Director of Programs and Engagement

Job Description

The Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) is an agency within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a mission of serving diverse and small businesses and agencies of the Commonwealth. The mission of the SDO is to serve minority, women, veteran, service-disabled veteran, disability, LGBT-owned, and small businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including the responsibility to certify eligible businesses. Learn more about the SDO at: http://www.mass.gov/sdo.

SDO's mission is to support small and diverse business participation in state contracting by:

1. Certifying minority, women, veteran, service-disabled veteran, disability and LGBT-owned businesses, as well as small Massachusetts-based businesses.
2. Connecting these companies with business opportunities and resources that enhance their marketability when bidding on public contracts; and
3. Collaborating with executive agencies and public organizations to:

1. Identify and remove barriers for diverse and small businesses; and
2. Increase diverse and small business spending.

• Manage the Supplier Diversity Program (SDP), Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP), Municipal Construction Affirmative Program (MCAMP) and the SDO Individuals with Disabilities Program; including co-managing program policy in coordination with the Director of Marketing, Communications and Training and the General Counsel.
• Oversee Engagement staff who organize, coordinate, moderate and/or represent the SDO at a broad range of events, such as networking events, training sessions, meetings with community partners, and webinars focused on promoting SDO programs and diverse and small businesses; and speak at SDO events.
• Develop and manage strategic outreach campaigns, including the cross functional SDO Means Business campaign, aimed at increasing certified diverse and small businesses; increasing persons with disabilities in the workforce; and finding opportunities for certified diverse businesses and connecting them to those opportunities.
• Manage staff who assist Commonwealth prime contractors in meeting their supplier diversity commitments and encourage them to expand their supplier diversity partnerships.
• As needed, meet with business owners one on one to help them understand SDO's Programs.
• In coordination with other SDO units, manage general outreach campaigns aimed at promoting SDO programs and systems, such as educating Prime Vendors and certified business on using the SDO Hub, and informing the general public about SDO's many programs for businesses and public buyers.
• Support the creation of marketing collateral with SDO's Director of Marketing, Communications and Training and coordinate the purchase of promotional items for the SDO with the Operations and Finance Unit.
• Manage staff research, solicitation and development of capital, bonding, insurance, mentorship and other resources to help meet the needs of certified businesses.
• Attend meetings, participate in workgroups, and assist in projects and programs as required to advance the mission and goals of the SDO including assisting in creating the SDO Annual Report.
• Lead efforts to plan SDO Events and support staff who may also plan events, such as networking events and SDO's Annual Excellence in Supplier Diversity Award Ceremony, coordinating with other SDO Units, external stakeholders, and vendors as needed.
• Coordinate with the SDO's Chief of Staff and all Units to successfully implement special project initiatives as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, and to perform multiple tasks independently and concurrently.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills, including business correspondence, to successfully work with SDO Marketing, Communications and Training in creating flyers, presentation slides, organizing meetings and public speaking.
• Experience working with stakeholders and/or clients in community organizing, sales, marketing, outreach, training, event planning and/or related settings.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently or in a team setting.
• Ability to establish rapport and deal effectively with all levels of the organization, as well as outside contractors.
• Ability to conduct business research as well as interpret business and financial data and written information.
• Ability to organize information from disparate sources into written reports, memoranda, charts and tables.
• Ability to explain the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines and specifications governing assigned unit activities.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office - especially, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong professional work ethic, commitment to diversity and an attitude focused on client service.
• Understanding of public policy, public procurement and contracting, community economic development, business operations, business finance, accounting or related fields is preferred.
• Fluency in a foreign language is preferred.
• Special Requirement: Class D Driver's License - Networking, training and outreach events will be located throughout Massachusetts and will require driving. Thus, applicants must have a valid driver's license and an acceptable driver history supported by documentation from the Registry of Motor Vehicles or comparable agency in another state.