Director of Business Services

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Business Services provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all business engagement activities, sector partnerships, employer services, and the Business Services Team. This role is responsible for planning, organizing, developing, and implementing a comprehensive business engagement strategy that strengthens relationships with employers, industry partners, education and training providers, chambers, and economic development organizations.

The Director ensures alignment between employer needs, regional economic priorities, and CareerSource Tampa Bay's workforce strategies. This position also manages departmental performance, oversees fee-based and demand-driven programs, ensures exceptional customer service standards, and leads initiatives that support regional economic growth. A portion of the work involves highly confidential, sensitive issues requiring discretion, tact, and professional judgment.

The Director collaborates cross-departmentally to align talent pipeline development with industry demand and works in partnership with the Marketing team on business-facing communications, outreach, and public relations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

(The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. CareerSource Tampa Bay reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time).

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and direct supervision for the Business Services Team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Lead long-term and short-term strategic planning for employer engagement, sector strategies, and regional business development initiatives.
• Develop, document, and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and performance standards to promote consistency and accountability.
• Ensure employees understand and comply with departmental goals, objectives, budgets, and operating standards.
• Monitor department's obligations and expenses and ensure proper resource management.

Business Engagement & Sector Strategy

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with employers, industry groups, chambers of commerce, education partners, and economic development organizations
• Lead, expand, and evaluate sector strategy partnerships that support talent pipeline development and regional competitiveness.
• Ensure a seamless experience for businesses from initial engagement through service delivery, contract execution, and follow-up.
• Provide strategic labor market insights (LMI) to internal and external stakeholders to guide business engagement and program design.
• Provide input on the annual Targeted Occupations List (TOL).

Program Oversight & Performance Management

• Monitor, track, and evaluate departmental performance, ensuring outcomes align with established goals and KPIs.
• Develop and manage RFPs and contracts for employed worker training, subsidized wage programs, and fee-based employer services.
• Provide oversight and supervision of the Rapid Response and Layoff Aversion program and other special project and grants as assigned.
• Oversee training vendor contracts and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Implement and supervise the operation of fee-based programs that enhance employer services, recruitment pipelines, and retention strategies.
• Work collaboratively across departments to align employer services with job seeker programs and regional workforce initiatives.

Community Engagement & Representation

• Serve as liaison between the organization, the business community, and economic development partners.
• Attend partner meetings, industry convenings, and community events to represent CSTB.
• Provide updates and performance reports to the Business & Education Committee and other CSTB leadership bodies.
• Participate in public relations activities related to CareerSource programs and initiatives, in coordination with Marketing.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Partnership Development

• Coordinate activities with service providers to ensure efficient service delivery and maximize performance outcomes.
• Develop innovative solutions that expand services, strengthen employer partnerships, and promote economic growth within the community.
• Enhance and enforce internal controls and procedures to improve operational effectiveness.
• Participate as a strategic partner in the development of organizational plans, programs, policies, and long-range goals.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of Business Services staff; implement coaching, development, and training strategies to enhance team performance.
• Ensure ongoing improvement of departmental operations, staff capabilities, and service quality.

Other Duties

• Perform additional duties as assigned to support organizational goals.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required; graduate coursework preferred.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in workforce development, economic development, or business services, including management-level experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS & REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of workforce and economic development principles and practices.
• Familiarity with the workforce system, One-Stop services, and programs including Employ Florida.
• Ability to market and sell fee-based services to employers.
• Strong understanding of strategic planning, resource allocation, and leadership techniques.
• Ability to work independently on complex and confidential assignments.
• Able to make decisions consistent with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Skilled in critical thinking, problem-solving, and evaluating cost-benefit scenarios.
• Strong communication skills, including public speaking and written communication.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally.
• Ability to manage major programs, oversee multiple functions, and lead diverse teams.
• Budget management and grant administration experience preferred.
• Ability to adapt to dynamic environments and shifting priorities.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Thinking & Visioning - Aligns departmental goals with organizational objectives and regional economic priorities.
• Relationship Building - Forms strong partnerships with employers, industry leaders, and stakeholders.
• Operational Excellence - Ensures consistent, high-quality delivery of employer services.
• Data-Informed Decision-Making - Uses LMI and performance metrics to drive strategy.
• Change Leadership - Guides staff through evolving organizational, workforce, and economic conditions.
• Communication & Influence - Communicates clearly and persuasively across diverse audiences.
• People Development - Coaches, supports, and grows team capacity.
• Business & Financial Acumen - Understands budgets, contracts, and return on investment for programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed instructions to other or important spoken workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
• The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work.)