Business Development Director jobs in Port Arthur, TX

SALARY: :$38.1053 - $47.4544, Hourly (DOE&Q) NON-EXEMPT
OPENING DATE: :01/23/2024
CLOSING DATE: :Continuous until filled.:

JOB SUMMARY::
The Workforce and Community Development Manager works under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is responsible for performing highly responsible and independent professional duties in policy execution and specific activities related to workforce development and community development outreach and provides lead responsibility for administration and operation of initiatives and programs as assigned. The principal duties of the position include project management; problem resolution; and development, and implementation of recommendations for strategies to support workforce development and community development and stabilization efforts. A high level of skill and experience is necessary in managing large stakeholder groups towards a strategic vision and action plan implementation.
The incumbent should be a metric-driven leader with direct and extensive experience developing and implementing workforce development, community development, and workforce stabilization (e.g., housing, childcare, etc.) programs and projects. The individual will have had ample experience implementing strategic goals for a program, as well as extensive contract management/administration and compliance experience. The incumbent should be highly familiar with regional workforce development organizations such as Workforce Solutions of Southeast Texas or similar, as well as the financial programs and services of the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Association of Workforce Boards as well as local, state, and federal community development incentive and support programs.
Works with the CEO to develop short- and long-term planning, programs, and budgets. Emphasis is on working in a collaborative, cross-departmental setting; dealing with the issues associated with rapid growth and seeking out creative solutions to workforce and community development related issues.


PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES::
The following list of duties is illustrative and not exhaustive and is not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.:
Primary Duties and Responsibilities::

• Leads all efforts to implement and accomplish the workforce and community-development-related goals in the PAEDC’s Strategic Plan.

• Develops and implements a proactive company outreach program to identify and assess critical workforce needs and develop relationships with human resource and public relations points of contact at businesses and industry stakeholders.

• Develops and implements a proactive community outreach program to identify critical community stabilization needs and develop relationships with relevant strategic partners.

• Analyzes company and industry information and news to identify workforce trends and challenges.

• Promotes relationships with groups, agencies, and organizations in the community to identify community needs and stabilization opportunities.

• Leads, coordinates, and/or brokers solutions to Port Arthur’s industries and business’ workforce challenges with relevant federal, state, and local partners.

• Builds collaborative relationships with workforce and education institutions and partners, staffing agencies, industry groups, economic development agencies, and other relevant groups and organizations. This includes the Texas Workforce Commission, the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board (a.k.a. Workforce Solutions of Southeast Texas), the Port Arthur and Sabine Pass Independent School Districts, Lamar State College Port Arthur, and niche career and technical schools providing specialized local industry-focused training.

• Proactively leads the creation and implementation of new and innovative workforce-related and community development/stabilization programs and services to meet the needs of Port Arthur’s businesses and industries.

• Oversees all PAEDC-sponsored workforce development programs; ensures rules are followed for all programs while adhering to approved budget; evaluates and analyzes the effectiveness of programs; supervises and signs off on payments for various contracted work.

• Provides information and/or makes presentations on workforce development issues, programs, services, and plans.

• Actively monitors public programs that support community development initiatives.

• Develops and maintains data systems to identify and track projects and trends related to workforce development and hiring trends in the business community.

• Remains strongly familiar with the existing inventory of available workforce, education, and training programs and services, and human resource assets in the region.

• Assembles, maintains, and promotes information on workforce-related resources, grants, and projects.

• Aggressively pursues local, federal, and state grant funding to support workforce and community development and prepares and directs the preparation of complex grant and permit applications.

• Monitors legislation and regulations on workforce development, and reports findings to the appropriate impacted parties.

• Exceptional knowledge of Community Development Financial Institutions and their offerings.

• Regularly meets and confers with developers, retailers, property owners, and community groups regarding community development projects.

• Oversees all PAEDC-sponsored community development programs; ensures rules are followed for all programs while adhering to approved budget; evaluates and analyzes the effectiveness of programs; supervises and signs off on payments for various contracted work; and

• Collaborates with the Business Attraction, Retention, and Expansion Manager to identify and implement programs to meet the employment needs of Port Arthur’s major industry clusters and small business.

Core Duties and Responsibilities::

• Interfaces with internal and external stakeholders to define project requirements and constraints.

• Identifies project risks, develops risk mitigation and contingency plans, and implements action plans to reduce or eliminate project risks.

• Tracks and reports progress of each project against goals, objectives, approved budgets, and approved timelines.

• Maintains records and develops reports concerning new or ongoing programs and programs effectiveness.

• Participates in industry and relevant professional organizations; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of workforce and community development.

• Assists in developing the Workforce and Community Development Program’s annual budget to meet strategic goals and objectives; manages the Workforce and Community Development Program’s budget.

• Represent the PAEDC in community-led efforts to address workforce and community development.

• Represents and promotes PAEDC’s interest on all assigned projects.

• Assists with public relations as requested in collaboration with PAEDC’s Marketing and Insights Manager.

• Oversee the administration of federal, state, and local grant awards provided to the PAEDC related to workforce and community development initiatives.

• May be exposed to confidential and privileged information during the course of duties, which should be maintained as such.

• Effectively represents the PAEDC in professional organizations, governmental agencies, and outside activities as needed.

• Travels, including overnight stays, as required; and

• Performs other duties as required.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities::

• Modern principles, practices, and techniques used in workforce development, community development, housing development and re-development, and economic development.

• Prolific grant seeker and writer.

• In-depth knowledge of and experience developing and sustaining strategic educational and training programs and initiatives that support workforce, talent acquisition, and talent pipeline solutions.

• Superior knowledge of all programs and services of the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Association of Workforce Boards.

• In-depth knowledge of and successful pursuit of state and federal community and housing development-related programs.

• Knowledge of local community development programs.

• A working knowledge of local business economics, existing Golden Triangle-based companies, area labor force dynamics, leading industry sectors, and other socio-economic and regional issues.

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, and strategies of workforce development, community development, and related economic development principles and practices.

• Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provides the highest standards of service.

• Ability to perform research, data collection and statistical.

• Must have above-average computer skills including all Microsoft Office applications specifically Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word.

• Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional, and ethical behaviors that establish trust throughout the organization and with stakeholders and strategic partners.

• Takes ownership for excellence through personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of PAEDC’S operations.

• Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

• Demonstrated project management experience and expertise.

• Excellent verbal, written, analytical, presentation, electronic and interpersonal communication skills; above-average ability to communicate clearly, orally, in writing, and uses emotional intelligence to work through challenges and issues.

• Experienced in engaging with business leaders and senior management.

• Energetic and passionate about Port Arthur and the PAEDC.

• An aptitude for selling ideas.

• Significant experience interacting and building relationships with high-level leadership across private and public entities.

• Possesses a strong working knowledge of the local and global economy, the private sector business community, and workforce, community, housing, urban planning, and overall economic development practices and trends.

• Ability to prioritize simultaneous assignments.

• Ability to work in a team environment.

• Executes with excellence by consistently delivering on promises to the highest of standards.

• Ability to communicate with clarity, understanding, and persuasively, and must possess strong interpersonal skills; with the ability to act as a resource, provide customer service in a courteous manner, and work effectively with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

• Ability to adjust communication content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders to influence the actions or behaviors of others through partnerships, collaboration, knowledge transfer, persuasion, mediation, negotiation, and relationship building which can involve both internal and external stakeholders.

• Exceptional relationship building and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to always demonstrate a high-level of confidentiality.

• Must be able to demonstrate effective public speaking skills.

• Ability to be self-sufficient, independent, and resourceful.

• Ability to communicate complex technical information effectively, objectively, and clearly to a non-technical audience.

• Must be able to use applied knowledge; to formulate positive solutions to problem situations.

• Must be able to effectively read, write and communicate in English, fluency in additional languages a plus.

• Ability to use analytical and decision-making skills to offer options and resolve problems in a variety of contexts.

• Must be able to use applied knowledge to formulate positive solutions to problem situations; and

• Must be adaptable to changing priorities with short notice.

Minimum Qualifications & Position Requirements::
Education:: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in economic development, economics, business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, management, data sciences or related field and at least five years’ experience in economic development, workforce development, contract management, or a closely related field; a master’s degree in any of these fields is a plus. Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives-International Economic Development Council (ACCE-IEDC) Certificate in Workforce Development Fundamentals, Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) designation, and/or Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED) designation are a significant plus.

Experience:: A minimum of five-plus years of progressively responsible experience in workforce development, community development, or a closely related field preferred OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must have a valid Texas driver’s license and a valid passport.

Must pass a background check.

Work conditions: :Standard office environment. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Activities occur inside and outside.

Workforce and Community Development Manager - PAEDC – Posting #24-08.: