Socio-Economic Preference Program Compliance Manager

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) is hiring a Socio-Economic Preference Program Compliance Manager in the Office of State Procurement in Baltimore, Maryland. This Management Service position serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority and is at-will. The manager leads DGS efforts to implement and manage Maryland statutes, regulations, and policies governing the Small Business Reserve (SBR), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) programs. The role serves as a subject matter expert for agency goal-setting initiatives and oversees related strategy and workflows within DGS and across executive agencies. It manages the Procurement Review Group (PRG) team and processes, develops standard operating procedures for market research, and supports stakeholder training across agencies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, Procurement, Economics, or a related field.
Expertise in market research and developing strategic supplier-diversity initiatives.
Strong skills in policy implementation, compliance auditing, and performance monitoring.
Analytical ability to assess procurement practices and support diversity goal setting.
Experience delivering training, workshops, and presentations to diverse stakeholders.
Skill in developing performance dashboards and generating reports for decision-making.
Proven ability to collaborate with state agencies, contractors, business associations, and minority business groups.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and procurement or contract management software.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; selected candidates may be required to pass a State and Federal fingerprint background check.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business administration, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.
Professional certifications such as CPPB, CPPO, or Supplier Diversity Certification.
Experience developing and executing race-neutral strategies to increase small and minority business participation.
Strong expertise in government contract compliance, risk management, dispute resolution, and procurement regulations.
Proven ability to interpret and apply legal statutes related to procurement and socio-economic preference programs.
Experience with legislative policy review, procurement program development, and managing or participating in Procurement Review Groups (PRGs).
Excellent communication skills for working with state agencies, vendors, and advocacy groups to promote transparency and collaboration.
Skill in promoting supplier diversity through strategic partnerships.
Strong analytical, research, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Ability to identify compliance gaps and implement corrective actions.
Relevant certifications such as Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) or Maryland-specific procurement training.

Responsibilities

Lead market research to identify opportunities for supplier diversity goals in Maryland state procurements; assess current practices and barriers, identify opportunities, and develop race-neutral strategies to increase participation by MBE, VSBE, and SBR firms.
Develop and lead training programs for DGS Office of State Procurement and executive agencies, including education on MBE and VSBE goals, guidance for Procurement Review Groups, and training resources on supplier-diversity best practices.
Collaborate with state agencies, contractors, business groups, and minority organizations to promote supplier diversity and consistent implementation of the MBE program.
Participate in inter-agency meetings to monitor and support diversity goals in procurement and contracts.
Track and analyze MBE participation in state procurements, identify gaps, and recommend improvements.
Create reports and dashboards on MBE, VSBE, and SBR participation, trends, and the effectiveness of race-neutral strategies.
Ensure contracts over $200,000 comply with MBE requirements and are reviewed by Procurement Review Groups.
Continuously assess and improve the supplier-diversity program using feedback and research, while keeping current with state and federal regulations, legal requirements, best practices, and emerging trends.