Contract Management Manager (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)(Opt1)

Position Overview

The Division of Early Childhood’s Bureau of Contracts and Payments is seeking to hire a leader and critical thinker who is organized, dynamic, organized, thorough, and detail-oriented to serve as Contracts and Grant Unit Manager. This person will manage Contracts for the Division of Early Childhood (DEC). This person will also track and research early childhood contracts and grant agreements throughout the contract life cycle, will expedite and prioritize, and manage the Continuous Quality Improvement and Inquiries activities. DEC is one of six divisions within the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). DEC serves to strengthen and centralize Child Care, Early Intervention, Home Visiting, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start within IDHS. The DEC vision is for Illinois’ pregnant persons, young children, and families to have the supports they need to achieve their full potential. The DEC mission is to enhance equitable access to Child Care, Home Visiting, and Early Intervention programs and services that support whole child development. DEC is committed to the following guiding values: Whole Child Focus, Quality Service Delivery, Equity, Relentless Pursuit of Mission, Respect and Dignity, and Stability and Sustainability.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Contract Management Manager.

• Conducts research, tracks, and gathers information on administrative contracts and other contracts and grant agreement utilization to make recommendations to enhance related existing processes.

• Plans, develops, and provides routine and ad hoc training sessions and technical assistance with corresponding materials for Division staff on GATA/Grantmaking mandated activities and processes.

• Serves as full-line supervisor.

• Participates in activities that advance the DEC’s Strategic Plan and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice (DEIRJ) Plan, -informed and equity lens in the implementation and support of DEC program and operational objectives and outcomes.

• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration. 

• Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of professional experience developing, managing, and evaluating program budgets, contracts and grants activities, and fiscal related tracking systems, software, and databases to ensure effective and efficiency operations at a public or private organization.

• Three (3) years of professional work experience adhering to state and/or federal mandates (e.g., Grant Accountability and Transparency Act / 2CFR or other similar requirements) regarding contract and grantmaking processes for a public or private organization as a grantor or grantee/vendor.

• Three (3) years of professional work experience developing, implementing, and managing different types of comprehensive organizational agreements aligned with the relevant procurement policies and governing statutes and regulations, including contracts, grant agreements, intergovernmental agreements/data sharing agreements, and other related functions.

• Two (2) years of professional experience working with state and federal rules and regulations relative to state or non-state contracting and procurement requirements.

• Two (2) years of professional supervisory experience assigning work, providing guidance and feedback to subordinates, training and developing staff, counseling staff regarding work performance, recommending discipline, reassigning staff to meet daily operational needs, establishing annual goals and objectives, and preparing and signing performance evaluations.

• Two (2) years of professional work experience meeting deadlines with strong attention to detail and the ability to utilize critical thinking skills while navigating changing priorities and multi-tasking multiple projects, using Business Objects, Power BI, Microsoft Office Suite (including Teams), graphs, charts, and/or maps (e.g., two-dimensional or Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information Systems). 

Conditions of Employment

• Requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint, Teams, and One Drive.

• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

*All conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.