Deputy Agency Chief Contracting Officer of Procurement Operations

About the role

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system's 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the city.

The Agency Chief Contracting Office (ACCO) is responsible for managing all agency procurement and payment activity in accordance with all applicable city and state laws and regulations including General Municipal Law, City Charter, local laws such as LL1 for (MWBE) Minority Women Owned Business Enterprise, (PPB) Procurement Policy Board Rules and NYC Comptroller Directives.

ACCO works cooperatively with DEP's bureaus in support of their operational and programmatic needs including procurement of capital construction and related professional services (design, engineering, and construction management services), maintenance and repair contracts, and a wide array of supply and standard service contracts.

In addition, ACCO staff manages agency compliance with vendor performance evaluations, MWBE participation goals, opportunities and requirements, prevailing wage, labor law compliance and vendor management. ACCO processes hundreds of both large and small contracts and thousands of payment transactions procuring about $2 billion in contracts annually.

The ACCO consists of ten (10) organizational groups: Competitive Sealed Bids, Procurement Administration, Technology Development & Innovation, Contract Administration, Contract Compliance and Opportunities, Purchasing

Management, Payments & Accounting, Negotiations and Contract Review, Large Contract Payments, and the Process Optimization & Change Management group.

The selected candidate reporting directly to the Assistant Commissioner/ Agency Chief Contracting Officer, will be responsible for the below:

• As directed by the Agency Chief Contracting Officer (ACCO), oversee standardization and consolidation of Procurement-related template documents and procedures for solicitation documents, consultant contracts, Design-Build, etc. Support the development and implementation of strategies to improve procurement process and cycle-times for Construction and Professional Services contracts.
• Work with ACCO on development of training CBT modules for personnel on all major procurement and payment activities with the goal of establishing an online library of resources for DEP procurement staff.
• Lead and coordinate process changes across ACCO units, ensuring organizational groups work together effectively to manage increased workload demands and advance procurement improvement initiatives. Oversee the implementation of programs, projects, and policies, adjusting as needed to achieve established goals and objectives. Maintain awareness of activities across work units, identify issues, and take corrective action such as rescheduling or reallocating resources. Foster a productive environment where staff feel valued, their strengths are utilized, and each unit is supported in achieving high levels of performance.
• Oversee the collection and presentation of procurement-related data and metrics. Work with ACCO/Director of IT to Design and maintain reports to track cycle-time performance, capital commitment and other areas as requested by the ACCO.
• Interact closely with budget and fiscal staff to develop workflows and strategies for procurement policy and promulgation/implementation of all new policies.
• Liaise with Operating Bureaus to assist with contract-level performance and tracking, workload prioritization and continuous process improvement.
• Attend ACCO/Procurement leadership meetings and update Senior Management and colleagues on new developments and policies which affect DEP procurement.
• Manage the full cycle of preparing, reviewing, and submitting turnaround reporting documents required by MOCS and other oversight agencies. This includes ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable standards and deadlines; coordinating with internal units to gather supporting documentation; maintaining organized records for audit readiness; and serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries from oversight bodies. Additionally, develop and refine reporting procedures to improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, and support agency transparency. Manage the full cycle of preparing, reviewing, and submitting turnaround reporting documents required by MOCS and other oversight agencies. This includes ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable standards and deadlines; coordinating with internal units to gather supporting documentation; maintaining organized records for audit readiness; and serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries from oversight bodies. Additionally, develop and refine reporting procedures to improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, and support agency transparency.
• Oversee executive-level projects that at times require cross-functional collaboration with other DEP Bureaus and City, State and/or Federal Agencies; Disseminate necessary information and communicating ideas on behalf of the Agency Chief Contracting Officer and effectively communicate vital information to ACCO's staff. Assist other agency partners such as the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOC&EJ) with procurement-related matters.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Strong managerial background in NYC procurement with extensive experience and thorough knowledge of Procurement Policy Board rules, City Charter, and NYC Comptroller Directives. Experience using data to drive unit performance.