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Duties Description The Assistant Director for Research, RFx, and Portfolio Management is a senior leadership role within Strategic Services responsible for advancing enterprise-wide procurement intelligence, complex sourcing execution, and centralized contract portfolio management. This position leads the development of data-driven insights, innovative procurement strategies, and modern sourcing methodologies to ensure New York State's centralized contracts remain aligned with market conditions, policy objectives, and best-value principles. The Assistant Director operates as a key strategic partner to the Director, CPO, and executive leadership, providing actionable intelligence, overseeing complex RFx activities, and driving continuous modernization of procurement practices and contract design.

Key Responsibilities Enterprise Portfolio Management & Intelligence Lead enterprise-wide management of the State's centralized contract portfolio (1,500+ contracts), including strategic planning, prioritization, and lifecycle oversight Develop and maintain portfolio-level analytics, including: Contract utilization and spend patterns Vendor concentration and competition indicators Contract performance and risk profiles Produce executive dashboards, reports, and decision-support tools for leadership Category Strategy & Market Intelligence Develop and oversee category management strategies aligned with fiscal, operational, and policy objectives Conduct ongoing market research and intelligence gathering, including: Pricing trends and benchmarking Supplier landscape and emerging vendors Industry innovations and risks Translate market insights into actionable sourcing and contract design strategies Complex RFx Leadership & Sourcing Innovation Establish and lead a centralized Complex Procurements (RFx) function supporting: Non-routine and high-risk procurements Multi-agency and enterprise procurements Strategic and innovative sourcing initiatives Oversee development of: Solicitation documents (RFQ, RFP, IFB, multi-step procurements) Evaluation frameworks and scoring methodologies Defensible award recommendations aligned with best value standards Implement advanced sourcing techniques, including: Two-step procurements Best and Final Offer processes Reverse auctions and alternative procurement models Contract Design, Modernization & Innovation Lead efforts to modernize centralized contract structures, including: o Pricing models and escalation mechanisms o Multi-award strategies and vendor participation models o Modular and flexible contracting approaches o Develop standardized sourcing and contract design frameworks o Drive continuous improvement of procurement policies, practices, and templates Risk, Compliance & Governance Alignment Ensure all activities comply with: o State Finance Law and procurement regulations o Procurement Lobbying Law o MWBE/SDVOB participation requirements o OSC and Attorney General review processes o Partner with compliance and policy teams to ensure alignment between innovation and statutory requirements. Executive Advisory & Strategic Decision Support Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on: Sourcing strategy and procurement pathways. Market conditions and risk mitigation.

Contract performance and portfolio optimization. Provide recommendations on: Contract renewals, rebids, or restructuring. Procurement pipeline planning (12-24 months) Agency Engagement & Procurement Advisory Oversee engagement with client agencies for complex procurement needs.

Provide guidance on procurement strategy, pathway selection, and sourcing approach. Support enterprise initiatives requiring coordinated procurement solutions. Team Leadership & Operational Management Supervise a team of analysts, sourcing specialists, and senior procurement professionals.

Assign and manage workload across research, RFx, and portfolio functions. Review and ensure quality, consistency, and defensibility of all deliverables. Support staff development, training, and professional growth.

Digital Transformation & Data Strategy Lead data and research components of eProcurement modernization initiatives. Advance use of analytics, dashboards, and digital tools to support procurement decision-making. Partner with technology teams to enhance procurement systems and reporting capabilities.

Standards, Guidance & Best Practices Develop and maintain: o Internal guidance documents. o Standard templates and frameworks. o Training materials and best-practice models.

o Institutionalize consistent, high-quality procurement practices across the organization. Minimum Qualifications Ten years of project management experience which must include planning and at least three other management process groups: origination (including governance/work intake, portfolio management, capacity/demand planning), initiating, executing, controlling, and/or closing. The required experience must include three years of supervision or at least one year as a manager.

Education Substitutions for specialized experience: Associate degree - Two (2) years Bachelor's degree - Four (4) years Master's degree - Five (5) years Juris Doctor (J.D.) - Six (6) years Ph.D. - Seven (7) years Preferred Qualifications: Experience in category management and market intelligence analysis Familiarity with New York State procurement statutes and oversight processes (OSC, AG) Experience with eProcurement systems, data analytics, and reporting tools Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and modernization initiatives NOTE: IN ORDER TO AWARD THE PROPER CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE, RESUMES MUST INCLUDE MONTH AND YEAR FOR START AND END DATES. IF ANY OF THIS EXPERIENCE IS LESS THAN FULL TIME YOU MUST INDICATE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED PER WEEK

Additional Comments The Office of General Services (OGS) is an equal opportunity employer, and we recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We encourage applicants from all communities to apply. For a full version of OGS's EEO/AA statement and benefits joining Team #OneOGS, please visit http://www.ogs.ny.gov/employment

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency's Telecommuting Program Guidelines. Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.