Business Equity Manager

Who we are:

Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader of the Houston Ship Channel, one of the most powerful economic engines in the state and the country. Port Houston owns and operates the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country.

Through our leadership and our work, we help ensure the nation’s busiest waterway stays running to benefit the customers of the public facilities we operate, our surrounding communities and industries, and our region. Port Houston exists to move the world and drive regional prosperity.

The work we do helps build up our local community, supports the economy, bolsters goodwill for the state of Texas, and influences the outlook of the entire region. And this is only the beginning! Our best accomplishments are ahead of us as we expand the Houston Ship Channel and widen its reach to become America’s distribution hub for the next generation.

Who you are:

You are more than the work you do. We want your work at Port Houston to be more than a job – we want it to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging and rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, competitive pay, benefits that protect you and your family, and a high-performance culture that values your contributions and helps you reach your career goals.

Sound like the place for you?

Business Equity Manager Position Summary:

Serves as a subject-matter expert on Small Business Enterprises (SBE), Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE); collectively, “MWBE”. Manages outreach programs, providing direction and input on program policies and procedures. Serves as the Port’s liaison to a variety of individuals and local, and state organizations regarding MWBE-related programs.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

• Oversee MWBE component of Business Equity Program
• Develop strategic minority and women suppliers including Joint Venture, Mentor-Protégé’, Port University, Contract Bonding, and 2nd & 3rd Tier MWBE Participation Programs.
• Plan goal-oriented outreach initiatives in alignment with the 2020 Port of Houston Authority Disparity Study recommendations. Establish budgets, key milestones, and success measurements.
• Devise strategic methods and procedures to increase compliance and active supplier participation.
• Assess statistical data and other information related to the Business Equity program, such as bids, MWBE utilization, MWBE compliance and contractor capacity data to establish targeted outreach efforts for policy.
• Partner with community leaders to create trust and relationships that increase visibility and result in positive outcomes
• Establish partnerships with other government agencies and colleges/universities and form inter-agency commonality with program goals.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communication, Sociology, Public Administration, or related major in a public or accredited private academic institution required
• 3 years related procurement experience required

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviors:

This classification works with a high degree of independence and is expected to carry out the necessary day to day activities without direction, except as new or unusual circumstances require.

• Knowledge of leadership principles to help people towards clearly understanding and meeting the organizational vision, mission, and goals.
• Strong understanding of Disparity Study process and of the legal and procedural constraints of public sector contracting.
• Familiarity with the process and procedures that apply to MWBE contracting, as well as issues that typically arise in procurement of major construction contracts.
• Understand how Disparity Study guidance and regulations apply to the establishment of goals for fostering participation of small businesses in contracts and creation of subcontracting opportunities of a size that small and MWBE businesses can reasonably perform.
• Familiarity with MWBE and small business certification requirements
• Understanding of ratios/percentages and apply mathematical formulas as needed to perform required analysis
• Good understanding of the construction, consulting, and goods & services industry and its contracting methodologies.
• Must have strong business acumen.
• Must have demonstrated experience in executing programs or policies designed to support balanced community involvement within contracting.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to write clearly in a business setting, prepare reports, and speak in public.Must have strong interpersonal skills, including courteous, respectful demeanor, tact/diplomacy, and awareness of others, as well as commitment to building relationships and work with diverse internal and external groups.
• Must have sound business judgment.
• Must be able to build coalitions with relevant stakeholder and community organizations.
• Ability to adapt to changing diversity, inclusion and contracting climate, as needed, to balance workloads and achieve other department objectives through strong planning and organization.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information in a concise manner and make recommendations on strategies to resolve policy, politically sensitive, and project specific issues.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor when challenged or other uncomfortable situations.
• Ability to lead and mentor multiple staff. Must be able to lead change.

Port Houston proudly embraces diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity. Our teams reflect our commitment to celebrating diversity and creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $84,300.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Houston, TX 77029: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Procurement: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: One location