Manager, Industry Engagement (TalentED)

Calgary Economic Development•Calgary, AB

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Calgary Economic Development (CED) is an opportunity-maker, helping to spark and fuel Calgary’s growth. Our mandate is to position Calgary for long term economic success, through the expansion, retention and attraction of companies, capital and talent. We offer a wealth of information to help everyone succeed and we tirelessly promote Calgary, in Canada and around the world. We are passionate about our role in shaping and sharing Calgary’s story, a place of blue sky thinking and unexpected opportunities. About the TalentED Greater Calgary Project TalentED Greater Calgary aims to generate 2,000 work-based learning opportunities for youth ages 18-24 over the duration of a two-year project period by engaging small to medium-sized businesses and non-profits across the greater Calgary region. This project will increase employer engagement with youth and apply an innovative and collaborative approach. Job Summary The Manager, Industry Engagement leads employer prospecting and outreach efforts for TalentED Greater Calgary to identify workforce needs and convert them into meaningful work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for youth. This results-driven role requires a strong business development mindset to proactively develop and maintain relationships with businesses, non-profits, and industry organizations to create paid and unpaid youth opportunities at scale. The incumbent will build and manage a robust employer pipeline and work closely with the Talent and Community Engagement team to align employer demand with job-ready youth to support placement conversion. The role oversees effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and platform use to track engagement, monitor performance, and maintain accurate data. This is a full-time contract position with a minimum in-office requirement of 3 days a week.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Human Resources.
Minimum 5 years of experience in business development, human resources, consulting, or stakeholder engagement/management, with a minimum of 1 – 3 years of progressive management and leadership responsibilities (including workflow, people, and finances).
Business Development & Relationship Management: Build and maintain relationships with employers, project stakeholders, and vendors. Understand local labour market dynamics, equity and inclusion practices, and diverse stakeholder interests.
Client Service/Customer Orientation: Act as a strategic partner to employers and stakeholders; apply excellent interpersonal skills to foster new relationships.
Strategic Planning & Portfolio Management: Identify project scope, plan and schedule, delegate tasks, and mitigate risks to keep projects on time and within budget.
Change Management: Lead change initiatives by communicating and facilitating adoption of new processes, technologies, and strategies.
Leadership & Talent Development: Lead a team and develop staff competencies through assignments, regular feedback, performance reviews, mentorship, coaching, etc.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills used to pitch the value proposition of the project, relay information, facilitate training, and resolve conflict. Able to translate complex information into accessible language.
Problem Solving & Decision-Making: Analyze issues, identify root cause, and make informed decisions.
Quality Management: Set quality standards and monitor deliverables for compliance. Confirm accuracy of team KPIs for data dashboards and reporting.
Human resources knowledge and understanding of career services and job search support.
Adaptable: Able to pivot based on changing priorities, tasks, or deadlines and looks for creative or alternative ways to optimize workflow.
Previous experience with a CRM, account management, developing processes for a team.
Strong computer skills, knowledge of Microsoft 365 products, Monday.com, and generative AI.

Nice To Haves

A Masters degree would be considered an asset.
Previous experience supporting employers and/or job seekers would be an asset.

Responsibilities

Responsible for development and execution of employer engagement strategy to actively create WBL opportunities for youth and achieve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Develop and implement an employer engagement strategy based on learnings from the TalentED YYC pilot project, sector studies/industry demand, consultations with stakeholders, and existing CED connections.
Meet with key internal and external stakeholders to align strategic engagement plans across CED and amongst collaborators.
Lead team of Industry Engagement Specialists to execute employer engagement strategy and achieve conversion targets by sourcing both paid and unpaid WBL opportunities for youth.
Coordinate and provide feedback to TalentED Data and Operations team to establish clear processes for CRM and technology platforms to improve user experience for employers, youth, stakeholders, and team members.
Ensure accurate input and tracking of KPIs from Industry Engagement Specialists by clarifying and following-up on data, as needed.
Proactively establish and maintain working relationships with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-profits, industry associations, and Chambers of Commerce.
Create engagement opportunities with employers by working closely with internal and external stakeholders, such as Chambers of Commerce, non-profits, CED units (e.g., Trade, Business Development, Investor Experience), and CPHR. Attend relevant events as needed to foster relationships.
Assign Industry Engagement Specialists as dedicated points of contact for employers for ongoing support and/or coordination.
Collaborate with Data and Operations team to establish follow-up processes and workflows for employers and stakeholders.
Ensure effectiveness and quality of support for SMEs, non-profits, and other employers navigating the work-based learning hiring process.
Lead and coordinate work of Industry Engagement Specialists who serve as primary contacts for employers, ensuring alignment with project goals and stakeholder expectations.
Establish a clear employer engagement pipeline for Specialists to follow-up with and support stakeholders throughout the WBL outreach, posting, and placement process.
Drive the adoption and tactical deployment of tools, processes, and resources (e.g., project templates, wage subsidy/funding for WBL) developed or sourced by TalentED.
Develop WBL opportunities that will be mutually beneficial to employers and youth by working with hiring managers within various SMEs and non-profits.
Collaborate with TalentED team and stakeholders to host AI training, events and workshops for employers.
Understand and lead the implementation of employer engagement practices that are inclusive and responsive to the needs of marginalized or underrepresented groups.
Lead a team of Industry Engagement Specialists focused on employer engagement and support; ensure team members understand role expectations and are fully engaged.
Set direction and vision for the Industry Engagement team, assigning tasks, roles and responsibilities to direct reports.
Communicate with team members regularly to assess workload and determine priorities for the team; amending project work on a continual basis and directing workflows.
Provide guidance and mentorship to direct reports, supporting their personal development and growth, and conduct scheduled performance reviews.
Ensure adequate training is provided to staff, and tools/resources are supporting workflow and quality output.
Manage vendors working with Industry Engagement team and oversee budget, contract deliverables, purchase orders, and invoices as needed.