Vendor Performance Manager (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

Essential Functions

• Under general direction, serves as the Vendor Performance Manager for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), organizing, planning, executing, processing, controlling, and evaluating Vendor Performance Management (VPM) activities through sourcing of procurements conducted and contracts administered by IDEC.
• Independently leads the development of vendor performance tracking strategies and confers with contract owners or managers to verify incorporation of vendor metrics in the vendor selection process.
• Leads and monitors supplier performance and compliance, utilizing monitoring tools and templates, providing active tracking, engaging and educating contract owners, and maintaining/updating performance monitoring tools and templates.
• Administers post contract execution procurement actions, including notations, assignments, amendments, change orders, renewals, performance related contract terminations and amendments, economic cost adjustments (price) increases, and contract close-out policies, procedures, and necessary actions.
• Reviews, monitors and reports VPM performance and activity data related to Business Enterprise Program (BEP) compliance and sub-contractor utilization and negotiates BEP goal setting and vendors throughout the life of a contract.
• Serves as a full-line supervisor.
• 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 the completion of four (4) years of college.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in contract management, procurement support, fiscal oversight, or program administration in a public or business organization, preferably supporting human services or early childhood program functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of professional experience conducting vendor/supplier performance and compliance research and providing recommendations in the development of new programmatic initiatives to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in a public or private organization. 
• Three (3) years of professional experience planning for the effective and efficient utilization of program resources and aligning program, application, or management goals and objectives with those of a state, federal, public or business organization. 
• Three (3) years of professional experience developing vendor performance tracking strategies and collaborating with staff to incorporate vendor metrics into the vendor selection process, and reviewing vendor performance reports, including vendor performance evaluations, risk management, compliance and accountability, continuous improvement, and stakeholder communication with managers and end users. 
• Three (3) years of professional experience tracking supplier performance management through active tracking, outreach, and education of contract owners and the creation, management, and updating of supplier performance monitoring tools and templates.
• Three (3) years of professional experience receiving supplier complaints and managing the process of resolving supplier complaints. 
• Three (3) years of professional experience managing and processing post contract execution procurement actions, including notations, assignments, amendments, change orders, renewals, performance related contract terminations and amendments, economic cost adjustments (price) increases, and contract close-out policies, procedures, and necessary actions.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
• Requires the ability to use state issued equipment, such as a cell phone, laptop, etc.
• Requires engagement with Business Enterprise Program (BEP) contractors and subcontractors and support for the goals of the BEP program and the Fair Contracting Task Force per Executive Order 2018-07.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties.
• 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.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

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

About the Agency:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC will be working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026. Illinois strives to be the best state in the nation to raise a family with young children and IDEC is committed to continue putting children and families center while reducing complexities and finding efficiencies in the system and advancing equity.