The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the State of Minnesota's principal economic development agency. DEED's mission is simple: to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone. We are driven to find talented and innovative public servants, motivated by the opportunity to serve businesses, people, and the greater good. At DEED you will join a diverse team, inspired by challenging work and united by shared values that guide our work every day. At DEED we live our values by; focusing on the customer, communicating early and often, seeking solutions, creating inclusion, encouraging new ideas, and being gracious. DEED is a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon agency and committed to proactively supporting servicemembers, veterans, and military families. DEED offers great employment opportunities with a meaningful mission to truly make a difference in the lives of those under our care and for those in communities throughout Minnesota. Working Title: Manager of Business Engagement Job Class: State Program Administrator, Director Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development Who May Apply: This vacancy is open for expressions of interest and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Expressions of interest should be submitted by 01/24/2024. Date Posted: 01/18/2024 Closing Date: 02/07/2024 Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Employ & Econ Development Dept / Employ & Economic Dev-MMA Division/Unit: Rehabilitation Services / RS Director Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift, 8:00am to 4:30pm Days of Work: Monday - Friday Travel Required: Yes, up to 25% of the time Salary Range: $35.98 - $51.83 / hourly; $75,126 - $108,221 / annually Classified Status: Classified Bargaining Unit/Union: 216 - Middle Management Association/MMA FLSA Status: Exempt - Executive Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible to telework up to five (5) days per week Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities : Yes Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans. The work you'll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota. Job Summary This position works in DEED's Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) division, which empowers Minnesotans with disabilities to achieve their goals for competitive, integrated employment and career development. You'll be part of, and contribute to, a lively and energetic team with a positive internal culture that ensures this isn't just a job - but a career. Together the VRS team makes an impact and creates possibilities that make a real and lasting difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Share your passion for this work and join the VRS team! The Manager of Business Engagement leads and manages efforts to build and sustain relationships between VRS, employers, and other workforce development and education organizations that will result in improved outcomes for both businesses and Minnesotans with disabilities and their families. Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: Providing oversight to identify and nurture new relationships with key external stakeholders and partners; Developing and overseeing efforts to approach employers as high-impact strategic partners; Leading and managing the VRS Business Unit operations and staff to facilitate effective and efficient operations; and Identifying and implementing broad and deep VRS system changes to imbed new practices into VRS program activities, in keeping with VRS strategic and business engagement objectives. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment. Four (4) years* of professional experience in staff supervision and project management. *Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation, business, marketing, or other closely related field a determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience; Master's degree substitutes for eighteen (18) months of experience Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following: Experience in: Understanding disability and employment best practices. Cultivating working relationships with a variety of public, non-profit, and for-profit organizations to pursue initiatives to address strategic and operational goals. Communicating or presenting information to internal and external stakeholders. Leadership skills, including the ability to coach, mentor, and develop staff. Incumbent must maintain valid driver's license, & insurance, OR have other reliable transportation. Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of VRS programs, including technical and theoretical depth. Knowledge of methods and best practices to integrate, coordinate, and/or reconcile the interests, mandates, responsibilities, goals, and perspectives of a complex and diverse set of stakeholders across agencies and disciplines. Ability to investigate issues, analyze problems, formulate and evaluate alternatives, and implement courses of action. Experience using business management software such as Salesforce. Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures. Additional Requirements This position requires successful completion of the following: Resumes of all applicants to this posting will be evaluated against the Minimum Qualifications stated above. If your skills match the required skills for this position, the department may contact you. Employee reference checks will be conducted on all finalists. This may include a review of documentation related to job performance and education. It includes contact with the applicant's current and/or former employers. A Criminal Background Check will be conducted on all finalists for this position. A criminal conviction will not automatically remove you from consideration for employment. When the position requires travel and the applicant drives a state owned or leased vehicle, a driver's license record check will be conducted. Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status). Application Details Why Work for Us Diverse Workforce We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota. A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found: 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency's mission 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule Comprehensive Benefits Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include: Public pension plan Training and professional development Paid vacation and sick leave 11 paid holidays each year Paid parental leave Low-cost medical and dental coverage Prescription drug coverage Vision coverage Wellness programs and resources Employer paid life insurance Short-term and long-term disability Health care spending and savings accounts Dependent care spending account Tax-deferred compensation Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Tuition reimbursement Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length o