State of Maryland

The Minority Business Enterprise Officer V is the supervisory level of work involving certification or recertification of a business as a minority business enterprise (MBE) or non-supervisory work with responsibility for directing and coordinating MBE program areas at the Department level. The work of this classification involves determining if MBE status is appropriate, investigating allegations of fraud and program abuse, interviewing business owners, employees, and project engineers, preparing reports, making presentations, conducting on-site inspections, analyzing financial and legal documents and testifying in hearings; or overseeing program and business development activities relative to procurement, policies and procedures, laws and federal regulations, budget, and administration; or planning, coordinating and conducting community outreach activities and events of the MBE program; or reviewing, assessing, and monitoring contracts on a department-wide basis for compliance to COMAR regulations and federal USDOT regulations, overseeing compliance issues for all MDOT Administrations, attending pre-construction meetings, and providing compliance information to Prime Contractors and MBE subcontractors or a combination of the above. Employees in this classification may supervise Minority Business Enterprise Officers.

Employees perform duties under managerial supervision from a Minority Business Enterprise Administrator or other designated administrator. Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings and weekend hours. Work is generally performed in an office setting; however, travel and on-site inspections may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, extreme temperatures, fumes and smoke. On some assignments, employees may be required to wear protective clothing or safety equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Minority Business Enterprise Officer IV (Lead/Advanced) is differentiated from the Minority Business Enterprise Officer V in that the Minority Business Enterprise Officer IV (Lead/Advance) assigns, reviews, and approves the work of and trains lower-level Minority Business Enterprise Officers or is assigned the more complex and difficult minority business enterprise investigations and projects. The Minority Business Enterprise Officer IV (Lead/Advanced) is differentiated from the Minority Business Enterprise Officer V in that the Minority Business Enterprise Officer V has full supervisory responsibility for lower-level Minority Business Enterprise Officers.

Plans and coordinates the work of Minority Business Enterprise Officers involved in the investigation and compliance of businesses meeting eligibility standards for certification or recertification as a Minority Business Enterprise;

Supervises Minority Business Officers;

Trains, advises, and assists staff in the interpretation of Minority Business Enterprise laws, procedures, and policies;

Recommends and implements changes in operating procedures to enhance day-to-day activities;

Reviews, edits, and approves investigative reports;

Investigates complaints alleging abuse and fraud against the Minority Business Enterprise Program;

Conducts in or out-of-state investigations of certified or applicant businesses;

Interviews business entity principals, individuals, public and private officials;

Prepares comprehensive documents pertaining to certification, recertification, expansion of services or show cause notices including recommendations as appropriate;

Gathers data from the public and private sector in order to clarify and verify information required for investigations;

Confers with attorneys concerning alleged fraud cases;

Provides information to the business public relating to participation in the Minority Business Enterprise Program;

Makes recommendations to management regarding the approval/disapproval of certifications and recertifications;

Understands and applies laws, regulations and rules governing fiscal, accounting, auditing and statistical matters as related to the Minority Business Enterprise certification/recertification process;

Reviews and analyzes confidential and proprietary information, such as: articles of incorporation, corporate by-laws, minute books, stock certificates, transfer ledgers, partnership agreements, buy-sell shareholder agreements, financial and accounting statements, tax and legal documents of businesses;

Examines contracts and documents to verify statements made concerning the estimating, bidding, performance and payment factors as they relate to the determination of ownership and control, determines MBE participation goals, and reviews and evaluates MBE waiver requests for compliance with state and federal guidelines;

Examines insurance coverage of capital items;

Researches, plans, coordinates and executes community outreach events of the MBE program;

Interacts with businesses, community leaders, private sector corporate executives, majority and minority trade contractor association executives, other trade associations, and local, state and federal government officials;

Provides leadership and guidance to modal administration MBE personnel;

Researches and evaluates federal and state guidelines;

Monitors contracts on a department-wide basis for compliance with COMAR regulations and federal USDOT regulations and MBE standards;

Coordinates the development of minority trade and contractors associations and community networks;

Develops and implements training programs to inform and educate minority business owners about products and services;

Coordinates projects relative to office automation, software development needs and FMIS as they relate to MBE procurement and certification needs;

Analyzes and evaluates all MBE proposed legislative initiatives, drafts legislative position papers and fiscal notes, and reviews and develops legislative initiatives relative to the MBE program;

Reviews, analyzes, evaluates, and prepares reports relative to the modal administration's monthly MBE procurement activity and statistical reports;

Makes recommendations to management regarding the approval/disapproval of certifications and recertifications;

Attends legislative hearings;

May testify in court or at administrative proceedings;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of federal, State, and local legislation concerning minority business enterprise opportunity in employment and equal access to employment, services, programs, contracts and facilities;

Knowledge of minority business enterprise rights, laws, regulations and practices;

Knowledge of community organizations and resources available to assist in resolving discrimination problems affecting minority business enterprise individuals and groups;

Knowledge of demographic, social and economic conditions within the State of Maryland which relate to equal opportunity, equal access and fair practice for minority business enterprise individuals and groups;

Ability to learn federal, State, and local legislation concerning minority business enterprise opportunity in employment and equal access to employment, services, programs, contracts and facilities;

Ability to learn minority business enterprise rights, laws, regulations and practices;

Ability to learn about community organizations and resources available to assist in resolving problems affecting minority business enterprise individuals and groups;

Ability to learn demographic, social and economic conditions within the State of Maryland which relate to equal opportunity, equal access and fair practice for minority business enterprise individuals and groups;

Ability to investigate MBE complaints of discrimination;

Ability to conduct MBE studies and analyze data and to make recommendations;

Ability to identify MBE educational needs, develop formal MBE training programs and instruct others;

Ability to communicate effectively with individuals, groups and organizations to resolve minority business enterprise issues.

Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of lower-level Minority Business Enterprise Officers.

Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Five years of experience investigating regulated activities to ensure compliance with Federal, State or municipal laws; or overseeing program and business development activities; or coordinating and conducting community outreach activities and events; or monitoring contracts for compliance.

Notes:

1. Additional work experience as specified above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

2. Graduate level education from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience at the rate of thirty (30) semester credit hours for one year of experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.
This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit S, Supervisor’s Unit. As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.