Director of Procurement Strategy and Contract Implementation, DECE - 26227

Position Summary: The Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE) supports the operational and programmatic functions of early childhood education programs for New York City children in elementary schools, Pre-K Centers, and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) contracted settings including Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Family Childcare (FCC) programs. DECE provides families with access to high quality, inclusive early childhood programs for children birth to five in diverse settings, supporting children’s growth and development. By working in partnership with families and programs, DECE ensures that children are engaged, nurtured, and supported.The Director of Procurement Strategy and Contract Implementation serve as the strategic lead for DECE’s procurement planning, policy development, and vendor management efforts. The Director guides the lifecycle of procurements for community-based early childhood education services, ensuring processes are equitable, transparent, compliant, and closely aligned with the mission, regulatory requirements, and operational priorities of the NYCPS and DECE.The Director will collaborate with internal partners including the Division of Contracts and Purchasing (DCP), Office of General Counsel (OGC), Central Finance, and other DECE teams as well as external stakeholders and oversight agencies. The Director oversees a team responsible for designing procurement strategies, developing solicitations, implementing contracts, supporting vendor engagement, and advancing procurement best practices. Performs related work.Reports to: Senior Director of Policy and Program ImplementationDirect Reports: Manager of Procurement Strategy and Contract Implementation and Associate Director of Program QualityKey Relationships: Chief of Policy and Program Implementation and other DECE senior leadership; DECE finance, operations, program, and data teams; Division of Contracts and Purchasing (DCP); Office of General Counsel (OGC); Central Finance; community‑based providers; City oversight agencies and external partners.ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Planning Alongside the Senior Director of Policy and Program Implementation, develop and implement a comprehensive procurement strategy for all DECE contracts, solicitations, and funding initiatives. Lead long‑term procurement planning aligned with policy priorities, enrollment trends, funding models, provider landscape, and operational needs. Advise DECE senior leadership on procurement risks, opportunities, regulatory considerations, and upcoming timelines. Identify and implement best practices to streamline procurement workflows and reduce barriers for prospective and current vendors, particularly CBO partners. Contribute to division wide strategic planning related to program expansion, fiscal sustainability, and systemwide improvements. Procurement & Contract Management Oversee the full procurement lifecycle, including scope development, solicitation drafting, procurement project management, and vendor evaluation, contract negotiation, contract launch, and renewal strategies. Collaborate with DCP to ensure all processes comply with the NYCPS Procurement Policy and Procedures, city and state procurement rules, and relevant local, state, or federal regulations. Manage and monitor high value, multi‑year contracts with community‑based organizations. Oversee forecasting and analysis of contracting needs to ensure timely development and execution of procurements. Track key performance metrics related to contract implementation, vendor performance, and procurement timelines. Vendor & Partner Engagement Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing vendors, ensuring transparent communication and equitable access to procurement opportunities. Develop and oversee vendor education supports, including information sessions, technical assistance, and public guidance materials. Ensure vendors understand regulatory requirements, submission processes, and expectations for contract performance. Serve as a primary contact for vendor inquiries related to procurement and contracting. Team Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration Lead a team of procurement strategy and contract implementation staff to execute high quality procurement and monitor successful rollouts. Provide coaching, supervision, and performance management to ensure staff effectiveness and professional growth. Partner closely with finance, operations, program, and data teams to ensure procurement decisions support program quality, fiscal integrity, and compliance. Manage special projects to meet the evolving needs of NYCPS and DECE. Qualification RequirementsMinimumA master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, educational psychology, educational leadership, public administration, public policy, social work, or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory, full-time progressively responsible professional experience in education administration, in such areas as: portfolio planning, educational grants/funding, student enrollment, assessment and accountability, youth development, special education, early childhood, program evaluation, policy research, college and career readiness, health and wellness, immunization, diagnostic and treatment services for parents and children, out of school programs, career and occupational education, curriculum development, evaluation and testing, educational planning, and educational statistics, or a related field, at least 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity in education administration; orA baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of satisfactory, fulltime progressively responsible professional experience, in one or more of the areas as described in “1” above, at least 18 months of which must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity; orA four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and six years of satisfactory, full time professional experience, in one or more of the areas as described in “1” above, at least 18 months of which must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity; orEducation and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above. Undergraduate education above the high school level may be substituted for professional experience, in the areas described in “1” above, at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 4 years. Graduate education in areas other than those mentioned above, may be substituted for the professional experience, at the rate of 15 graduate semester credits from an accredited college or university, for 6 months of experience, up to a maximum of 1 year of professional experience. However, all candidates must have a high school diploma or its educational equivalent and 18 months of experience in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity in education administration as described above.PreferredExperience with public-sector procurement processes, including NYC or NYCPS procurement rules, PASSPort, etc. Knowledge of early childhood education systems and community-based organizational contracting models. Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to mentor staff and build high performing teams. Demonstrated ability to develop and manage complex procurements and large-scale projects. Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, with the ability to convey complex policy and procurement concepts clearly. Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with diverse provider communities. Exceptional organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Knowledge of NYCPS policy and procedures and the ability to interpret and apply policies effectively, especially related to the DECE. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications and comfort working with procurement or financial systems. Salary: $130,151 - $143,166(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding. New York City Residency is NOT Required *We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERDOE Non- Discrimination PolicyThe Department of Education of the City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.