Business Engagement Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Business Engagement Coordinator

Department:

Business Solutions Team/City of Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD)

Reports To:

Business Solutions Manager/DCD

Pay Grade:

$75,000 - $85,000

Supervises:

None

FLSA Classification:

Exempt

Approved By:

Chief Executive Officer

Revision Date:

9/28/26

JOB PURPOSE:

This unique role will be housed within the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development (DCD), working directly with DCD Commissioner’s Office and Economic Development staff to implement strategic employer engagement activities to grow job opportunities and placements through business expansion and retention. The Business Engagement Coordinator will design strategies and build relationships with local businesses to identify their workforce and related needs and facilitate their access to available workforce and economic development resources and programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote Employ Milwaukee and the City of Milwaukee by communicating the organizations’ workforce and economic development resources, programs, services, and value proposition to employers, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, educators, community stakeholders, and the general public.

• Cultivate demand-side employer relationships to identify workforce needs, develop strategic partnerships, and increase employer engagement and placement opportunities for participants in Employ Milwaukee programs.

• Strengthen existing and develop new business relationships in collaboration with Employ Milwaukee Business Services staff and external partners, including the Milwaukee 7(M7), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Milwaukee Tech Hub, and other workforce and economic development organizations.

• Coordinate business visits and employer engagements for City of Milwaukee and Employ executive leadership, including preparing background information, briefing materials, agendas, talking points, and follow-up communications to support business retention and attraction.

• Organize and facilitate business roundtables with small business owners and other employers across a variety of industries and employment sectors to identify workforce challenges, emerging trends, hiring needs, and opportunities for collaboration.

• Analyze labor market and business intelligence by reviewing Labor Market Information (LMI) data and supplementing quantitative data with real-time demand intelligence gathered from employers, chambers of commerce, business associations, economic development organizations, site selectors, and other industry stakeholders.

• Monitor business activity in the City of Milwaukee, including businesses relocating, expanding, investing, or establishing new operations, and identify opportunities for City participation and workforce development engagement and partnership.

• Prepare timely communications and briefing materials related to significant business activity, employer engagements, workforce trends, and economic development opportunities for City officials.

• Provide staff support to City leadership at business roundtables, employer visits, economic development functions, community events, and other strategic engagements.

• Identify emerging employer and industry needs and communicate trends and opportunities to internal teams to inform program development, employer services, training strategies, and placement activities.

• Coordinate follow-up and relationship management after employer meetings, business visits, roundtables, and other engagements to ensure commitments are documented and opportunities are advanced.

• Develop and maintain a record of business and community contacts that supports Employ Milwaukee's employer engagement, workforce development, and economic development objectives.

• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

KEY ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrated experience in business development, employer engagement, economic development, workforce development, community engagement, labor market analysis, or a related field.

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, including ability to interact effectively with individuals from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

• Written communication skills to craft policies, narratives, reports, articles, presentations, and correspondence. 

• Excellent oral communication skills, including ability to make persuasive presentations to employers and other external partners.

• Knowledge of labor market data and ability to analyze and communicate labor market data and business information to a variety of audiences.

• Ability to work effectively with business leaders, government officials, community organizations, and internal staff.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, meetings, events, and projects simultaneously.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and diplomacy when representing the organization and working with public and private-sector stakeholders.

• Organizational and planning skills to be able to effectively oversee workflow processes and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, public administration, workforce development, economic development, communications, sales and marketing, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience and/or Training: At least 3 years of experience in sales or marketing, job placement services, workforce development, economic development, or business administration.

Licenses/Certificates: Driver’s License

Technology/Equipment: Experience with and capability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, and data entry. Employee will be trained on entering data and reporting through various systems including Efforts to Outcomes, ASSET, and JCW Business.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds while moving files, program materials, supplies, or small packages. The employee may be required to move throughout employer locations and other facilities.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office, classroom, educational, employer, community, and/or program-site environment. The noise level may vary from moderate to high depending on the program setting. The employee may occasionally be required to work outside of the typical office setting and travel locally to employer sites. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required in connection with employer engagement.

I have read and understand the duties, responsibilities, and requirements for this position. *

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Employee Acknowledgement Date

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Supervisor Date

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Human Resources Date

*This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" employment relationship. Employ Milwaukee retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.