Business Engagement Team Director

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITES:

If you are the right person for this opportunity, you will have the following knowledge, skills or abilities:

• A business-focused sales mentality, as demonstrated by the ability to identify the workforce needs of businesses, find solutions using workforce programs, and develop and execute a pipeline by negotiating with employers, training providers, and community partners to meet business needs.
• Collaboration and win-win negotiation with team members, workforce programs, education and training providers, and employers.
• Ability to identify opportunities and solutions to meet current and future workforce needs of Montana businesses.
• Leadership and management of the team, including facilitation for the team in initiating and maintaining relationships with:
  • Employers and employer groups
  • Trade or industry associations
  • Secondary, post-secondary institutions and tribal colleges
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Economic development organizations
  • Tribal entities
• Knowledge of the workforce system, including use of labor market information, strengths of workforce programs, organizations and partners, and ability to streamline bureaucracy to benefit businesses.
• Working with the department’s economists to understand the targeted and growing occupations and industries of the future.
• Engaging education entities to help shape and empower the workforce of tomorrow. 

The business engagement team director should be knowledgeable of the challenges and opportunities facing Montana’s economic landscape, aware of the needs of private industry, have the ability to sell workforce programs to the business community, and able to develop innovative pathways to cut through bureaucracy and meet business needs.

The director guides and directs the business engagement team’s efforts based on Industry needs and agency vision. The team identifies those needs through direct communication with industry associations, chambers of commerce, tribal entities and economic development organizations.

The business engagement team director should expect to work at least 25% on the road, if not more, visiting with members of the team, conducting site visits, working with local resources partners, and attending meetings or industry conferences.

To meet those private industry needs, the team coordinates internally within DLI, and externally with employers, employer groups, other state agencies, Federal resources, and educational institutions.

The program manager should not only be aware of these agencies and resources, but their key staff, programs, and financial capabilities.

The business engagement team director will actively support intensive collaboration and communication among the engagement team and local job service teams, other department teams, including registered apprenticeship, career development specialists working with schools, Jobs for Montana’s Graduate program, Data and Operations, Montana Career Information System and department leadership. The director should possess excellent supervisory skills including interpersonal communication, organization, conflict resolution, time and priority management and problem solving. Outstanding organizational and leadership skills are required for leading this diverse, state-wide business engagement team both in person and remotely.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The essential duties of this position are typically acquired through the following combinations of relevant education and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Two years of directly related experience in progressive positions

or

• Six years directly related experience

Equivalent combinations of education and experience will also be considered.  

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY:

A complete state application is not required; however, you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume, cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application, but the application will not be scored or reviewed.

Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.

Tip: When attaching your resume, cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as “RELEVANT” or we will be unable to view your documents.

Required application materials:

• Cover Letter - In your cover letter, describe how your education, knowledge, and skills have prepared you for this position.
• Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position, including duties, dates of employment.

Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.

All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an email with instructions on how to submit such documents.

If you need an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office.