Program Manager - Buy Newark

JOB POSTING

Job Title: Program Manager, Buy Newark

Position Type: Full-time, exempt

Reports To: Chief of Policy and Impact

Onboarding: Late Spring 2022

Overview

The Newark Alliance is a leading nonprofit dedicated to the ongoing economic revitalization of Newark, striving to revolutionize the city into an in-demand place to work, live, learn, play, and do business. It has led a compelling and unified economic development agenda that remains committed to the ongoing economic rejuvenation of the city. The Newark Alliance is seeking a Chief Innovation Economy Officer to carry out the Alliance and its Members’ vision of closing the digital divide by expanding broadband and fostering an innovation economy in the City of Newark.

Launched in 2017 as an effort of the Newark Anchor Collaborative (NAC), Buy Newark aims to strengthen local businesses, increase local employment opportunities, and boost Newark’s economy by developing and implementing a system to increase local spending by Newark’s anchor institutions from 3% ($30M) to 20% ($200M) over a 5-year period, as well as other Newark businesses. Buy Newark is a key component of the Newark Alliance’s comprehensive Hire. Buy. Live. Newark strategy. 

To mitigate COVID-19’s effect on Newark’s local economy, as well as address the historic racial inequities in business development and wealth creation, the Alliance, in concert with NAC, is expanding Buy Newark program operations to include a Program Manager role to advance program implementation and engagement activities.

The Program Manager will support the implementation of Buy Newark starting in early 2022. They will act as a facilitator between Alliance partners and as a liaison between Newark’s small businesses—with a strong emphasis on minority-owned businesses—business service organizations, and anchor procurement representatives. Alongside a foundational commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Newark Alliance is prioritizing three primary goals:

1. Convene and collaborate with large employers and anchor institutions to determine the best means to achieve Buy Newark goals.
2. Adapt Buy Newark best practices into all aspects of Newark programming practices internally and externally.
3. Coordinate and track anchor to small-business outreach, execute supplier/vendor matchmaking events and activities, and regular community of practice meetings for procurement leaders of large employers and anchor institutions in the City of Newark.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has a passion for social, economic and/or civic issues. Interest in leveraging anchor demand to build wealth in low-income communities is a must. Two to three years of experience in the local community, economic, and business development with a minimum of two years of professional experience in supply chain, procurement, and/or supplier diversity/development is required.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following characteristics:

• Strong organization and time management skills
• Self-motivated and flexible
• Ability to complete tasks with minimal oversight and to work independently
• Strong oral, written, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and data analytics tools.
• A positive, collaborative, and flexible attitude and work style.
• Capacity to problem-solve and troubleshoot issues.
• Strong relationship management skills and experience working with diverse populations.
• Ability to prioritize and manage several projects simultaneously.
• A strong passion to make Newark a more vibrant place to work, buy, and live in.
• Comfort with data analysis tools and software (ex: Enterprise/Material resource planning ERP/MRP, Advanced Planning Systems, indirect or direct purchasing and/or production planning software tools).

Areas of Responsibility

• Convene Procurement Roundtable
• Plan, prepare, and convene regular Procurement Roundtable meetings.
• Facilitate meetings and follow-up activities with individual members as required.
• Collaborate with community stakeholders to execute collective and individual activities and programming such as procurement matchmaking, workshops, business cataloging, and best practices sharing sessions. Design and facilitate special events and initiatives, such as vendor summits, information sessions, and small business showcases.
• Foster relationships with individual Procurement Roundtable members outside of group meetings to understand their upcoming contract needs, understand their procurement processes, and evaluate individual opportunities.
• Coordination of Small Business Development and Capacity Building Services
• Regularly liaise with local business service organizations to identify businesses to match to contract opportunities and leverage ancillary services to support supplier development of businesses that are not yet ready to match with the major employers.
• Collaborate with Buy Newark advisors and consultants to manage data shared by participating members as well as any data collected on local businesses with the eventual goal of creating a formalized, local business database.
• Engage and vet existing and potential anchor vendors among Newark’s business community, including large-, mid-, and small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Program Oversight
• Update the Newark Alliance Senior Staff and Buy Newark advisors periodically on the progress of activities and initiatives pursued by the Procurement Roundtable.
• Oversee content management and analytic analysis of procurement tools including the Procurement Portal.
• Manage interns who will assist with program performance tracking (Excel), research, event planning, and other support tasks.
• Support Buy Newark's research development, fundraising, and communications efforts.

Location

The position will be hybrid, with the expectation that the Program Manager, Buy Newark can easily attend in-person meetings and events with reasonable notice. Work from home versus in the office schedules will likely be driven by the needs of the assignments and partners, as opposed to a fixed schedule (e.g., 3 days in the office, 2 out). The Alliance will make every effort to regularly and appropriately accommodate responsibilities related to childcare, eldercare, or other demanding personal/family commitments, so long as the demands of the position can be met.

Newark Alliance is committed to diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We bring out the best in each other, honoring the core values of the organization: urgency, collaboration, and professionalism.

Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to: hr@newark-alliance.org by Friday, June 3, 2022 using the subject line: Buy Newark PM

The Newark Alliance is a leading nonprofit dedicated to the ongoing economic revitalization of Newark, striving to revolutionize the city into an in-demand place to work, live, learn, play, and do business. It has led a compelling and unified economic development agenda that remains committed to the ongoing economic rejuvenation of the city. Supported by corporate and community partners, the Alliance has successfully leveraged Newark's competitive assets to generate economic growth for the city, state, region, and beyond. Through innovative partnerships with key stakeholders, the Alliance has developed creative solutions and supported major citywide initiatives that are delivering transformational change for residents and visitors alike, further advancing Newark's renaissance into one of America's great cities. For more information, visit www.Newark-Alliance.org.