The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) seeks motivated professionals who want to use their talents and skills to make a difference. Our 500+ FTE staff are adaptive problem solvers and passionate about enriching people’s lives. If you are mission-driven, dedicated to superior service and support, can diligently work independently and in a collaborative environment, join our team. LAHSA is leading the fight to end homelessness in LA County. Here, not only would your work have a real impact on the community, but we also offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.
Created in 1993, LAHSA is a joint powers authority of the city and county of Los Angeles. As the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, we coordinate and manage over $800 million annually in federal, state, county, and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing, and services to people experiencing homelessness.
Job Summary
The Director, Contracts and Procurement oversees the Department of Contracts and Procurement at LAHSA. This position manages and monitors the Contracting and Procurement operations of LAHSA—including tasks and processes encompassing procurement, solicitation, budget and contract preparation, and award administration for Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts. The Contracts and Procurement department ensures that LAHSA contracts and grant agreements with its Funders are of high quality and in compliance with all applicable legal requirements and other variable provisions associated with specific funding sources or program components. The Director of Contracts and Procurement will design, implement, and modify various contracting and grant management-related workflows both internal and external to LAHSA as necessary, and will similarly be responsible for assigning and prioritizing work amongst Department staff to optimize resource utilization and outcomes. This position is a key member of LAHSA Senior Management staff LAHSA and reports directly to the Chief Finance Officer (CFO.)
Essential Job Functions
• Direct, develop, and supervise department staff.
• Engage staff in the strategic planning processes to develop concrete implementation plans to achieve department goals and contribute to LAHSA-wide objectives.
• Assess the skills and resources within the department and LAHSA on a regular basis to inform the strategic deployment of those resources to address Department and LAHSA-wide needs.
• Analyze the capabilities of department staff and the effectiveness of department processes to inform future work assignment, hiring, and training decisions.
• Collaborate with other Los Angeles Continuum of Care (CoC) participants—including organizations not funded or contracted to LAHSA—to reduce the occurrence, recurrence, duration, and impacts of homelessness in the Los Angeles CoC through the use of LAHSA-funded grants and contracts.
• Develop and maintain the standard terms and conditions for grant award letters, agreements, contracts, amendments, modifications, and other related documents.
• Prepare and revise draft templates for Contracts and Grant Department, and other documents pertinent to LAHSA contracting processes.
• Create and distribute policies, procedures, best practices, and reference or provide guidance documents to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Contracts and Grants Department and LAHSA-wide processes.
• Provide training to LAHSA staff, subrecipient personnel, funding officials, and other audiences as necessary to improve collaboration on and understanding of LAHSA contracting and grant management processes.
• Identify the requirements and processes associated with opening and closing out both Grants and Contracts and manage the implementation of those processes.
• Review and approve Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Agreements, Contracts, and other, related documents associated with contracting processes when necessary.
• Develop and continuously refine the tools, templates, and methodologies necessary to analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of LAHSA contracting and grant management practices of both LAHSA subrecipients and LAHSA itself.
• Works collaboratively with other LAHSA departments to maintain information regarding contract and grant metrics and criteria necessary to accurately measure and report on the performance and effects achieved by LAHSA and its subrecipients on various program components and funding sources given and across multiple types of variables.
• Prepare and deliver reports, analyses, and other technical documents to communicate and explain the progress and impact of both LAHSA’s work and the work of its subrecipients to the LAHSA Commission, funders, the public, and other audiences as necessary.
• Establish and improve processes through which outcome data from programs is used to inform future program development and revisions to LAHSA contracting and active grant management policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with other LAHSA departments to expand, downsize, or redistribute resources for existing program— and develop new programs—at the behest of the LAHSA Commission, LAHSA funders, or in response to findings made by LAHSA itself.
• Analyze the performance of homeless programs and strategies on the program, contract, agency, grant, community, and system levels, in collaboration with LAHSA department directors.
• Oversee the program development, Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ), and Award processes.
• Oversee the contracting and active grant management processes of LAHSA for over 13 major Funders, 100 subrecipient provider agencies, and 700 contracts.
• Assist with the funding, allocation, reallocation, transfer, amendment, and modification processes for both Funders providing programmatic funding to LAHSA (such as Housing & Urban Development Department- HUD and Los Angeles Housing Community Investment Department- HCID) as well as subrecipient agencies receiving funding through LAHSA contracts for the direct provision of services and housing.
• Oversee the development and execution of contract and grant-related technical assistance (TA) plans to support the programs and services delivered by subrecipients and funded by LAHSA contracts to facilitate higher performance levels and client satisfaction.
• Participate in LAHSA negotiations with current and prospective funder personnel to ensure that LAHSA’s concerns and priorities are accounted for in its agreements with funders.
• Lead LAHSA’s efforts with respect to resolving disputes stemming from various contract or agreement-related issues.
• Advise LAHSA executive and department management of the effects of potential contracting, sub-contracting, modifications, amendments, reprogramming, and funding transfers with various funding sources and program components to inform decisions and future practices.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive records for documents and communications pertinent to LAHSA contracting activities, including award letters, contracts, grant agreements, terms and conditions, RFPs, and RFSQs.
• Maintain knowledge of current developments regarding contracting processes and best practices in the nonprofit, private, and public sectors to ensure that LAHSA resources, practices, and staff capacity are kept up to date.
• Undertake special projects and other duties as assigned by Executive Management.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Excellent management skills, including ability to lead, mentor, and direct managers and staff to accomplish multiple departmental goals and effectively collaborate with other LAHSA departments to progress LAHSA-wide goals.
• Proven capacity to successfully carry out program development, implementation, oversight, outcome analysis, and reporting processes.
• Demonstrated ability to translate a needs assessment into an effective strategic programming plan for both internal organizational components and external partner entities.
• Demonstrated ability to enforce fair and equitable processes, decisions and determinations in compliance with Federal, State and local funding laws, rules, and regulations.
• Strong knowledge of regulations, requirements, and procedures governing the application for and use of funding from agencies and programs that fund homeless services and impact homeless persons.
• Strong knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local government laws, rules, regulations, and processes related to procurement, and administration of contracts, grants, and loans, or other similar agreements and processes with governmental and nonprofit entities.
• Familiarity with applicable policies, procedures, laws, rules, requirements, and regulations related to the procurement of funding sources and the administration of programs used for the provision of homeless services.
• Strong interpersonal and outreach skills; proven ability to work collaboratively and establish successful working relationships with other entities and stakeholders (including government and nonprofit personnel) to advance larger, community or system-wide goals.
• Proven ability to optimize results by building team, unit, or department-wide effectiveness and efficiency through planning, managing, delegating, and prioritizing the assignment and delegation of tasks and projects amongst personnel with varying work styles.
• Proven ability to think creatively, analytically, and strategically to solve complex problems, resolve disputes, clarify situations, and communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely.
• Strong organizational, planning, time management, and project management skills, to coordinate effective, efficient, and timely completion of multiple ongoing or long-term projects and efforts while reconciling and prioritizing them with day-to-day departmental operations.
• Strong attention to detail; proven ability to identify best practices and implement them as formalized policies and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; proven experience in preparing and presenting a variety of organized, concise, and logically sound technical documents and reports.
• Proven ability to work independently and proactively while exercising sound judgment.
• Intermediate to advanced-level proficiency in various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Planner, Project, Outlook, etc.)
• Familiarity with Contract and Grant Management or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and software a plus (Contract Logix familiarity is highly desirable.)
Training & Experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in similar leadership positions and a demonstrated record of accomplishment in those positions.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Public Administration or a related field. A Master’s or Advanced Degree in a related field (such as an MBA or JD) is preferred, but not required.
• Management experience in a governmental entity or a large nonprofit organization receiving government funding is preferred; experience working in entities involved in the provision of social services is highly desirable.
• Experience in the implementation, oversight, and evaluation of programs, initiatives, and strategies in the nonprofit, government, or private sectors; experience conducting or responding to audits is a plus.
• Direct experience in drafting, executing, and administering contracts and grant agreements, or with similar processes (such as active grant management) is highly desirable.
• Experience working within the Homeless Services field is highly desirable.
• Any combination of extensive and applicable work experience and educational credentials to perform the above duties successfully.
• A valid California Driver’s License is required.