Karen Shears is the Director of the Procurement and Contracts Division within the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM). The Procurement and Contracts Division is responsible for all aspects of procurement and contracts management and cost estimating for the OREM.

Karen has more than 25 years of experience in procurement and contracts. She began her career as a contract specialist at the Oak Ridge Operations Office where she administered many contracts including the Three-Building D&D and Recycle Project, Uranium 233 Disposition Services, and the Transuranic Waste Processing Center. She was also heavily involved in the award and administration of Recovery Act contracts and modifications.

Karen is a level III-certified contracting officer. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama and her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.