Cultural Contract Specialist

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City’s cultural community, including the 39 institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,100 non-profit cultural organizations that receive regular annual support. This constituency represents a diverse array of organizations - including performing arts groups, museums, theaters, zoos, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, community-based organizations, and arts education programs – that are central to the life of communities in every corner of New York City. DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs and arts educators through its Materials for the Arts program; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of permanent public art through the City’s Public Art Program.

The Cultural Contract Specialist will be responsible for helping manage all agency procurements in accordance with the New York City Charter and Procurement Policy Board Rules. Under the direction of the ACCO, the Cultural Contract Specialist will assist the agency in purchasing a wide range of goods and services as well as handling procurement-related matters and special projects as needed to support cultural organizations. Typical duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support the procurement and contract award and administration process, including preparation and issuance of specifications; solicitation of competitive and non-competitive bids and proposals; review of vendor bids and proposals for responsiveness; performing vendor responsibility determinations; processing contract changes and modifications; formulation of required documentation; preparing contracts for registration; monitoring and evaluating vendor performance.
• Help ensure compliance with policies and regulations in the processing of allocations to cultural organizations including those pertaining to DCLA’s three main funding areas: Program Services, Cultural Institutions, and Capital Units.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of agency procurement activities to comply with Chapter 13 of the City Charter and the NYC Procurement Policy Board Rules and monitor compliance with all applicable local laws and executive orders.
• Ensure that the agency procurement program is administered so that user and constituent needs are met in a timely fashion, quality of goods and services procured is maintained, needs are met, and procurement difficulties are resolved.
• Provide technical assistance to staff, constituents, and vendors to ensure City and agency procurement guidelines and standards are being followed.
• Conduct research on and facilitate outreach to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) to increase participation in agency procurement.
• Work in close collaboration with all agency units, as well as with City oversight and partner agencies.
• Assist in gathering data and providing reporting required by oversight agencies and provide high level data analyses to support the agency’s procurement goals.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.