Business Service Representative - Merrimack Valley Career Center

Job Summary:

The Business Services Representative (BSR) is the primary point of contact and the local subject matter expert for businesses within their assigned Industry Sector Team (IST).  The BSR will market and promote the services of the MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center and MassBizWorks to employers and other interested parties in the workforce development area; develop and implement promotional programs;  conduct assessments of businesses to identify workforce development needs; gather and disseminate labor market information related to their assigned industry(s); provide technical assistance concerning recruitment of career center clients; establish and maintain working relationships with employers; plan and organize job fairs, recruitments and employer information sessions; establish and maintain a data bank of information on local employers; assist career center staff by soliciting employment opportunities for specific clients and perform related duties as required.  The B will cultivate lasting, strong relationships with employers within the MassHire Merrimack Valley service area

Essential Functions/Key Responsibilities: 

• Markets and promotes Career Center services and programs to area employers and other interested parties by visiting businesses and other locations to explain and describe Career Center programs and services.  Determine business needs, connect business customers with needed state resources, and solicits employer participation and obtain employment opportunity listings (Job Orders) that meet established guidelines and standards regarding content to adequately serve the Career Center's job seeking customers.

• Market Business Services and MassBizWorks to Employers (i.e., grant applications, tax incentives and other state and federal services and incentives to assist Employers in meeting their needs).

• Work with local businesses to develop Apprenticeship and On the Job training opportunities to assist them with their workforce needs

• Create, develop, and facilitate presentations to employers, community organizations. and job seekers to promote career center services and coordinate and facilitate focus groups. 

• Utilize online tools (i.e.: Burning Glass/Labor Insight, O*Net, MassCIS etc…) to research local labor market information and trends to understand the needs of businesses with the service delivery area and present those findings to employers and career center staff. 

• Work with other career center staff to promote the services of the Career Center using various platforms (i.e. flyers, social media, etc.) to inform the public and employers of available agency services and programs.

• Provides technical assistance and act as a problem-solving liaison for employers with unfilled employment opportunities by suggesting solutions such as restructuring job requirements, on-site or virtual recruitment opportunities.

• Ensures that the Career Center staff is aware of employer needs and job order specifications to facilitate the prompt and effective servicing of job orders.  Work collaboratively with employment counselor and recruiter colleagues.

• Plans, organizes, and conducts job fairs, recruitments, and Employer Informational Sessions for both employers and job seekers.

• Establishes and maintains information on local area employers within their assigned WDA through on-site visits to advocate for the placement of Career Center customers; records and updates information in the MOSES database.

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with peers, supervisors, and Career Center partners.

• Performs other duties necessary to support customer service and ensure the smooth daily operation of the Center.

• Participates in staff development and cross training opportunities.

Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of a wide variety of occupations common to the area labor market.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, & techniques of marketing & sales.

• Proven knowledge of the types and content of occupations common to the public and private sectors.

• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.

• Demonstrated knowledge of local factors, trends and problems in providing business services to clients.

• Knowledge of Federal Contractor Compliance requirements.

• Ability to market, promote Businesses in accessing statewide services to include grant applications, tax incentives and other state and federal services/incentives to meet their hiring needs.

• Ability to market and promote Career Center services and customers.

• Ability to create and facilitate presentations to large groups of employers to include conducting employer and job seeker focus groups.

• Prior experience and success in public speaking and conducting presentations.

• Ability to conduct labor market research within service delivery area to assist employers with filling open positions.

• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written expression.

• Ability to give written and oral instructions in a precise and understandable manner.

• Ability to establish rapport and working relationships with individuals from a wide variety of different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

• Ability to stimulate interest in Career Center programs, services, and customers.

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and techniques of human service interviewing.

• Ability to understand, explain and implement policies and procedures, standards, guidelines, laws and regulations that govern Career Center activities.

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices of conducting workshops.

• Proven ability to interact in a team environment and to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with peers, supervisors, other agency representatives, employers, and customers.

• Working knowledge of MS Office Products.  Proven ability to accurately and concisely record information and maintain the integrity of the computerized data base.

• Availability to work nights and or weekends as necessary to promote career center services

• Ability to work effectively with and meet the needs of people from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures, and identities, including underserved communities and people from the different racial groups, socioeconomic statuses, nationalities, and languages that makeup clientele, to support the agency’s mission of building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization for employees and clients alike.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of regional employment and workforce trends.

• Experience working with regional chambers of commerce and knowledge of the regional business Community.

Other: 

Travel:   This job regularly requires the employee to sit, walk, and stand, as well as use hands repetitively to handle or operate standard office equipment. The employee is occasionally required to kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment: T his job operates in a professional office environment, utilizing standard office equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.