Procurement Transformation Project Manager 

In 2023, the City of Syracuse was competitively awarded by Bloomberg Philanthropies a $1 million grant which challenges the city to transform its procurement practices and become one of the most efficient, equitable, and results-driven procurement cities. In a joint collaboration with the departments of management and budget, finance, digital services and analytics, performance and innovation (API), with support from external partners such as the Government Performance Lab at Harvard Kennedy School and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, this core team will work over two years to implement our transformation roadmap.

As part of the Office of Analytics, Performance, and Innovation, the Procurement Transformation Project Manager assists in managing the procurement transformation project, engages in all project workstreams and initiatives. The Project Manager will conduct research and performs data analysis; evaluates policies, practices, and procedures; maintain stakeholder relationships; and develop and implement project plans to advance project priorities. This position is grant funded.

Duties & Responsibilities

Project Management:

  • Assists in managing the procurement transformation project, including project scoping, resource planning, budgeting, implementation, and closing.

  • Collaborates in the development of detailed implementation plans, and coordinates staff and resources to ensure that effective solutions are accomplished within prescribed timeframes.

  • Crafts, supports, and delivers internal and external visual, oral, and written messaging/communications that capture and compel the adoption and embrace of the project.

  • Manages and maintains strong relationships with numerous city government officials and other community stakeholders relative to the project.

Public-Sector Innovation:

  • Conducts and leads process improvement analyses and qualitative research via user experience, human-centered design, interaction design, user research, and/or service design methodologies.

  • Conducts policy research with quantitative aspects and an implementation focus contextualizes research to local relevance and synthesizes content to facilitate project dialogue.

  • Researches effective methods of organizational management to ensure current and effective practices.

General:

  • Represents the Office of Accountability, Performance, and Innovation and the Mayor’s Office at meetings with department leadership and employees.

  • Documents research materials, innovation and performance improvements, and project progress.

  • Performs additional duties, as assigned.

Core Competencies

Values:

  • Passion for public sector innovation, municipal service delivery, and data-driven decision-making.

  • Deep curiosity for the challenges and opportunities facing the City of Syracuse.

  • Client-driven with a strong bias toward action.

  • Attentiveness to details, deadline-oriented, and able to handle criticism in a constructive way.

  • High level of integrity, discretion, and ethics.

Experience and Abilities

  • Demonstrated capacity for critical thinking, creativity, and leadership.

  • Track record of establishing targets and delivering measurable results on time and within budget.

  • Ability to lead strategic planning initiatives that involve multiple stakeholders and constituencies.

  • Ability to thoughtfully communicate with City leadership and build buy-in with relevant stakeholders around a shared vision for achieving results.

  • Ability to influence and inspire teams at all levels of the organization.

  • Ability to use diplomacy in working relationships to manage conflict effectively and efficiently.

  • Ability to interpret empirical data and descriptive statistics, and develop data-based recommendations.

  • Ability to prioritize workstreams and handle ambiguity in a fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent tasks and competing priorities.

  • Ability to exercise independent judgment and decision-making while maintaining project visibility and transparency.

Skills and Knowledge

  • Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning skills

  • Knowledge of digital tools or applications that can enhance workflows and team coordination

  • Knowledge of cost-benefit and return-on-investment concepts

  • Knowledge of project scoping concepts and best practices

  • Strong familiarity with Microsoft Excel

  • Familiarity with collaborative workshop tools such as Miro, Lucidchart, or Google Jamboard

  • Familiarity with creative tools such as Adobe Suite, Figma, or Canva

  • Familiarity with ArcGIS Online

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Policy, Government, Business, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Data Science, Statistics, or a closely related field and one year of work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in project management.

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The City of Syracuse offers a starting salary of $59,750.00 - $64,000 for this position and a competitive benefits package. This position is a one-year, grant-funded position.

City of Syracuse residency will be required.

Please send your cover letter and resume to ndiaz@syr.gov