Chief Employer Engagement Officer/Business Partnerships for NYC Workforce Programs

**Please include your cover letter in your application**

Agency Description

The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building a fairer economy in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

Job Description

The Division of Citywide Workforce Opportunity (CWO) of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is responsible for connecting nearly 100,000 New Yorkers each year to good jobs and training opportunities that empower them to lead successful lives. Much of this work is conducted through a network of 18 Workforce1 (WF1) career centers, operated in all five boroughs by workforce development providers under contract with SBS, that provide career services such as resume help, interviewing workshops, and one-on-one career counseling, as well as direct connections to employment.

CWO also oversees more than a dozen occupational training programs, in such areas as tech, health care, and construction, that are offered in collaboration with higher education institutions and non-profit training providers. At the core of CWO’s mission is reaching and serving jobseekers who have traditionally been underserved and have not had ready access to employment and training opportunities.

To better meet the needs of jobseekers and employers we serve, CWO recently created the Employer and Sector-based Engagement Team (ESBE). Led by the Chief Employer Engagement Officer (CEEO), ESBE is responsible for strengthening existing and building new relationships and partnerships with employers (public, private, non-profit), as well as organizations that support employers (such as trade associations and chambers of commerce), to increase and diversify the employment opportunities offered to jobseekers through the WF1 system.

Reporting to the Deputy Commissioner for Citywide Workforce Opportunity, the CEEO will oversee the development of business partnerships and programs that will increase and diversify job orders for applicants in the Workforce1 system by:

- Oversee the day-to-day operations of ESBE; mentor SBS staff as well as center-based staff employed by contracted providers; ensure that annual team goals developed with the Deputy Commissioner are met.

- Direct all CWO employer engagement activities; serve as lead contact for enhancing existing and building new relationships with employers, especially those employing more than 500 employees, in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Build relationships with employers to connect jobseekers to existing jobs and in-demand skills in growing industries, such as those described in the Green Economy Action Plan. Create a culture of exceptional customer service to help ensure employer recruitment and other needs are met.

- Work with colleagues across other SBS divisions, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and other city agencies to identify potential employer partners. Build and manage strategic relationships with a variety of organizations that represent employers and employees across New York City, including (but not limited to): trade and professional associations, chambers of commerce, business improvement districts (BIDs), and employer partnership organizations (e.g. NY Jobs CEO Council).

- Serve as lead CWO contact with the Industry Partnerships Team at the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development; regularly engage with IP Team and other industry to contacts to stay abreast of in-demand sectors and “hot jobs,” and use this intelligence to inform CWO’s strategy with regard to both offering recruitment services to employers through the WF1 centers and making recommendations regarding the enhancement of existing and offering of new CWO sector-based training programs.

- Organize and lead industry knowledge sessions with sector experts to deepen CWO and WF1 center staff business development team members’ understanding of business prospects. Lead sector-focused working groups to build industry expertise and disseminate best practices among team members.

- With Deputy Commissioner, other members of CWO leadership team, and WF1 center-based leadership, develop a strategy that significantly expands the number of businesses that CWO and WF1 centers engage with, with a focus on identifying larger employers (i.e. those employing 500+ staff) and diversifying the industries/sectors represented by such employers. Develop strategies and manage engagement with partners to secure WF1 hiring opportunities in economic development projects.

- In collaboration with SBS’ Marketing and Communications team and WF1 center-based leadership, develop a value proposition and pitch (and accompanying marketing materials) that clearly articulate why employers should utilize WF1 for their recruitment needs and further build brand recognition; guide and mentor CWO and center-based staff to translate this pitch into leads and employer commitments to hire WF1 candidates for specific positions.

- Track and analyze system business development and hiring activities using Dynamics and Worksource1 (internal CRM systems). Serve as lead CWO leadership team member in monitoring, and work closely with CWO data analytics team in analyzing, data on key metrics such as employer commitments/job openings, hires of jobseekers, industries/sectors (and type of employers) represented among employer commitments and hires, referral-to-hire ratios, and retention among hired jobseekers. Utilize data dashboards, regular “sales” meetings, staff mentoring, and other techniques to help ensure that WF1 centers meet targets around key metrics.

- Develop curricula for and lead training sessions for new and existing sales/business development staff within CWO and the WF1 system. Provide other professional development opportunities for staff.

- Serve as a member of CWO’s senior leadership team; regularly liaise with other senior leadership team members within CWO and SBS; represent Division at meetings and conferences.

- Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills

- Proven sales, marketing, and relationship-building acumen; ability to thrive in all types of business settings (public, private, non-profit) and to “close the deal.”

- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to effectively speak and make presentations in front of large groups and ability to tailor messages to different audiences.

- Strong customer service and interpersonal skills; ability to work in a team environment.

- Strategic mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and can-do approach; excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills; ability to predict opportunities and challenges and make recommendations regarding how to address them.

- Knowledge of the business landscape in New York City, including key stakeholders and high-growth industries.

- Familiarity with city government and the workforce development landscape in NYC.

- Meticulous attention to detail.

- Ability to work efficiently under pressure against tight deadlines, as well as to prioritize and manage an array of projects through to completion.

- Ability to actively listen and synthesize information; proficient in utilizing quantitative and qualitative data to manage and enhance the effectiveness of projects and programs.

- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and tact.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and at least 5 years of combined full-time experience in any of the following: leading or managing in-house business development and sales/marketing activities; providing external business development, sales/marketing, strategic planning, or management consulting services to employer clients; serving in a leadership role at a trade/professional association, BID, economic development organization, or similar group; or related experience.

To Apply

All Applicants: Apply through NYC JOBS at www.cityjobs.nyc.gov and search for Job ID: # 649898

Current SBS Employees: Please email your resume and cover letter including the following subject line: Chief Employer Engagement Officer and send to [email protected]

Note: We appreciate the interest and thank all applicants who apply, but only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.

If you are unable to apply via Jobs NYC or ESS, you can email your cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the following in the subject line: Chief Employer Engagement Officer.

If you do not have access to email, mail your cover letter & resume to:

NYC Department of Small Business Services
Human Resources Unit
1 Liberty Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10006

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.