Small Business Specialist

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.
We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity supports the role of the Metropolitan Council as an Equal Opportunity Employer and its employment practices and business operations, to reflect a sense of value and respect for diversity among its employees, customers, and the citizens of the seven-county metropolitan area.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:
This position is part of the Metropolitan Council's Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity. The Equal Opportunity Consultant II position is part of the Small Business Unit and will support one or more of the Council's Small Business Contracting, or Equity and Inclusion Programs. The Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity administers two small business contracting programs: the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and the Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) Program. As an EO Consultant II, you will engage with Council business units, assist in generating statistical reports, and program analysis; and work with the Council's project managers to develop small business inclusion goals on contracts. In addition, you will work with the Council's Procurement Department through bidding and awarding contracts and the Council's construction office to ensure compliance with program guidelines. EO Consultant II may also be expected to work with external partners from the community, small businesses, and general contractors to achieve the Council's small business programs' goals and perform other related duties.

Note: The salary displayed is the full salary range. The hiring salary will be determined based on the final candidate's qualifications, and the Council's internal pay structures.

What you would do in this job

• Administer and implement Equity and Equal Opportunity programs - Certified Small Business contracting programs.
• Plan, organize, and administer the Council's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and Metropolitan Council Under-Utilized Business (MCUB) Program, as needed.
• Participate in the DBE certification process including reviewing applications, performing on-site visits, presenting recommendations, and reviewing annual certification reviews, as needed.
• EO Consultant II is expected to be a member of the Minnesota Unified Certification Program (MNUCP) and the Certification Application Committee.
• Develop and calculate contract DBE/MCUB goals.
• Participate in the review and evaluation of Request for Proposals (RFP) and Invitations for Bid (IFB) with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/ Public Facility Agency (PFA), or local funding, to review general contractors' DBE/MCUB commitment or good faith efforts (GFE). Participate in pre-bid meetings and pre-construction meetings representing OEO, as needed.
• Monitor, collect, and analyze data for contract compliance.
• EO Consultant II may be asked to conduct site visits to construction sites in the seven-county metro area to verify that DBE/MCUB subcontractors are working on-site and providing commercial useful functions as defined by programs' guidelines.
• Attend compliance meetings, as needed, and proactively address small business inclusion compliance issues.
• Utilize policies and procedures to monitor DBE/MCUB compliance.
• Participate in outreach efforts and work with external partners to increase the pool of DBEs/MCUBs, connect DBEs/MCUBs to contracting opportunities, ensure compliance, increase DBE/MCUB capacities, develop and advance the DBE/MCUB programs, and develop and deliver training to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support and participate in OEO-led Council-wide equity initiatives and projects.
• Perform other directly related duties.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of professional experience working with small business inclusion programs, equity, diversity, affirmative action, equal opportunity, legal, community outreach, contract administration, or contract compliance implementation AND completed education in business administration, public administration, public policy, or closely related field.

• Bachelor's degree AND three (3) years of experience
• Associate's degree AND five (5) years of experience
• High school diploma/GED AND nine (9) years of experience

Master's degree and one year of experience may be considered. Experience must be relevant to small business inclusion programs, equity, diversity, affirmative action, equal opportunity, legal, community outreach, contract administration, or contract compliance implementation.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Three (3) or more years of experience working in small business inclusion programs.
• Two (2) or more years of experience conducting internal or external compliance investigations; determining the validity of and recommending a resolution to complaints allegations; preparing an unbiased written narrative of findings.
• Demonstrable experience in presenting and writing reports to a variety of staff from all levels.
• Deep experience with equity, diversity, equal opportunity, legal, community outreach, contract administration, or contract compliance implementation. Certified Compliance Administrator
• (CCA) or Master Compliance Administrator (MCA). current or recent public-sector experience.
• Experience reading and interpreting federal regulations and state statutes.
• Written and verbal communication skills sufficient to share complex information in plain language.
• Experience presenting information to a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive environments.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have:

• Excellent communication skills: interpersonal, written, and verbal skills. Ability to build trust and maintain relationships.
• Experience with gathering information, writing reports in plain language, and presenting information to a variety of audiences.
• Knowledge and experience with contracting procedures, business inclusion programs, and best practices.
• Ability and experience in setting contract goals and other metrics.
• Computer skills: Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word)
  1. Diversity/equal opportunity/contract compliance knowledge. Legislation knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, including CFR 49 Part 26 Knowledge of Title Seven of the Civil Rights Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
  2. Knowledge of Certified Small Business contracting programs such as DBE, W/MBE, TGB, and Vet.
  3. This position does not require the incumbent to act on behalf of the organization in matters where there are legitimate differences of opinion.
  4. Promote an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values cultural diversity among all employees.

Additional information

Union: AFSCME, Grade G
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What steps does the recruitment process involve:
1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview and assessment.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check that verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council a driving record check l may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

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