Sr. Program Manager, Vendor Diversity

Houston, United States

Position 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 division, the Vendor Diversity Program ensures County contracts fairly benefit and include women, minorities, and other small 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 (M/WBE) program.

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 small businesses in the County procurement and compliance process.
Portfolio Management: Manages a portfolio of M/WBE 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/WBE working groups and providing 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 programs to continuously promote business opportunities with the County and educate them on the purchasing and compliance 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.

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, Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Law or a related field
Three (3) years of progressive experience in contract compliance, procurement, auditing, accounting, paralegal, or related field required.

Associates degree (or a minimum of 60 college credit hours) in Public Administration, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Law or a related field
Five (5) years of progressive experience in contract compliance, procurement, auditing, accounting, paralegal, 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 M/WBE 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 continuous program improvement.
Requires strong knowledge and intermediate proficiency using various types of office-related software to include Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, SharePoint, 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 conditioning, 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 within 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 occasionally 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: 4 to 7 Project Monitors (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.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

Medical Coverage
Dental Coverage
Vision Coverage
Wellness Plan
Life Insurance
Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
One (1) floating holiday per year
Paid Parental Leave*
Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

Professional learning & development opportunities
Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
Flexible work schedule*
METRO RideSponsor Program*

Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com

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