Position Overview
The Office of Fiscal Strategy (OFS) is a catalyst for ensuring excellence, equity, and efficiency to ensure DCPS achieves our goals for our students. We want employees who recognize and embrace the importance of a strong partnership between schools and Central Services. When Central Services runs efficiently, and provides high-quality customer service, our school-based employees can concentrate on educating our children and leading our schools. By combining financial planning with strategic planning, this office supports DCPS with actively identifying resources, costs and budget and aligning them with our mission and goals.
Divisions/Teams: The Office of Fiscal Strategy is organized into four divisions
Finance: Ensures school and central services finances are allocated and expended in alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, in a manner that fosters transparency, maximizes funds, promotes equity, and ensures compliance with requirements.
Contracts and Acquisitions: Provides procurement services to schools and Central Services programs through contract and purchase order processes in alignment with District and Federal procurement laws and regulations. Manages and facilitates the procurement of goods and services for all DCPS schools and central services, that fosters transparency, maximizes buying power, promotes equity of spending with local vendors, and ensures compliance with contractual requirements.
Operational Finance (Core): Works to improve organizational effectiveness and to ensure daily fiscal operations are managed efficiently across DCPS. The Operational Finance Team advocates for DCPS programs and schools by shepherding collaboration with procurement, budget, and HR teams. Operational Finance provides oversight to ensure equitable, transparent, and compliant personnel and non-personnel spending through quality customer service.
The Contracts and Acquisitions Division within the Office of Fiscal Strategy includes three teams:
Complex Contracts Unit: Ensures all contracting and procurement activity valued at $100,000 and above is consistently executed in accordance with the District of Columbia and Federal laws and regulations. Directs the development, coordination, facilitation, management, and milestone planning for the acquisition of goods and services required by DCPS. Liaises with program and school points of contact, serving as the primary point-of-contact on large and/or complex procurements.
Small Purchasing Unit: Ensures all contracting and procurement activity valued under $100,000 is consistently executed in accordance with the District of Columbia laws and regulations. Facilitates the processing and fulfillment of small purchases in coordination with the needs of schools and Central Office program customers.
The Manager, Contracts & Acquisitions (Complex Contracts) ensures all contracting and procurement activity $250,000 and above is consistently executed in accordance with the District of Columbia laws and regulations. The Manager assists with the development, coordination, facilitation, management, and milestone planning for the acquisition of goods and services required by DCPS. The Manager will manage a team of up to five contract specialists for the processing and fulfillment of complex contracts and $1M+ requirements in coordination with the needs of schools and Central Office program customers.
This position has been designated as Security Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Consumer Credit Check; Traffic record check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.
The Manager, Contracts & Acquisitions (Complex Contracts) will report to the Director, Contracts & Acquisitions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.
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Supervise five senior level Contract Specialists.
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Support planning of annual acquisitions process for requirements of $250k to $1M+.
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Advise on complex contracts acquisitions process and streamlining.
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Lead data analysis and reporting for requirements for contracts $250k to $1M+.
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Lead review and approval process for requirements $250k to $1M+. Responsible for reviewing and assigning requirements to contract specialists that are received via ServiceNow, PASS, and other agency-used apps/systems.
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Manager the Purchase Card program and provide oversight for central services/program staff.
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Guide users on procurement processes and appropriate engagement with DCPS.
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Track projects and initiatives from $250k to $1M+; adjust unit approaches as needed (without changing policies) and keep C&A leadership abreast of high-profile issues and challenges.
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Stay informed on procurement colleagues and central office staff on shared priorities (i.e. weekly Operational Finance (Core) meetings, monthly school sync call, etc.).
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Manage RFPs, IFBs, Cooperative Agreements, Sole Sources, and related solicitations process for requirements estimated at $250k and above.
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Manage evaluations, negotiations, compliance checks, and award processes for requirements of $250k to $1M+.
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Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree and four to six years of related work experience.
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Master's degree preferred.
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Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
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Three to five years of managerial and supervisory experience.
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Advanced knowledge of contracting methods, contract types, acquisition planning, and implementation of contracts.
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Knowledge of the District of Columbia procurement laws and regulations strongly preferred.
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Demonstrated excellent verbal skills, and strong writing, analyzing, and research skills.
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Experience managing a variety of contract types, as well as a variance in complexities (usually demonstrated by threshold ranging between $100k to $1M or higher) strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated participation in a professional procurement organization, achievement of a recognized professional procurement certification or academic certificate, i.e., Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), etc.
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STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
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COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
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EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
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EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
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TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
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JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact [email protected].
