Date: 2/2024

TITLE:Director, Business Engagement Strategies

RESPONSIBLE TO:Vice President, Mission Advancement

DIVISION/DEPT:Mission Delivery Team

SUPERVISES:Mission Engagement Specialist

FLSA STATUS:Exempt

SUMMARY: The director, business engagement strategies play a central part in achieving Goodwill’s mission by building and nurturing relationships with businesses to create employment and earn-and-learn opportunities for individuals served throughout the Goodwill network. Must have a strong background in business development, a passion for social impact, and the skills to create successful employment outcomes.

This position is supported by grants, and continuance is dependent upon on-going funding.

BASIC FUNCTION:

• Lead the design and implementation of mission-focused business engagement strategies.

• Support Mission Delivery team by increasing the employment outcomes.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

1. Business Engagement Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive business engagement strategy to establish partnerships with companies across the United States and Canada. This strategy should focus on creating employment and advancement opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment.

2. Partnership Development: Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with businesses, industry associations, and government agencies to secure job placements and employment opportunities for individuals served by Goodwill. Collaborate with the donor impact team to identify, prioritize, and cultivate mission-focused partnerships. Identify and cultivate national partnerships that advance Goodwill’s mission.

3. Resource Development: In collaboration with the donor impact team, identify funders to support mission initiatives. Serve as a liaison to communicate mission impact on potential funder calls and relationship cultivation opportunities.

4. Market Research: Conduct market research to identify emerging business trends, employment needs, and workforce demands that align with the skills and abilities of individuals served by Goodwill.

5. Program Development and Training: Collaborate with internal teams to create or refine employment programs that meet the needs of both job seekers and employers. These programs should include training, job matching, and retention strategies. In collaboration with internal teams, identify business engagement best practices to embed in team member training and Opportunity Accelerator ® initiatives.

6. Data Analysis: Utilize data and analytics to track the impact of business engagement efforts and adjust strategies as needed to achieve employment outcomes for Goodwill program participants.

7. Advocacy and Outreach: Represent Goodwill Industries International at relevant industry events, conferences, and meetings to raise awareness and advocate for the organization's mission and initiatives.

8. Peer Learning: Launch Business Engagement Affinity Group to lead a team of business engagement professionals, engage in peer learning and knowledge sharing, and amplify Goodwill’s impact to execute organization's strategy and meet its goals. Collaborate with internal teams to identify business engagement best practices and design virtual and in-person learning opportunities.

9. Reporting: Prepare regular reports and updates for senior leadership, demonstrating the progress and success of business engagement efforts.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: Daily contact with GII team members to coordinate projects and support activities.

Local Goodwills: Frequent contact with representatives of Goodwill member organizations.

External: Contact with donors, funders, vendors and partners.

SKILLS NEEDED:

A. Strong oral and written communication skills required.

B. Excellent time management and organization skills.

C. Ability to work with a wide array of team members from different levels within the organization.

D. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with ability to establish trust, build relationships, and demonstrate integrity and credibility with GII colleagues, local Goodwill members, partners and other stakeholders.

E. Demonstrated ability to achieve goals by collaborating across teams, departments, and levels (e.g., within GII, local Goodwill organizations, partners, collaborators, and others).

F. Strong Microsoft Office skills required.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree or associate degree with at least three years’ experience in business administration, marketing, human resources or related field with increasing responsibility demonstrating strong organization and communication skills in a team environment.

EXPERIENCE:

A. Three or more years’ experience in a professional setting.

B. Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple demands and competing projects.

C. Experience with employer relationships, temporary placements, or volunteer management preferred.

DECISION MAKING: Decision and recommendation making for developing systems, appropriate responses to identified needs, and consultative guidance to improve performance.

SUPERVISION: Moderate with latitude given to the position in carrying out work assignments. Work is checked for accuracy and completeness.

PHYSICAL EFFORT: Sedentary with lifting 10 pounds maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles or files. Walking and standing are required occasionally; long hours sitting at a desk and using a computer.

EMOTIONAL EFFORT: Work environment usually hectic with periods of high stress. Must demonstrate a positive attitude in meeting daily challenges.

OUR VALUES

We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive. Goodwill’s mission grounds us and happens through each one of us. This aspiration applies to each GII team member as much as to the people we serve. GII’s organizational values guide all that we do; how we do our work and make decisions, and how we interact with each other, Goodwill members and all stakeholders.

Our mission happens through me (Passion)

We have a fire for our mission. We bring our energy, creativity and passion to all that we do. By contributing the best of what is within each of us, we inspire the same in our peers, and multiply Goodwill’s impact.

Drive to make a difference (Impact)

We believe that our work must lead to a measurable difference in the lives of the people Goodwill serves. We are committed to performance excellence in all that we do. Our strategy focuses our work to achieve that impact, and we say no to things that do not align.

You before me (Respect)

We treat all people with dignity, kindness, appreciation and respect. We are curious without judgment, and we actively listen to ensure mutual understanding. We give everyone a caring and safe place to share their opinions, their talents, and their questions. We build trust through direct, clear and transparent communication. We are open and humble.

Thriving begins at home (Well-being)

We respect the contributions and the needs of our individual team members equally, and we understand that each one of us needs different things at different times to thrive both in and out of the workplace. We strive to make genuine and continuous investments in one another and ourselves. As such, we adopt healthy, holistic approaches to our work. We proactively care for one another and ourselves by speaking up for what we need and supporting one another in achieving it.

Out of many, One Goodwill (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)

We embrace all people and perspectives as we advance Goodwill’s mission to help people reach their full potential through the power of work. We acknowledge historical inequities still exist and are intentional in breaking barriers. We are committed to being part of the solutions, leaning into courageous conversations, and providing inclusive spaces and equal opportunities for real change in all of our endeavors. Our diversified reflection shall shine as one Goodwill.

Be bold, learn and grow (Agility)

We are open, creative, innovative, agile and willing to take risks. We operate with a sense of urgency, without rushing for the sake of speed. While we do our best to make good decisions, we embrace failure for the learning it affords and adapt quickly to move ahead. We are one unified team that succeeds and stumbles, and learns and grows together with humility and grace.