Special Assistant (Working Title: Senior Director of Operations)

Description

Duties Description

The Sr. Director of Operations serves as the head of the Division’s administrative services and its financial and operational systems. The selected candidate will be charged with the oversight and administration of the Division’s personnel, fiscal, and training units. This role ensures that the Division has the necessary resources, processes, and personnel to effectively certify MWBEs, advocate for their utilization in State contracting, and maintain compliance with Article 15-A of Executive Law.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Administer DMWBD’s entire operations support program.
• In collaboration with the EVP of the Division, oversee the Division’s strategic planning, development, and implementation of work programs, priorities, scheduling/coordination of major projects and activities with other divisions, bureaus, and State agencies.
• Manage all Division funding and contracts.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, work with the Executive Chamber and ESD Finance to manage the Division’s annual budget, track expenditures, and forecast the Division’s future financial needs.
• Oversee the lifecycle of Division contracts, including third-party vendors providing technical assistance or IT support for the MWBE certification system.
• Serve as the liaison between the DMWBD and ESD’s Division of Administration.
• Assist in developing management plans to measure the performance of subordinate areas of operation; identify strengths and weaknesses in existing procedures; assist in the development and implementation of new and improved procedures.
• Coordinate the activities of subordinate staff to ensure that policies, procedures, and standards are applied consistently, and that management and administrative practices of the operational sections are handled in accordance with the policies established by the EVP.
• Direct the operational onboarding of new staff and coordinate with section supervisors to ensure that office resource allocations align with evolving departmental priorities.
• Coordinate and participate in training activities, ensuring that necessary training is identified and available, and coordinate employee nomination and attendance.
• Provide managerial support to section supervisors and provide guidance, as needed.
• Represent the Division in meetings with other agencies, vendors, and stakeholders.
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field. A master’s degree (MBA or MPA) is highly preferred.

Professional Experience Requirements: A minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in operations management, public administration, or procurement.

• At least two (2) years in a senior leadership or supervisory capacity within a government agency or a large, complex organization.
• Proven experience managing departmental budgets and overseeing high-volume procurement/requisition processes.
  
  

Substitutions

• A master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience.
• A Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience.
  
  

Knowledge Requirements

• In-depth understanding of New York State procurement laws and Article 15-A.
• Strong familiarity with the Statewide Financial System (SFS) or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
  
  

Additional Comments

SALARY RANGE: $103,870 - $131,298