Senior Procurement and Contract Specialist

New York State Housing Finance Agency•New York, NY

About The Position

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is the State’s affordable housing agency, with a mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing and increase homeownership throughout New York State. A Civil Service exam is not required for this position. Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications outlined below to be considered. HCR is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. HCR is committed to developing a workforce that represents the diverse population of New York State. HCR embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency. The Office of Professional Services (OPS) is responsible for all administrative and support services, including Human Resources, Communications and Public Information, Legal Affairs, Fair Housing, Policy Development, Competitive Procurement and Contract Management, Fiscal Planning, Accounting and Treasury Services, Facilities and Building Management Services, Internal Audit, Project Management and Information Technology Services. OPS values professionals that enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and who have the skills required to effectively plan, direct, and coordinate HCR’s wide array of support services. The Senior Contract Management Specialist will be responsible for assisting the Vice President of Contracts and Administration with all matters relating to professional services’ procurements and contracts that include, but is not limited to:

Requirements

Excellent organizational and demonstrated analytical skills
Effective communication and documentation skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization up to and including executives
Good writing skills
Excellent leadership skills
Good planning skills
Ability to utilize available resources to problem solve
Must be able to multi-task and prioritize workload
Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff and outside parties
Excellent word processing, Excel spreadsheet and other computer skills such as PowerPoint
Ability to be discreet, precise and good facility in making distinctions
Must be able to work under pressure
Must be able to work overtime to meet deadlines, on an as-needed basis
Ability to generate worthwhile ideas or techniques having practical applications
Must be able to handle confidential information appropriately and to exercise care in safeguarding proprietary information
Willingness to accept additional responsibility and to acquire additional expertise through training, experience and education
Good attendance and punctuality
Excellent people management, time management, stress management, and priority management skills
Ability to make suggestions to improve processes
Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
Intellectual curiosity – consistently trying new methods
Business acumen – willing to understand how the Agencies’ business operates and how talent drives it
Analytics and problem solving – uses logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions
Comfortable with ambiguity – difference in policies/procedures among agencies. A positive attitude, flexibility and resilience facing multiple demands and shifting priorities.
Self-motivated, confident, and able to work effectively with little supervision; takes initiative, makes things happen, accepts accountability, and has a “can do” attitude
A strong value system, excellent judgment, unquestioned integrity
Ambitious, confident and professional • High energy
Ability to accept constructive criticism
Ability to be empathetic and compassionate
Successful candidate must demonstrate ability to pay close attention to detail, have excellent oral and written communication skills and be able to effectively work independently, and with others.
Bachelor’s degree preferred as well as relevant academic training or transferrable skills.
Minimum of three years of related experience skills, preferred.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree a plus.
Supervisory experience a plus

Responsibilities

Developing, evaluating and reviewing complex procurements including, but not limited to, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Bids (RFBs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Requests for Information (RFIs), Sole/Single Source Procurements, Preferred Source Procurement, Discretionary Spend Procurements, and other related procurements;
Performing routine administrative processes associated with contracts, monitoring the reviews of contractor performance and compliance;
Stream-lining procurement and contract processes;
Performing contract monitoring tasks including addressing any necessary contract modifications and contract amendments;
Effectively manages communication, both orally and in writing, with agency staff and vendors, and other outside parties;
Creating and maintaining accurate procurement records;
Publishing contract and procurement requirements for bidders;
Assisting with FOIL requests;
Assisting with matters relating to minority and women owned business enterprises and service disabled veteran owned businesses;
Supervising staff in the unit;
Ability to learn, understand and follow State procurement contract statutes, policies and guidelines together with the ability to implement State procurement and contract guidelines/policies/procedures;
Ability to think outside the box within State Guidelines, policies, and statutes;
Performing analysis in detecting trends and best practices in procurement and contract matters;
Performing general research;
Maintaining procurement and contract databases and reviewing/modifying/generating various related reports;
Booking contract and budget information in the State’s Financial System and generating purchase orders;
Booking contract and budget information in SAP and generating purchase orders;
Preparing reports that include, but are not limited to, MWBE reports, SDVOB reports, Single Source Reports, NYS Contract Reporter Reports and Internal Control Reports;
Assisting in other procurement and contract matters in the Unit, as directed.

Benefits

Extensive benefits package including paid leave, including excellent health, dental, vision and retirement benefits [https://www.osc.state.ny.us/retirement] with the New York State & Local Employees’ Retirement System.
Promotional opportunity for dedicated professionals
Work life balance benefits including a 37.5 hour work week and paid time off benefits including, vacation, sick, personal days, and Federal Holidays
Opportunity for compressed scheduling
12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Paid Family Leave
Opportunity for compressed/flextime scheduling
As a New York State employee, you may qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service] (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-repayment-plans] and while working full-time for an eligible [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-employment] employer.
Cash in for Wellness! This program provides you with the option of buying or renewing a health club membership of your choice or enrolling in a weight loss and or smoking cessation program, using your sick leave accruals.
Tuition reimbursement program – for job related and non-job related courses
Vacation Leave Buy-Back program – Subject to approval, every year eligible employees may exchange previously earned and accrued vacation time in return for cash compensation (at employee’s daily rate of pay at time of exchange)
Access to Plum Benefits – savings on movie tickets, theme parks, hotels, tours, Broadway shows and more!
Optical reimbursement program – Employees are eligible for optical, hearing aid, and podiatric expenses not otherwise covered by insurance, with a maximum aggregate amount of $650 per year, per family. Unused yearly balances may be carried over to the next year for a maximum of $1300