Sr. Contract Compliance Manager

Summary

Under general direction, to implement and administer programs of compliance with federal and state labor standards including, but not limited to Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and New Jersey State Prevailing Wage Act, and equal opportunity regulations and policies for construction and professional services contracts; to conduct outreach to the local and disadvantaged-owned business community; to monitor effective compliance through appraisals, inspections, investigations and meetings; to recommend appropriate action to effect compliance and to seek appropriate measures for non-compliance; prepare and distribute program performance reports; and to perform related duties as required. This position is responsible for developing and monitoring the NHA’s overall contract compliance review strategy and processes to ensure that all applicable policies, laws and other requirements of legal, regulatory, Federal and State entities having oversight authority are met. This position will interpret applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines to ensure NHA has a compliant program, provide education and training to departmental staff and vendors, supervise subordinates in the performance of this work, and respond to ad hoc requests for data and information. This position will also provide support to the broader goals of the NHA, including providing back-up to routine and non-routine procurement activities and performing special projects. The Senior Compliance Manager also performs other duties as assigned.

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.

• Provide efficient processing and delivery of contract compliance operations that minimize business risk through effective compliance processes.
• Serve as lead in planning and implementing contract compliance programs.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures and standards for compliance.
• Recommend, draft or revise policies and procedures applicable to construction or professional service contracting, and aligned with the state of public sector industry.
• Develop and implement a system for monitoring and reviewing weekly payroll reports to verify compliance with Davis-Bacon and prevailing wage; including the use of the correct wage rate determination, proper work classification, number of hours worked and the hourly rate of pay for each employee on a project.
• Monitor construction contractor compliance with Davis-Bacon and prevailing wage by conducting construction site visits to interview employees regarding their wages. Investigate violations of labor standards regulations and make recommendations for contractor suspension/debarment when sufficient evidence of a violation has been documented.
• Prepare the annual Semi-Annual Enforcement Report form (HUD-4710) for Davis Bacon Compliance for submission to HUD.
• Ensure compliance with Essex County, New Jersey State and federal laws, rules, regulations and guidelines pertaining to affirmative action and contract compliance.
• Compile and analyze data and prepare various reports (including but not limited to: monthly department reports; HUD 2516 Annual Affirmative Action Report; HUD 60002 Section 3 Report; other reports for the State of New Jersey, City of Newark, etc.) to demonstrate program compliance as required or requested.
• Respond to inquiries regarding contract obligations.
• Perform high level administrative duties related to oversight and monitoring of contracts.
• Write complex reports and business correspondence.
• Represent the Authority at various professional outreach, training, and related functions.
• Train staff and contractors on applicable labor standards, affirmative action and contract compliance duties, responsibilities and various methods to comply with the law.
• Provide technical and professional assistance to contractors in affirmative action hiring and in extending subcontracting opportunities to local and disadvantaged business entities.
• Gather all necessary information to certify firms meet the legal definition of local or disadvantaged-owned business enterprises.
• Implement and maintain a computerized data base system for compliance tracking to monitor and coordinate the approval process for proposed contracts.
• Develop and maintain a local and disadvantaged business directory.
• Perform on-site review of NHA contractors and contractors’ employees, and perform subsequent on-site reviews as necessary to ensure continual compliance.
• Review and analyze information provided by contractors to confirm compliance with contract as well as laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Identify, review and resolve non-compliance issues; conduct research and analysis of the situation, document supporting facts and the relevant rules; recommend appropriate next steps and where appropriate, prepare analysis summaries.
• Supervise professionals in the performance of contract compliance and related work.
• Collaborate with compliance counterparts throughout NHA and the public housing and general business communities.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies                                                 

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Leadership: Provides direction by clearly and effectively setting course of action for department and subordinates; and manages performance by providing regular feedback and reinforcement to subordinates.

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; and persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; and recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; and listens effectively. 

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and does fair share of work.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of various statistical methods and principles; general knowledge of procurement techniques and strategies; working knowledge of federal and state affirmative action equal opportunity and/or contract compliance laws, rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines; thorough knowledge of current and historic problems and issues affecting DBE-owned businesses; general knowledge of training strategies and techniques; working knowledge of small business practices and contract administration; working knowledge of investigation techniques and methods; effective written and oral communication skills; effective human relation skills; problem solving and analytical skills; effective organization, planning and program development skills; ability to analyze complex problems involving varying viewpoints and to develop workable solutions and to communicate with persons having diverse attitudes and opinions; demonstrated ability to work with top business management and public officials; ability to prepare and present detailed and complex written and oral reports; and ability to present data in a clear and concise manner.

Education and/or Experience           

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Public Administration from a four (4) year course at an accredited college or university or directly related field, and five years of increasingly responsible experience in Contract Administration, Procurement or Business Administration preferred.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical journals, or governmental regulations. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook). Will need to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned position.