The Compliance Specialist is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and ensuring Minority, Women, Disadvantage Business Enterprise (M/W/DBE), and Section 3 compliance is adhered to on all CHA contracts and subcontracts with regards to contracting and economic opportunities. Provide reporting statistics and findings information on M/W/DBE to CHA management. Perform vendor outreach activities communicating the Chicago Housing Authority’s compliance monitoring procedures and process. Oversee contractors M/W/DBE and Section 3 performance. Ensure federal, state, local and CHA mandated fair labor standards are adhered.
The Specialist will lead, conduct, and coordinate construction and professional site visits for all contracts within portfolio and on behalf of others in Compliance. Work with team to ensure all site visits reports are entered the appropriate tracking systems. Each Contract Compliance Specialist is responsible for ensuring that their portfolio, which could include professional service contracts and a wide array of construction contracts are monitored in accordance with M/W/DBE, Section 3, and Davis‐Bacon requirements, as needed. This includes the monitoring of those contracts through B2Gnow, LCP tracker, Lawson, and any other system currently utilized by the Compliance Team.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires college level coursework or the equivalent combination of education and related work experience; a bachelor’s degree is preferred with a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in Purchasing, Contract Administration, EEO, Affirmative Action monitoring and progressive project management experience. Previous experience in working with federal, state, and local requirements is helpful. Considerable knowledge of the federally mandated Davis Bacon Act and related laws, prevailing wage laws, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 3 requirement to employ low and very low-income Chicago area residents, M/W/DBE requirements, affirmative action and contracting procedures.
Candidates must be skilled in applying audit reviews, methodology and practices. Demonstrate the ability in problem solving, analytical, planning, and organizing. Requires effective verbal, written, and inter‐personal skills to work with a diverse staff of managerial and professional employees. The ability to exercise objective judgment, discretion, maintains confidentiality, and work on multiple projects simultaneously. Must be computer literate with proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and have a math aptitude to perform statistical calculations. A valid driver’s license is preferred.

• Attend pre‐bid and pre‐construction meetings with buyers and user departments to provide an overview of M/W/DBE and Section 3 compliance obligation prior to contract award.
• Responsible for reviewing the required CHA compliance documents submitted by vendors for contract purposes, investigate vendor discrepancies, and conduct on‐site visits to various project sites.
• Develop and implement contractor’s violation resolution plans to ensure compliance.
• Gather and collect data to analyze and create reports on M/W/DBE expenditures, Section 3, and Davis-Bacon.
• Review, analyze, and compare certified payrolls of project site employees to ensure contractors follow the current prevailing wages.
• Assess and compute back wages of employees that were not paid prevailing wages and ensure vendors comply with restitution of compensation.
• Gather and collect information on problems and procedures to determine areas of deficiency and make appropriate recommendations.
• Verify Minority Business Enterprise, Women Business Enterprise, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises participation percentages, M/W/DBE certification and recommend approval of vendors submitted utilization plans.
• Write various types of correspondences to CHA vendors, Housing Urban Development (HUD), Department of Labor (DOL), Inspector General’s office, and CHA staff.
• Prepare and submit recommendation to CHA management staff and project manager to withhold vendor payment due to compliance violations.
• Maintain assigned project files documentation and ensure files are properly stored on CHA network.
• Prepare regular activity reports, program tracking and monitoring reports.
• Participate in vendor fairs sponsored by CHA and other affiliated agencies.
• Performs all other duties and projects as assigned.