K - 12 Work - Based Learning Business Liaison

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce wishes to contract with a vendor to provide a K-12 Work Based Learning Business Liaison in partnership with the school districts in Larimer County, including; Poudre School District, Thompson School District, Colorado Early Colleges and the northern Colorado sector partnerships.

This contract will provide a unique opportunity for a firm who strives to connect businesses in Northern Colorado with Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunities.

The Fort Collins Area Chamber is a local association of businesses and organizations that care about the region’s future. We believe successful businesses make a strong local economy, which enables our community to afford an excellent quality of life. We build our region’s future through business. We serve as a Catalyst for business growth, a Convener of leaders and influences and a Champion for a thriving, balanced, diversified, and resilient economy. We are the only 5-star accredited chamber of commerce in Colorado, which places us in the Top 2% of all U.S. chambers.

We are looking for a vendor who can develop and foster new and continue developed employer relationships for WBL opportunities in Larimer County based upon student interest and community need. The focus will be on students 16+ in paid internships and apprenticeships, while increasing the WBL opportunities in the region.

Desired Skills and Abilities

We are seeking a vendor who is a self-starter, flexible, progressive thinker who actively seeks opportunities and solutions. We are looking for organizations that have demonstrated exceptional attention to detail, are outcome oriented, and have an extraordinary commitment to customer service.

Applicants should have both an aptitude for, and ability to, effectively utilize technology tools, including the Xello platform, being used by all partners for WBL connections between business and students. Metrics, data collection, and tracking are important for skills to meet the reporting requirements of the grant.

The desired vendor must be a champion for WBL, be personable, energetic, engaging, polished and have the knowledge and ability to interact with and build relationships with the business community, school partners, and others supporting WBL.

Other needs areas

· Attend and participate in local and regional meetings as required to further K-12 WBL.

· Develop high-quality WBL opportunities with businesses of various sizes and capacities.

· Provide training and support to businesses to trouble shoot/overcome WBL barrier(s) to be successful.

· Share WBL best practices with business.

· Ongoing follow-up with business to ensure continued success.

· Support and partner with K-12 WBL navigators and Career and Technical Education staff.

· Knowledge of youth work regulations, risk management and school safety for students.

Contract Outcomes

· 50 current and new business partners on Xello platform offering WBL activities

· 16+ aged students who are connected to a WBL activity that is associated with their work, who participate in paid internships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships (new sites and old sites).

Qualifications

· A firm with a history of success in creating collaborations and completing work in a timely manner.

Contract

­­­­Annual contract of $30,000.

Applications

Applicants should submit a Cover Letter and Plan of Work to Fort Collins Area Chamber COO, Yvonne Myers at ***email_hidden*** by May 22, 2026, for consideration.

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively recruits, selects, and promotes qualified employees, broadly representative of the community served and administers its personnel practices without discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity/expression, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or other characteristics protected by law are prohibited.