NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Project Coordinator, SG-27
Contract Manager/Vendor Performance
**AMENDED**

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) oversees the most complete, interconnected system of education in the country – including all public and nonpublic PreK-12 schools, public and independent colleges and universities – and administers an annual PreK-12 budget of more than $25 billion. Catalyzed by the recent award of nearly $700M in federal Race to the Top (RTTT) funds, the State Board of Regents and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) are pursuing an ambitious reform agenda to transform K-12 education for our 3.1 million school students.

NYSED seeks a dynamic leader to lead our efforts in building and implementing a system of oversight and accountability for external vendors.  This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who cares deeply about improving public education for all students; thrives in an entrepreneurial environment; and has a record of remarkable professional achievement.

For more information on New York's Race to the Top initiative, go to http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/ and http://engageny.org/. For questions regarding the Race to the Top initiative, please email RTTT@mail.nysed.gov.

Specific Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design, coordinate, and implement standardized internal processes to develop RFPs and to monitor the contract management process for RTTT contracts. Coordinate grant review processes across the multiple RFPs/grant competitions to ensure that all reviews are completed on time by well-trained reviewers, using appropriate evaluation rubrics;
• Develop and assist Assurance Area Teams with the development and/or negotiation of contracts, Requests for Proposals, Invitation for Bids, Sole/Single Source Procurements, and other related financial documents for RTTT; 
• Provide guidance and technical support to agency staff and/or potential bidder(s) to facilitate the contract and procurement processes, ensuring all control requirements are met; 
• Develop and implement RTTT-specific protocols for the effective and timely oversight of vendor progress; Coordinate the development of critical vendor performance reports, record keeping and automated systems;
• Develop and conduct training programs related to contract management/vendor performance for agency staff;
• Create an agency RTTT-focused Community of Practice around vendor performance management; identify best practices in this field and develop processes for disseminating them to colleagues;
• Oversee and facilitate the processing, monitoring and accounting procedures pertinent to State and Federal funds administered under RTTT.  Ensure guidelines do not conflict with current SED policies and procedures and meet Federal reporting requirements.

**Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher and four (4) years of experience in managing contracts and related budgets in a New York State agency or an educational organization regulated under federal or New York State finance laws, rules and regulations.  At least two (2) years of this experience must have included responsibility for supervising professional staff.  A Bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience in managing contracts and related budgets.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This will be a temporary appointment for a maximum of three (3) years.  *Leads to a maximum salary of $100,822 based on annual performance advances.

APPLICATION: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until a qualified candidate is appointed.  We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.  Qualified candidates should send cover letter and resume to:

Office of Human Resources Management
Box CG EMS-875/14856
NYS Education Department
89 Washington Avenue, Room 528 EB
Albany, NY 12234
Fax (518) 486-5631
E-mail: cgraves2@mail.nysed.gov

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer