AZ MEP Business Manager

Arizona Commerce Authority; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) oversees AZMEP and seeks an Operations Manager to lead daily program operations and ensure world-class client service. This hybrid Phoenix-based role offers a base salary between $70,000 and $80,000 per year, depending on experience, with responsibilities spanning budgeting, reporting and vendor management.

Ideal candidates bring a strong sense of urgency, excellent organizational skills, and a track record of managing multiple projects with independent

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or equivalent education/experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in a directly related position with increasing responsibility.
• Highly organized with sound judgment and effective problem solving.
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently in rapidly changing environments.
• Team player with ability to manage relationships with internal and external customers at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day AZMEP operations to ensure world-class service.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage budgets, federal AZMEP program finances, and grant reporting.
• Coordinate contracts, vendor management, and procurement activities.
• Lead continuous improvement and special projects (e.g., AZ Manufacturers Database).

Skills

analytical and problem-solving

financial and business acumen

grant management and reporting

project management

customer service

interpersonal

oral and written communications

teamwork

change management

leadership

ethics and integrity

judgment and decision making

planning/organizing

professionalism

adaptability

independence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration

10+ years of experience in a related position

Tools

CRM tools

Job description

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy.

The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.

The ACA partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership to create the Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership (AZMEP). With the mission to make every Arizona manufacturer the most successful business it can be, AZMEP is dedicated to providing business and technical services to manufacturers in the state. Manufacturing and business experts with decades of experience offer customized solutions and hands‑on assistance to help manufacturers integrate into the Arizona ecosystem. AZMEP helps implement effective solutions for the agency’s short and long‑term success in Arizona, through assistance with construction project management, staffing services, lean operations, safety programs, ISO 9000 certification and supply chain solutions

ABOUT THE ROLE:

This individual will manage the day-to-day business operations of AZMEP to ensure world‑class service to our clients, efficient operation of the AZMEP, and timely and accurate reporting of information to internal and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have a strong sense of urgency, keen business acumen, high level of accountability, an ability to work collaboratively and independently, a genuine desire to help others, a continuous improvement mindset, and be detail oriented without losing sight of the big picture.

This is a hybrid position based in Phoenix, AZ; base compensation for this role is between $70k—$80k annually, depending on experience.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Client and Vendor Documents

• Process contract documents for client projects, service providers, and procurement using MS Word, Excel, and Docusign
• Maintain related records in SharePoint
• Process Client and Vendor Invoices and manage external support services

Compliance

• Understand and ensure compliance with federal grant agreements
• Ensure all operations comply with ACA Policies and Procedures

Metrics, Reporting, Budgets

• Prepare budgets for federal AZMEP program and track financial performance
• Execute federal grant reporting to meet all deadlines and requirements
• Manage the internal budgeting process and track actuals vs. budget monthly
• Manage accounts receivable to ensure timely collection of client payments
• Track and report key metrics accurately and on time
• Use CRM reports to manage client metrics
• Track progress against goals and recommend corrective action as needed

Third Party Service Providers

• Maintain the list of qualified vendors (QVL)
• Issue RFQs and manage responses, as needed, to identify new service providers
• Manage contracting, payment, compliance, and vendor performance

Continuous Improvement and Special Projects

• Take a leadership role in promoting a culture of continuous improvement
• Propose and lead projects to improve efficiency and reduce costs
• Lead special projects (e.g., Development of an AZ Manufacturers Database)

COMPETENCY, EDUCATIONAL & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, or an equivalent of education and experience.
• Minimum 10 (ten) years of experience in a directly related position with increasing responsibility.
• Proven to be highly organized and self-directed, will exhibit sound judgment demonstrated by effective problem solving and decision-making.
• Successful record of managing multiple simultaneous projects with demonstrated ability to work independently in rapidly changing environments.
• A team player that can effectively manage relationships with internal and external customers at all organizational levels.

HIGHLY PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience in supply chain or manufacturing industry sectors
• Analytical and problem-solving
• Financial and business acumen
• Grant management and reporting
• Accounting or bookkeeping
• Experience with CRM tools
• Project management
• Customer service
• Interpersonal
• Oral and written communications
• Teamwork
• Change Management
• Leadership
• Ethics and integrity
• Judgment and decision making
• Planning/organizing
• Professionalism
• Adaptability
• Independence