Career Development Team Director

State of Montana•Helena, MT

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you passionate about connecting Montana students to meaningful careers and helping schools build pathways to high-demand industries? Do you thrive at the intersection of workforce development and education, translating big-picture strategy into real results for students, schools, and employers? If so, the Director of the Career Development Team at Montana's Department of Labor and Industry may be your next opportunity to make a lasting difference. The Director of the Career Development Team leads a regionally deployed team of Career Development Specialists within the Business and Education Engagement Bureau of the Workforce Services Division (WSD). This position serves as the primary liaison between DLI and Montana's K-12 education system: building school partnerships, driving career readiness program delivery, and connecting students to the workforce pathways that Montana's employers need. The position guides the Career Development specialists to help education and workforce partners across Montana design and deliver high quality career development and work based learning experiences for youth. As part of the Governor’s 406 JOBS initiative, you’ll help connect education, workforce, and industry partners so every Montanan has a pathway to a career and a plan to achieve it. In this role, you’ll collaborate with your team, schools, Job Service offices, employers, Registered Apprenticeship, and Jobs for Montana’s Graduates (JMG) to build clear pathways from the classroom to in demand careers. You will use labor market and workforce data to align programs with local employer needs, ensuring students gain skills that matter in today’s economy. By serving as a connector, strategist, and trusted partner, you will help strengthen Montana’s long term talent pipeline while supporting students, communities, and businesses across the state.

Requirements

Strategic team leadership: The ability to lead and support a geographically dispersed team, set clear expectations, provide coaching and feedback, and address performance or relationship issues in ways that maintain trust with schools and partners.
Drive operational excellence through team goal setting to meet Governors 406JOBS metrics.
Ability to coach teams to go beyond normal expectations.
Strategic workforce partnership development: Build and sustain collaborative relationships among stakeholders to develop employer-driven talent solutions that strengthen Montana’s workforce.
Champion implementation of Montana’s 406 JOBS initiative by connecting education, workforce, industry, and community partners to expand career pathways.
Education and workforce systems: Knowledge of workforce programs such as 406 JOBS, WIOA, registered apprenticeship, and pre apprenticeship models, including how these systems interact to support student pathways, in addition to K–12 education structures, school counseling and career development frameworks.
Program and pathway design: The ability to design, align, and refine career readiness, pre apprenticeship, and credential focused programs based on employer demand, student needs, and school capacity, and to translate strategy into clear, actionable plans.
Specifically promoting awareness of Montana’s four career pathways including college, Registered Apprenticeship, military service, and entrepreneurship, to help students explore multiple routes to successful careers.
Data and performance management: Proven skill at using data systems, metrics, and dashboards to document activities, track outcomes, evaluate program effectiveness, and communicate results to leadership, legislators, and external stakeholders.
Use labor market and workforce data to guide decisions by working with economists and data specialists to interpret trends and help schools align pathways with high growth occupations and real employer needs.
Advanced communication and facilitation: The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly in writing and verbally, tailor messages to audiences ranging from classroom educators to division leadership and policymakers, and facilitate meetings, trainings, and presentations that move groups toward shared action.
Cross team coordination: Proven skill at working within and across teams to coordinate efforts with apprenticeship staff, Job Service offices, business engagement groups, and other state or community partners, including the ability to clarify roles, resolve overlaps, and align timelines with the goal of connecting students to Montana’s high-demand careers.
Technology and digital tools: Knowledge of and proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel) and the ability to learn and use career exploration platforms, data systems, and other digital tools needed for statewide collaboration.
Communication: The ability to present and/or transfer knowledge in a meaningful way to individual, small group and large group audiences.
Demonstrated experience leading teams or major initiatives in workforce development, education, or a related field where collaboration and stakeholder engagement are central.
Experience developing or implementing programs that connect education systems to workforce or industry needs.
Experience building partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including public sector entities, educators, employers, or community organizations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting information and influencing decision-makers.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and the ability to learn and use data tracking or case management systems.
Experience using data to evaluate program effectiveness and guide improvements.
Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

Nice To Haves

A degree in education, public administration, workforce development, or a related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a statewide team by supervising, coaching, and supporting regionally deployed Career Development Specialists so schools across Montana receive consistent, high quality career development support that builds trust and long term partnerships and advance the Governor’s 406 JOBS initiative.
Drive strategic school engagement by developing and carrying out a statewide outreach plan that connects with K–12 schools, including tribal schools, in ways that respect local context and tribal sovereignty while expanding access to career connected learning.
Advance employer driven career pathways by bringing employers to the table early, aligning school programs with high demand industries, and building structured pathways from early awareness through pre apprenticeship and into the workforce so students can see clear routes into good jobs.
Oversee delivery of career readiness programs by coordinating the team’s use of career exploration tools, pre apprenticeship models, credential aligned programming, Jobs for Montana Graduates collaboration, and educator professional development so schools can offer relevant, modern career development experiences to students.
Manage data and performance for accountability by ensuring that school contacts, program activities, pre apprenticeship launches, and credential outcomes are accurately documented, analyzed, and reported so division leadership, partners, and policymakers can see progress toward Workforce Services Division and 406 JOBS goals.
Coordinate efforts across internal teams and external partners by working closely with Apprenticeship, Job Service Montana, Business Engagement, SWIB, tribal governments, TEROs, education associations, and community organizations so that school and employer engagement is aligned, efficient, and mutually reinforcing.
Support strategic communication and storytelling by translating the team’s work and outcomes into clear, compelling messages, examples, and materials that highlight impact for students, schools, and employers and strengthen support for career connected learning across Montana.

Benefits

Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP
Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan
Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary.
A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness
Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)