Description Position at The Port Authority of NY & NJ The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's Procurement Department is seeking an enthusiastic legal professional, has a desire to serve as an expert resource in the fields of compliance, integrity and contracting to a centralized procurement department responsible for delivery of some of the region's most exciting and cutting-edge projects. This roles plays a key role in the development of strategy, approach and documents in all areas of procurements.Apply to be considered for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to work on some of the region's most unique and exciting projects and join an agency that provides modes of transportation for millions of people, as well as supports billions of dollars in economic activity each year, which drive a hub of commerce both domestically and internationally.For over 100 years, the Port Authority of NY & NJ has been designing, engineering, and operating the transportation infrastructure that moves people and goods to, from, and throughout one of the most economically competitive and culturally vibrant regions in the world. We are looking for a unique individual who has experience drafting and reviewing contract documents, to join our Procurement Department as a Procurement Compliance Associate.Responsibilities:Reporting to the Chief Legal Procurement Executive/Manager of the Integrity, Contract Review and Compliance Division, the successful candidate will have significant responsibility with respect to reviewing a variety of procurement documents across all industries that do business with the Port Authority.
- Draft, review and negotiate various contracts and agreements, including software license agreements, public solicitation documents such as a Bid or a Request for Proposal (RFP), professional services Agreements, and other relevant documents.
- Develop contracts that receive federal funding, including drafting and incorporating associated federal terms, conditions, and requirements to ensure compliance.
- Work with internal procurement staff on all aspects of the procurement process, including reviewing scopes of work and discussing procurement strategies.
- Collaborate with personnel from other departments in the Port Authority, such as Law, Audit, Risk Finance, and Technology to ensure operational risks are minimized.
- Participate in internal and external initiatives with other governmental agencies to support acquisition of innovative technology products and services.
- Provide counsel to internal staff on all aspects of procurement, including preparation and editing of contract specifications.
- Consult with personnel from other departments in the Port Authority, such as Law, the Chief Ethics and Compliance Office and the Office of Inspector General to resolve vendor integrity and conflict of interest matters.
- Participate in in agency-wide initiatives to support critical projects.
- Analyze contracts for compliance with procurement policies.
- Handle responses and decisions on protests of procurement decisions.
- Research and analyze procurement best practices to encourage enhancements, innovation and facilitate improvement of processes and procedures.
- Develop, maintain, and manage the procurement templates. Update and /or develop new language and clauses as required, based upon industry practices, incorporating applicable federal, state law and/or internal guidelines.
- Work to ensure compliance with federal requirements for solicitations where federal funding is anticipated.
- Work with stakeholders throughout the agency on the procurement aspects of grant-related funding.
- Provide final Department review of Bid and RFP documents, to ensure quality and accuracy of documents.
- Engage in special assignments as requested by the Chief Procurement Officer.
Qualifications:Candidates must possess the following qualifications to be eligible for this position:
- A Juris Doctor (J.D.) or its international equivalent from an accredited college or university
- At least 2 years of demonstrated contract negotiation or procurement experience in a corporate or governmental environment, including drafting and reviewing contracts, negotiating with vendors and strong written/oral communication skills.D
Desired:Ideal candidates will present the following profile:
- A general understanding of business and commercial transactions and terms.
- Familiarity and experience working with contracts that receive federal funding, including awareness of the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulations as well as contracting requirements of various federal agencies, including, but not limited to the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.
- A curious mind with the ability to develop unique solutions that require a high degree of ingenuity, creativity, flexibility, and innovation.
- A self-starter and finisher who possesses the ability to operate independently on most tasks and
- work closely with a small team.
- Demonstrated legal, procurement and/or contracts experience in a public or private entity, including negotiating with vendors.
- An interest in, and basic understanding of, technology contracts terms and conditions.
- Familiarity working with laws, rules, and regulations to ensure compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and meet deadlines, especially on time sensitive items, and have project management skills to manage a large diverse workload within tight time constraints and with a strong customer-service orientation.
- A team player who can seamlessly work collaboratively across all departments, divisions and hierarchies within the Port Authority.
- Commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
- Experience working in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Professional certification, such as CPPO, CPPB is a plus.