as a technical expert for federal clients or client types with specialized requirements and cross-train Contract Services and Project Accounting staff as needed.

• Embody FNI values and clearly communicate expectations.
• Demonstrate a high level of judgment, decision-making, professionalism, and positivity while directly or indirectly leading or supporting company staff.
• Consistently apply policies and recognize where exceptions may be appropriate and allowed.
• Solve uncommon problems and address situations where standards or processes may not be fully defined.
• Exercise effective judgment to determine when senior staff involvement is needed.

• Perform cradle-to-grave contract administration for multiple federal contracts and subcontracts, including IDIQs, MATOCs, Master Service Agreements, Subcontract Agreements, and Work Order Authorizations.
• Administer contract types that are primarily Firm-Fixed-Price but may also include Cost-Reimbursable, Time-and-Materials, and Lump Sum contracts.
• Develop subcontract agreements containing prime contract flow-down clauses and ensure applicable flow-down requirements are identified, addressed, and included.
• Review contractual information to maintain compliance with contract requirements, Federal Regulations, FAR, DFARS, company policy, and FNI's Online Contract Review (OLCR) process.
• Track and manage contract, subcontract, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protege Program reporting.
• Manage federal procurement databases and systems, including SAM.gov, eSRS through SAM.gov, PIEE, and CPARS.

• Manage FNI's internal contract review and approval process (OLCR) and ensure contract files are current, complete, and properly filed.
• Perform advanced contracting tasks efficiently using in-house applications and contract management tools.
• Take a lead role in the review, development, and implementation of Contract Services processes, procedures, templates, and best practices.
• Take a lead role in training Group Managers, Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, and technical staff in Contract Services processes.
• Support continuous improvement of federal contracting procedures, templates, and best practices.

• Partner with Federal Program Managers and Project Managers throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Support preparation of rate proposals and engineering fee proposals.
• Perform general coordination and management of teaming partners and subcontractors.
• Interact with federal, state, and local government agencies.
• Represent FNI at conferences and other opportunities for client engagement, as appropriate.
• Maintain significant, regular interaction with Project, Group and Division Managers, company leaders, employees, clients, and subconsultants to become a trusted advisor.

• Maintain solid understanding of federal contracting for the architect-engineering industry, including contract types, terminology, regulations, requirements, and principles.
• Become a technical expert for complex clients or client types with specialized requirements, including federal agencies and other complex public-sector clients.
• Maintain a high degree of proficiency with Microsoft Word and PDF editors such as Adobe or Bluebeam, and intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Maintain high attention to detail and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• United States Citizenship
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in Federal Contract Administration with a Government Agency or within the architect-engineering industry
• Degree in Business, Law, Accounting, Finance, Contracts, Engineering, or other applicable field is desired; experience in lieu of a degree is acceptable
• Solid understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulations and associated reporting and flow-down contract requirements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• High proficiency with Microsoft Word and PDF editor tools such as Adobe or Bluebeam
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and support non-standard and complex contracts
• High attention to detail, strong organization skills, and sound professional judgment

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working for or with a Department of Defense Federal Agency, such as USACE, as a Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer Representative, Contract Specialist, or equivalent contracting professional
• Familiarity with SBA Small Business Mentor-Protege Program rules
• Solid understanding of processes, access, and requirements associated with federal systems including SAM.gov, eSRS, PIEE, and CPARS
• Contracting experience in the architect-engineering industry

At the heart of our culture is our LEADS values (Learn continuously, Engage as family, Act with integrity, Deliver quality, and Serve always). Each year, our employee engagement survey confirms that our leaders and our employees live our values.

We strive to be the firm of choice for clients and employees through innovative approaches, practical results, and outstanding service. For more than 130 years, we have been planning and designing the infrastructure our communities need: developing water supplies, designing roadways and bridges, preparing for natural disasters, and much more.

Besides our comprehensive benefits package (see more at Benefits That Work for You), we offer paid overtime for salaried employees, an annual bonus, and access to company cabins in Red River, New Mexico and Banner Elk, North Carolina. We are proud of our flexible work environment which includes a hybrid schedule with up to 40% of remote work, and an alternative work schedule program which provides a day off every other Friday.

Join our team of 1,300+ employees as we grow from Virginia to Colorado. Learn more about working here at Working at Freese and Nichols.

Freese and Nichols is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.