COBID Manager

Are you passionate about bringing prosperity to all Oregonians and building strong communities through partnership? Do you have experience leading a program and managing a team of professionals? This position exists within the Innovation and Business Resources Division, Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) section. This position supports the mission of Business Oregon to invest in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy.

the state’s economic development agency, is currently hiring a permanent, COBID Manager. The incumbent in this position will serve as Manager of the COBID team, which includes the functions of supervising 11-member staff; managing the workload associated with five certification programs and associated outreach and engagement and reporting; managing new statewide COBID Advisory group; serving as a certification and contracting expert in high level policy discussions with internal and external stakeholders.  

Note: We value our employees and want to encourage work-life balance and flexibility. This position may have the ability to work hybrid with required days in the Salem or Portland office.

Six years of supervision, management, or progressively related experience;

OR

Three years of related experience and a bachelor's degree in a related field.

• Certification Program Knowledge: COBID Manager serves as authority for certification program information at the state and federal level.  Should possess deep knowledge of certification programs – including statute and rule.

• Strategic Partnerships: Must have strong track record of developing and maintaining strategic partnerships, including those with elected officials, government agencies, community partners and businesses.

• Policy Making: Experience working with elected officials to develop and implement policy and budgetary objectives. 

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Experience advancing DEI initiatives in large organizations with the goal of increasing opportunities for women-led, minority-led, veteran-led and small businesses.

• Economic Development: Professional experience working in local, regional, or state economic development.

• Budget management/development: Has experience managing annual budgets and experience developing budgets.

• Program Evaluation: experience utilizing quantitative and qualitative data for program evaluation and planning purposes.

• Management of Advisory Groups: Experience managing external advisory groups.

• Presentations: Experience making presentations to partners, including the state legislature.

• Intergovernmental Agreements: Experience authoring intergovernmental agreements that are mutually beneficial and actionable.

• Maintain expertise of business certification statutes, rules and policies at the federal and state levels. 

• Act as Administrative Rules Coordinator, responsible for establishing, revising and adopting rules related to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)/Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)/Women Business Enterprise (WBE)/Emerging Small Business (ESB)/Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) certification programs.

• Assign and manage workload; provides consultation and training to staff on all aspects of the certification process.

• Develop and implement administrative rules, long and short-range plan and objectives, and program policies and procedures to carry out the responsibilities of the COBID team.

• Engage in strategic discussions with nationwide counterparts related to national trends and challenges and serves as a strong leader and advocate for COBID programs and COBID certified businesses.

• Coordinate annual FHWA and ODOT audits, prepare audit reports, respond to audit findings and recommendations and represents COBID at annual FHWA audit close-out meeting.

• Establish and provide leadership for a Statewide COBID Advisory Group.

• Supervise staff in their development of a sophisticated and intentional outreach strategy/marketing plan targeted at businesses and partners with the goal of increasing awareness of COBID program and increasing the number of certified firms in Oregon.

• Serve as point for COBID team for outreach with elected officials – including the Legislature.

• Manage the COBID Team that includes Compliance Specialists, Policy Analysts, Outreach staff, and Administrative personnel. Responsible for team budget, development of team policies and procedures, performance measures, personnel administration, and management of staff.

Business Oregon strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed.  We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background.  We encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our qualifications listed.  If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, feel free to contact us to discuss your application. 

Business Oregon is the economic development agency for the state of Oregon. We have about 180 people on our team, and we work with communities and businesses. We use our programs and expertise to help businesses grow, so they can in turn add jobs, diversify the economy, and increase Oregon prosperity. We work with communities to enhance and expand infrastructure and community safety with projects such as water/wastewater systems, seismic rehabilitation for schools, or rural broadband development. This also sets the stage for future business development. Our mission is to invest in Oregon’s businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy, all carried out with an agency strategic plan.

The Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) is responsible for the certification of businesses under five distinct programs: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), a federally-mandated program for minority and women owned firms seeking contracting opportunities with recipients of federally funded transportation related moneys; Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), and Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) state programs for minority, women, and veteran business owners seeking contracting opportunities with state, county, city, and special jurisdictions; and Emerging Small Business (ESB), a race and gender-neutral state program for firms seeking contracting opportunities on projects specifically designated for ESB participation.  COBID publishes on-line directories of certified DBE, MBE, WBE, SDVBE, and ESB firms.  The directories are used by prime contractors, public jurisdictions, private sector firms and others to solicit women, minorities, veterans, and emerging small businesses for participation in specific projects with contracting goals.  COBID also conducts public awareness activities pertaining to certification programs.  COBID acts as resource/referral service for information needed by minorities, women, service-disabled veterans, and small businesses.