Director of Business Strategies

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Boston, MA

39d

About The Position

The Director of Business Strategies is a senior management position within the Executive Office of Economic Development and is responsible for leading, developing, and implementing key economic development policies, programs, and strategic initiatives that support statewide business growth and competitiveness. Reporting to the Deputy Undersecretary, the Director exercises substantial independent judgment in shaping policy direction, establishing program priorities, and ensuring effective execution across the Business Strategies portfolio. This position serves as a key decision-maker for initiatives including international business development talent attraction and retention; building strong workforce pathways to support employer needs; and promoting alternative business structures. The role works closely with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development and the Center for Employee Ownership and plays a central role in aligning policy, fiscal resources, and personnel to advance Secretariat goals. The Director develops and refines policy frameworks, evaluates program effectiveness, and determines when policy or operational changes are necessary to respond to economic conditions, statutory requirements, and executive priorities. The Director works closely with the Undersecretary, Secretary, EOED agencies, quasi-public partners, and external stakeholders to coordinate cross-Secretariat strategies and implement high-impact economic development initiatives. Through leadership in strategic planning, policy formulation, and program execution, the position directly supports the Commonwealth’s mission to promote sustainable economic growth, workforce development, and business expansion across Massachusetts.

Requirements

• Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
• Substitutions: I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience. II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience. III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience. IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience or knowledge of economic development initiatives.
• Experience with project management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Interactive and relationship-building skills with an ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from governmental officials, the general public, consultants and external stakeholders.
• Experience working with various project constituencies, including government agencies, citizen and community groups, private sector business and nonprofit organizations.
• Familiarity and/or knowledge of federal, state or local economic development programs, incentives and policy initiatives as well as governmental regulations regarding land-use.
• Ability to work independently and in a team-based project management environment.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Preferred candidate is enthusiastic, self-directed, creative problem-solver and passionate about community economic development.
• Must have strong computer skills in standard productivity software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Preferred candidate will have some experience with innovative technology, such as data tracking and CRM systems, economic development tools, GIS, etc.

Responsibilities

• Policy Development, Strategic Planning, and Portfolio Leadership: The Director of Business Strategies exercises independent authority to develop, draft, revise, and finalize business development and economic growth policy frameworks within the Business Strategies portfolio. This includes initiatives related to international business development talent attraction and retention; building strong workforce pathways to support employer needs; promoting alternative business structures; and overseeing work in coordination with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) and the Center for Employee Ownership. The Director regularly evaluates existing policies for effectiveness and determines when updates, revisions, or new policy approaches are necessary to respond to evolving economic conditions, statutory mandates, and Secretariat priorities. This role establishes goals and objectives for assigned initiatives and ensures alignment with state laws, executive directives, and departmental regulations, without requiring higher-level approval for routine policy determinations.
• Strategic Resource Allocation and Program Oversight: The Director utilizes long-range planning and administrative authority to determine program priorities, sequencing of initiatives, and the deployment of fiscal, personnel, and operational resources across the Business Strategies portfolio. This includes evaluating the availability of funding, staffing capacity, and equipment resources and making decisions regarding their allocation to ensure effective implementation of policy goals mandated by state law and Secretariat objectives. The Director ensures that policies, programs, and budgets are aligned to maximize impact and efficiency.
• Executive Coordination and Policy Implementation: The Director plays a substantive role in all major policy issues affecting the Business Strategies portfolio, including fiscal planning, personnel deployment, and inter-Secretariat coordination, in a capacity that exceeds advisory or informational support. The Director issues departmental notices, guidance, and general operational directives related to program execution and policy implementation. This position independently drives implementation once policy direction is established and ensures consistent execution across EOED agencies and quasi-public partners.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Governance Participation: The Director represents the Business Strategies portfolio in trustee, board, commission, and working group meetings that involve significant policy formulation, including the Center for Employee Ownership Board and cross-Secretariat policy forums. Participation includes shaping policy direction, responding to stakeholder input, and making determinations that influence program design and execution at the agency and Secretariat level.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits
• When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees