What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supplier Diversity Specialist position at Metro?
Metro is seeking a Supplier Diversity Specialist is to assist the DBE Liaison Officer (Senior Manager of Vendor Diversity and Inclusion) in implementing and monitoring all aspects of SORTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program as well as SORTA’s small and disadvantaged business enterprise program in accordance with FTA circular 49 CFR part 26, FTA Circular 4220.1f, Ohio Revised Code, and local laws. The Supplier Diversity Specialist plays a crucial role in promoting and facilitating the participation of disadvantaged businesses in various projects and contracts. This position is responsible for implementing strategies that support small and diverse business growth, compliance, and engagement within the community and across the organization.
JOB DUTIES
- Advise and assist contractors and internal customers in the interpretation and understanding of SORTA’s DBE policies and procedures and compliance with governmental laws and regulations.
- Provides technical review of contract specifications, scope of work, terms, conditions and procedures to ensure that the Authority follows internal, state and federal guidelines.
- Reviews draft documents for major or complex contracts; analyze scopes of work; determines the disciplines or trades able to perform the work; and recommends DBE goals for assigned contracts based upon the Federal DOT goal setting methodology, as described by the Federal Transit Administration in circular 49 CFR part 26.
- Conduct job site compliance reviews of contractors performing services on all Authority contracts including construction sites to ensure that they meet the critical craft requirement goals of federal contract compliance.
- Oversee DBE subcontractors in contracts to ensure compliance with prompt payment guidelines, as stated in FTA Circular 49 CFR part 26, and ensure that the subcontractors are performing a “Commercially Useful Function”, as required by FTA regulations.
- Attends and presents DBE contract requirements at pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences and connects small and disadvantaged businesses with prime contractors to facilitate and encourage partnerships and participation of small businesses in contracting.
- Provides technical assistance to the DBE and SBE community on doing business with SORTA/METRO. Provides outreach to specific underutilized members of the business community (i.e. African American, Hispanic, Asian and women owned businesses). May require presenting and preparing PowerPoint presentations.
- Participates in trade shows, one-on-one sessions, and procurement expos to provide information and technical support to small businesses, as required in the Small Business Element of SORTA’s DBE Plan, required by FTA in 49 CFR part 26. May attend community and business meetings in the evening and on weekends when required.
- May assist with other organizational initiatives and requirements such as FTA compliance monitoring and reporting, grant program requirements gathering and analysis, or other state or Federal compliance-related issues.
- Organize SORTA/Metro training and outreach events for DBE vendors.
- Reviews, analyzes, and resolves post-award DBE compliance issues and recommends corrective action.
- Generate timely and accurate biannual DBE reports for submission to FTA civil rights office.
- Assists the Senior Manager of Vendor Diversity and Inclusion in the preparation of the triennial DBE goal methodology when required.
- Assists the Senior Manager of Vendor Diversity and Inclusion in preparation for triennial reviews, conducted by the Federal Transit Administration, to ensure SORTA’s DBE program is in compliance with 49 CFR part 26.
- Assists in preparing a shortfall analysis and seeks remedies when DBE goals are not met, as required in 49 CFR part 26.
- Reviews the DBE responses and independently determines if the proposer/bidder should be deemed responsive or deemed non-responsive and disqualified from participating on the project in the post-award phase of a project.
- Monitors contracts with assigned DBE goals; including review of subcontracts to ensure compliance with 49 CFR part 26, tallying and tracking of payments, ensuring commercially useful functions are performed, onsite reviews for construction projects and prompt payment compliance.
- Maintains the diversity and inclusion software and frequently updates information within the software for contract compliance and spend analysis.
- Ability to work in compliance with Metro’s safety and security policies.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Competency Statements
Competency Statements
- Communications - Excellent verbal, writing and non-verbal skills. Persuasive, consensus builder.
- Customer Focus - Excellent problem-solving skills and a desire to exceed customer expectations.
- Leadership - Energetic, innovative self-starter, committed to continuous improvement and creative problem-solving.
- Professional Integrity - Exhibits and values commitment, leadership, accountability, diversity, honesty, fiscal responsibility, and the ability to maximize resources.
- Proficiency - Able to multi-task, plan and measure results, create and analyze data, excellent computer skills, accuracy and attention to detail, excellent project management skills.
Education
- High school diploma is required, bachelor’s degree or higher preferred.
Experience
- Three years administrative experience with coordinating program or project administration. Experience with procurement and/or supplier diversity is preferred.
- Experience which demonstrates the ability to research and analyze complex data, make determinations based on facts and provide comprehensive reports.
- Experience in a variety of contract administration functions and monitoring.
- Experience using Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Demonstrated experience in implementing programs.
- Ability to effectively present verbally and in writing and respond to questions from management, clients, customers, and the public.
- Ability to independently write grammatically correct, professional level routine reports, presentations, prepare correspondence and technical documentation with minimal guidance.
- Attention to detail, tempered by effective time-management skills to ensure an efficient use of time is expended to properly complete assignment and meets goals.
- Must be able to analyze and reason out conflicting information in a variety of situations where compliance and other standards are the criteria for decision-making.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited details exist.
- Ability to calculate figures such as percentages and interest, commissions, proportions, volume, basic
- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Highly proficient in entering, organizing, and formatting data using computerized spreadsheets and databases.
- Good problem-solving communication and skills.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- None required.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work is ordinarily performed in a standard office environment. Must be able to conduct site visits to construction sites, outreach events and training locations.
SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
Follows the work practices and standard operating procedures for this position. Use and/or wear the appropriate equipment, protective devices or clothing that SORTA/METRO requires. Report health and safety concerns to supervisors.
