Executive Director, M/WBE Eligibility and Certification Partnerships

Job Description

Agency Description:
The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is a vibrant, client-centered agency whose mission is to serve New York’s small businesses, jobseekers and commercial districts. SBS makes it easier for companies in New York City to start, operate, and expand by providing direct assistance to business owners, supporting commercial districts, promoting financial and economic opportunity among minority- and women-owned businesses, preparing New Yorkers for jobs, and linking employers with a skilled and qualified workforce. SBS continues to reach for higher professional standards through innovative systems, new approaches to government, and a strong focus on its employees.

Job Description:

The Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity is committed to encouraging a competitive and diverse New York City business environment by promoting the growth and success of small businesses ensuring their meaningful participation in the government procurement process.

The goals of the division are to increase and retain the number of certified businesses within the program; increase the number of certified businesses winning government contacts, and increase their overall participation in private and public sector contracting.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Commissioner, the Executive Director will:
- Provide overall day-to-day management of Certification Supervisors;
- Manage Certification Supervisors, ensuring oversight of certification process in line with the city’s certification programs, currently M/WBE, LBE and EBE;
- Supervise Certification Supervisors to ensure sound judgment in evaluating small businesses for certification;
- Manage Certification Supervisors staff, including learning and following the SBS Code of Ethics, time/leave policies;
- Oversee the process to track performance of Certification Analysts and Field Auditors ensuring monthly targets are met;
- Curate ideas and support development of new strategies to improve overall performance of the Certification Unit;
- Review and sign off on final program decisions/determinations;
- Draft, review and/or finalize correspondence for program decisions resulting in denial;
- Work closely with Certification Supervisors and Strategy & Analytics Unit to address technical issues with certification management system, the NYC Online Portal and other tracking systems/mechanisms;
- Work closely with SBS Legal team to develop and implement regulatory and policy changes for certification process, and improve partner agreements/MOUs related to certification;
- Help lead and provide strategic support for recruitment activities to increase the pool of businesses participating in the programs;
- Help build and/or maintain partner relationships with public and private entities to improve certification recruitment;
- Conduct trainings for program Leadership Associations, Business Solution Centers and other relevant partners;
- Serve as a SBS liaison with external partners and the public to communicate program rules, requirements, and compliance standards in order to maintain integrity of all SBS NYC certification programs;
- Work with the Project Management Office (PMO) and the Technology Team to create and implement requirements as needed for the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system;
- Support the Assistant Commissioner in coordinating with internal agency units, divisions and or external partners to streamline business assessment and improve referrals to capacity building and technical assistance services, as well as contract opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Excellent leadership skills with a proven track record of supervising and guiding teams to meet targets and goals;
- Comfort with understanding or learning legal terminology and concepts;
- Ability to analyze case facts and apply them to program rules and/or law;
- Outstanding writing, presentation, and communications skills;
- Comfort with review and interpretation of City, State and Federal regulations and advise on legislative initiatives;
- Comfort working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and prioritizing assignments;
- Strong work ethic and attention to detail;
- Proficiency in MS Word, Excel and comfortable learning new computer programs;
- Experience working with cross-functional teams and diverse groups of people;
- Ability to manage both internal and external relationships;
- Fluent in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese or Korean a plus.

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE IN THE Administrative Staff Analyst TITLE(OR OTHER COMPARABLE TITLES), THOSE WHO ARE REACHABLE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE LIST AND THOSE IN THE 55-A PROGRAM. PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER IF YOU ARE PERMANENT IN THE TITLE OR ARE R