Business Support Specialist - Vacancy ID: 160130

Part time (20 hours per week minimum - exact schedule negotiable) Salary range $25,000-$30,000/yr depending on experience and schedule. Benefits negotiable; includes cell phone and travel reimbursement Hybrid position with travel, but individual should reside in the North-Central region of Wisconsin (Lincoln/Langlade/Oneida counties preferred; also Marathon and Vilas counties in WI) Regional travel necessary with reimbursement budget Position available starting immediately CESA 8 is seeking a Business Support Specialist. This is a part-time grant-funded position with room for growth. The Business Support Specialist is essential in fostering business relationships with local school districts with the goal of helping better prepare our high school graduates for their next steps as the future workforce. The primary work of this position is with North-Central Wisconsin businesses. This position will be serving ten counties and three Tribal Nations within the North-Central region of Wisconsin: Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas. Marathon, Wood, Portage, and Adams Counties in Wisconsin. This is a hybrid position with some of the work being completed remotely, but travel to businesses in the region is an essential part of the position. Living in the ten county region is required. The Business Support Specialist will work with economic development partners, industry and community leaders, and K-12 school districts in building deeper business/student connections, ultimately encouraging local relationships that can lead to expanded employment opportunities, better living wages, and a potential reversal of “rural flight” in younger generations. This position’s main duties are two-fold: Serving as the business facing point-person for Inspire Wisconsin (part of the Xello career research platform being used in Wisconsin’s K-12 districts) in the North-Central region Participating on the Executive Team of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Pathways program working in two regions of economic development: Grow North (Northeast WI) and Centergy (Central WI). Specific duties aligned to these two focus areas include: Inspire / Xello (Currently in four school district footprints–Rhinelander, Wausau, Antigo, Three Lakes) Business Support Specialist oversees the business facing portion of Xello, WI’s software tool used in Academic and Career Planning (ACP) profiles. The Business Support Specialist will work with businesses in the CESA 9 region to build partnerships between businesses and the participating school districts. The Specialist will onboard businesses to the platform, facilitate work-based learning opportunities between employers and students, and build connections out as the program develops alongside other Xello initiatives around the state. Pathways (Centergy and Grow North Regions) With CESA partners, convene industry leaders to review and regionalize state-approved Regional Career Pathways to the degree the grant requires (virtually). Deepen the relationships and support the talent and skill development needs of sectors interfacing in the Pathways process. This may include industry-specific alliances and /or the recognition of growth potential of such collaborations and alliances in the region. Required attendance at and sharing of information with Grow North REDO Board. Support the Pathways program lead in any reporting and invoicing for grant reimbursements throughout the program. General Duties Manage business-sector communication for all business support projects (Pathways, Inspire / Xello, general Talent Cultivation) via newsletters, social media, and educational / informational outreach sessions in collaboration with CESA 8 associates. Liaise with Chambers, HR groups, Industry Associations, and more in understanding their constituent’s needs while working together to present solutions, create connections, and attract resources that will further prosperity in the region. A minimum of five years’ experience in related fields (education, business) preferred. Life experience and/or credentialing in the field are a plus. Experience in these areas is of benefit but not required: Local business connections Grant management Meeting facilitation Experience overseeing social media/e-newsletter content creation Research and professional experience in economic development, workforce skills development, rural community engagement and other topics Experience in educational settings to understand dynamics/translate business needs to the education sector This position is an opportunity for an individual to build business contacts while addressing the growing focus on talent/workforce development in North-Central Wisconsin. Opportunities for expansion and growth possible. Please submit a cover letter, resume and one sample document that can include the following: a project proposal, grant narrative, newsletter, graphic design abilities, etc.