Small Business Liaison Officer

Textron•Wichita, KS

11h

About The Position

The Small Business Liaison Officer has general overall responsibility of the Company’s Small Business Program and applicable SCM compliance activity. These items may include, but are not limited to, small business subcontracting plan creation, annual and semi-annual USG reporting requirements, associated policy and procedure review and maintenance, development and administration of applicable departmental and/or Company training, and support of internal and external small business and purchasing system audits. Small Business outreach participation will be required to identify new potential small business partners/vendors along with the support of any active or potential Mentor-Protege programs and business development goals to support the increase of Small Businesses (SB) utilization across the Company. The Small Business Liaison Officer also assists with activities to support bid and proposal efforts related to U.S. Government prime contracts, developing SB strategies for USG solicitations and/or newly awarded prime contracts, and complying with the terms and conditions of awarded contracts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field required
Minimum 2 years related supply chain compliance or business experience
Excellent and personable verbal, presentation, and written communication skills
Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills (remain open to others’ ideas, exhibits willingness to try new approaches)
Proficient computer skills with Microsoft Office Suite applications including Excel and Access
Good analytical and organizational skills, paying attention to detail, good program management.
Ability to identify and maintain a high degree of confidentiality, when necessary
Strong sense of urgency, with the ability to manage competing demands and frequent changes in the work environment, while managing time effectively to meet deadlines

Nice To Haves

Familiarity and experience with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Federal Government and prime contractor procurement procedures and policies as well as the USG acquisition lifecycle preferred
CSDP Certified and/or prior small business liaison experience preferred
USG related purchasing and/or compliance experience preferred

Responsibilities

Develop, prepare, and execute the Company’s Master Subcontracting Plan along with Individual Subcontracting Plans (ISP) for all applicable FAR 12 and FAR 15 prime contracts, including the formulation of plan content and goal creation for each ISP. Monitor each ISP’s performance individually, and report Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISR) timely to the government through the SAM.gov system on or before deadlines defined within the FAR.
Operate in a self-directed environment to ensure supplier small business program and supply chain compliance efforts support overall company production and aftermarket strategies while also fulfilling contractual obligations to internal and external customers, the USG, foreign government(s), and commercial customers.
Coordinate with the Department of War (DoW), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and other government agencies to support any requests for information, studies or surveys that may be requested for their agreement or determination of compliance to regulatory requirements.
Maintain awareness of USG FAR/DFARS flowdown requirements, including emerging trends, regulatory changes, issues, or developments related to small business program and/or purchasing system compliance. Communicate the information clearly to internal teams for awareness and to develop a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation for the organization.
Provide guidance on small business regulations and how it affects the day-to-day transactions of procurement team members, contracts personnel, and any effects to our purchasing system compliance.
Collaborate with internal teams on solutions to ensure adequate involvement of SB concerns in solicitations and/or newly awarded prime contracts. Assist internal procurement teams with locating capable small businesses for current and future acquisitions.
Collaborate and communicate with appropriate finance, SCM, and contracts team members to gather and collect all information needed to complete Individual Subcontract Reporting (ISR) and Summary Subcontract Reporting (SSR) calculations and remarks. Ensure ISR and SSR are reported timely and accurately to the USG through SAM.gov. Facilitate all communications with USG to ensure reports were received for review by the identified deadline.
Conduct periodic meetings with management and/or prepare written reports on overall program status. Clearly communicate to management matters affecting the company’s ability to achieve compliance/goals identified on each ISP. Continue to develop and improve reporting methods to ensure actuals closely align with identified goals.
Plan, conduct, promote and/or attend small business outreach events, including conferences and trade fairs, on a national, regional, state, and local level that are hosted by USG, SBA, and other associations/organizations and develop strong relationships and partnerships with SBA, APEX Accelerators, Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations to help facilitate the accomplishment of outreach goals.
Develop and administer applicable departmental and/or company training regarding the intent and impact of Public Law 95-907 and FAR/DFARS regulations surrounding the small business program requirements.
Participate as an active member of the state, regional and local small business organizations; meet obligations to speak or join panels on related SB matters to demonstrate good faith efforts to seek and source small businesses to support our company.
Develop supplier and SB relationships to align the supply base with the overall supply chain strategies which support the Company, SB, and compliance efforts while managing the impact to the organization. Coordinate and encourage SB introductory calls and visits to Company facilities as well as visits to SB facilities. Serve as a liaison between the SB and Company to assist with supplier setup and aide in communications between SB and procurement teams. Be knowledgeable in strategic supply chain and aftermarket principles, theories, and programs.
Conduct periodic internal procurement reviews to ensure compliance and best practices with SB procurement requirements, ensuring readiness for internal and external audits. Coordinate company activities during small business Subcontracting Program Compliance Reviews (SPCR) with Federal agencies and monitor to ensure company compliance to updated FAR/DFARS regulations between audits.
Manage supply chain administrative functions including but not limited to, the development of departmental work instructions, the regular review and maintenance of associated policies and procedures, routine training of applicable small business program elements, and internal supply chain audits. Develop procedures, tools, and training; and provide guidance and assistance to procurement teams to ensure they complete their regulatory requirements to source with small businesses.