Chief Business Development & Sales Officer

Job Description

NOTE: Please include a cover letter, detailing your experience in business development, sales/marketing, and/or building relationships with employers, with your application.

The Division of Citywide Workforce Opportunity (CWO) at the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) serves over 90,000 jobseekers and 900 employers each year through its employment and training programs. Specifically, CWO oversees a network of 18 Workforce1 (WF1) career centers, operated in all five boroughs by workforce development providers under contract with SBS. The Division also manages more than two dozen occupational training programs, in such areas as tech, health care, and construction, that are offered in collaboration with higher education institutions and non-profit training providers.

CWO serves two core constituencies through its centers and programs. One is jobseekers, most of whom have traditionally been underserved and have not had ready access to employment and training opportunities. At the WF1 centers, they can take advantage of career services such as resume help, interviewing workshops, and one-on-one career counseling, as well as direct connections to employment opportunities across NYC. The second constituency is employers. WF1 centers offer targeted recruitment services (including pre-screening, targeted hiring events, and job fairs) to help employers find qualified candidates for a variety of positions, all at no cost to the employer. At the same time, the CWO team works with the WF1 centers, other city agency partners, and contracted training providers to identify employers who might benefit from hiring graduates of our occupational training programs.

CWO recently created a new unit, the Employer and Sector-based Engagement (ESBE) Team, to focus exclusively on building relationships with new, and enhancing relationships with existing, employers. Led by the Chief Business Development Officer / Lead Sales & Job Developer (CBDO), the ESBE Team is charged with (1) making a compelling case to NYC employers that they should utilize the WF1 system for their recruitment needs and hire graduates of CWO’s training programs, and (2) ensuring that employers’ interactions with all facets of the WF1 system are characterized by exceptional customer service.

Reporting to the Deputy Commissioner for Citywide Workforce Opportunity, the CBDO will Serve as the Lead Sales & Job Developer for CWO’s Workforce1 career centers and training programs and direct all business development activities in collaboration with CWO and WF1 center-based leadership.

Responsibilities include:
- Develop a sales strategy that that further builds brand recognition and significantly expands the number of businesses (especially those employing 500+ staff) that (1) engage with the WF1 centers for their hiring needs and (2) hire graduates of CWO’s training programs.
- Develop a value proposition, pitch, and marketing materials that clearly articulate why employers should utilize WF1 for their recruitment/hiring needs and further build brand recognition. Guide CWO and center-based staff to translate this pitch into leads and employer commitments to hire WF1 candidates and CWO training program graduates for specific positions.
- Grow, motivate, and support business development staff employed by contracted providers at WF1 centers through one-on-one mentoring, regular sales meetings, professional development activities, etc.
- Build and manage strategic relationships with a variety of organizations that represent employers and employees across New York City, including (but not limited to): trade and professional associations, chambers of commerce, business improvement districts (BIDs), and employer partnership organizations (e.g. NY Jobs CEO Council). Develop strategies and manage engagement with partners to secure WF1 hiring opportunities in economic development projects and work with colleagues across other SBS divisions, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and other city agencies to identify potential employer partners.
- Diversify the industries/sectors represented by employers, including growing industries described in the Green Economy Action Plan. Engage with the Industry Partnerships Team within the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development, other industry contacts, and labor market/business intelligence tools to stay abreast of in-demand sectors and “hot jobs.” Use such intelligence to make recommendations toward CWO’s strategy for offering recruitment services at WF1 centers and and developing new training programs.
- Track and analyze business development and hiring activities using internal CRM systems. Monitor, and work closely with CWO data analytics team to analyze key metrics. Utilize data dashboards, staff engagement, and other techniques to help ensure that the CWO team and WF1 centers meet targets.
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