Sr. Program Manager, Vendor Diversity
Harris CountyPosition Description
Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity Mission:
To connect, value, and empower people, businesses, and communities.
Vision:
An inclusive, accessible, prosperous, and resilient Harris County economy.
What you will do at the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity:
The Program Manager is a member of the Inclusive Procurements division at the Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity. As part of the Inclusive Procurements team, the Vendor Diversity Program ensures County contracts fairly benefit and include women, minorities, and other disadvantaged businesses.
The Program Manager is responsible for reviewing upcoming solicitations to optimize inclusive procurement practices and supervising the operational compliance of contractors and subcontractors under the Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise and Disadvantage Business Enterprise programs.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Assists in developing, implementing, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating new or revised strategies, policies, and procedures to increase participation of minorities, women, and other disadvantaged businesses in the County procurement and compliance process.
Portfolio Management: Manages a portfolio of M/W/DBE projects for the division. Including: Reviewing upcoming projects to define and manage vendor (prime and subcontractor) participation requirements and procedures, tracking, reporting, and benchmarking best practices in advance strategies such as breaking down large contracts, Good Faith Effort program/reporting, outreach, compliance, and others identified as the Vendor Diversity programs develop.
Maintain collaborative partnerships with procurement teams and county-wide operational staff to build relationships with the advocates for current and prospective diverse vendors. Including being a key participant in internal M/W/DBE working groups and providing training/technical assistance to peers inside the County.
Build relationships with and maintain collaborative partnerships with external stakeholders, procurement teams and county-wide operational staff to advocate for current and prospective diverse vendors. Will be a key participant in internal M/W/DBE working groups and provide training/technical assistance to peers inside the County.
Develop and manage networks, interact, and liaise with the business community and with other governmental M/WBE and DBE programs to continuously promote business opportunities with the County and educate them on the purchasing process. Includes extensive community outreach to businesses, especially in hard-to-reach communities with additional barriers.
Directly manage assigned team members, including training, assigning, and directing work, and providing ongoing coaching/performance feedback.
Other Duties:
- This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. At its discretion, management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.Requirements
Education & Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, Law, or related field
Three (3) years of progressive experience in contract compliance, auditing, accounting, paralegal, or procurement experience or related field required
OR
Associates degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, Law or related field
Five (5) years of progressive experience in contract compliance, auditing, accounting, paralegal, or procurement experience or related field required
WITH:
One (1) year of experience in supplier diversity programs.
Licensure:
Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License (upon hire)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Excellent verbal and written communication and research skills.
Ability to interpret, enforce and develop tools on the rules, regulations, and legal interpretations related to MWBE & DBE programs.
Ability to understand the objectives of a strategic plan and manage self and team members to accomplish those objectives.
Experience exercising discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently with limited, relative autonomy, and general review.
Demonstrated time and project management skills, including the ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization and detail-orientation and adjusting to changing circumstances.
Ability to identify problem areas and develop solutions/corrective measures, for ad-hoc situations and continual program improvement.
Requires strong knowledge and proficiency using various types of office-related software to include Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Share Point, project management software, and other standard office equipment and software.
Ability to utilize effective leadership, collaboration, facilitation, and negotiation techniques.
Able to interact effectively with a diverse group of employees as part of planning, motivating, and coordinating the work of staff.
Read/comprehend legal contracts and regulatory materials, write/summarize complex compliance matters and create/adapt forms and other program materials, including reports.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
- Three (3) years of management/supervisory experience in the areas above is preferred.
- Experience writing and delivering complex reports to leadership highly desired.
- Program and/or project management experience highly desired.
- Professional experience with Peoplesoft, Monday.com, or other project management software tools.
- Stakeholder management including engagement across internal departments, third-party consultants, the business community, and related business associations, labor unions, and other community stakeholders.
General Information
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:
Full-time; Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.
The typical workday is eight-hour days Monday through Friday, but also subject to early morning, evening, weekend, emergency, and holiday work when required. This position involves coordination with contractors, project managers, and various departments.
Visits to indoor and outdoor work locations.
Work Environment:
Work is generally performed indoors in a professional office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, air conditions, and noise levels; as well as a percentage of time spent outdoors with exposure to heat, humidity, rain, wind, and storm conditions.
Site Visits: Extensive use of a vehicle and mobile device.
May be exposed to fluids, compounds, or chemicals used in office environments and outdoor work areas.
This role is eligible for remote work from withing the greater Harris County region in compliance with the Harris County Telework Policy. This eligibility may be removed at any time due to policy changes, work demands or unsatisfactory productivity.
Physical Demands:
Sitting for extended periods with frequent standing and walking and occasional ascending /descending stairs.
Visits to indoor and outdoor work locations.
Ability to wear provides Personal Protective Equipment when onsite visits in the field.
Occasional exertion of up to 20 pounds of force and/or a negligible amount of constant force to move objects.
Reporting Relationships:
Reports To Position: Assistant Director, M/WBE
Supervises Positions: Project Monitors (3-5 FTEs)
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.