Job Description

DateAugust 2016

Position TitleRegional/Industry-Specific Specialist

DivisionEMDC Re-Engineering the Region & Planning, Our Katahdin

FLSA StatusExempt

SupervisorCo-Supervision by Our Katahdin and EMDC

Position Summary:

The Regional/Industry-Specific Specialist will represent the interests of the Our Katahdin region through diverse regional-based partnerships with industries, businesses, communities, and other business/workforce development groups. This individual will be responsible for outreach to inform businesses in the Katahdin region of the full range of business and workforce service options and opportunities available to assist in business growth and development for the region. The Specialist will foster collaborations between stakeholders, and will work to integrate activities in the Katahdin region to the regional efforts of the Re-Engineering the Region economic development effort.

Primary duties:

  • Work with all business, education, community and economic development partners to link economic development stakeholders to community/Our Katahdin leadership, businesses to services, and to provide feedback and reporting out to local stakeholders and federal partners.
  • Provide technical assistance to prevailing industries and businesses including technical assistance, identification of opportunities and gaps within the industry, identification of best practices in Eastern Maine, Maine, and nationally, linking businesses to resources and referrals, and one-on-one assistance with business and economic planning partners.
  • Supportlocal and regional workforce development organizations to identify career pathway opportunities and programs within regional industry/businesses to address skill gaps, hiring opportunities and to reduce barriers for workers in the region to enter and/or stay in the labor market in the Katahdin region. Work with EMDC staff to identify business finance opportunities, government contracting, and other resources.
  • Assist Our Katahdin leadership in outreach and branding of Our Katahdin, marketing, and coordination of meetings as needed.
  • Search for funding opportunities to support projects identified in the Our Katahdin region and the Our Katahdin model.
  • Work with EMDC Data Center staff to perform data mining to identify trends, opportunities, shifts in industry and markets, employment, and track success through impact analyses.
  • Participate in regional meetings representing the Our Katahdin region. Includes interaction with other sub-regions of the Eastern Maine area as well as other regions of the State of Maine.
  • Support broadband/digital literacy efforts to expand capacity in the Our Katahdin region.
  • Assist with preparation of required progress reports as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned by EMDC or Our Katahdin.

Basic Qualifications:

  • 3-4 years of experience with establishing, maintaining, and managing diverse stakeholder relationships
  • Knowledge of public-private partnership strategies, guidance, legislation, and best practices
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team to develop and implement sector-based and partnership strategies
  • BA or BS degree in business or public administration or related field

Core Competencies:

  • Computer skills – Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, learns new programs quickly, uses computers to improve productivity. Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Dependability – Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, meets attendance/punctuality requirements.
  • Integrity/Ethics – Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, conveys good news and bad.
  • Teamwork – Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.

Position Competencies:

  • Communication – Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others, has good listening skills.
  • Decision Making/Judgment – Recognizes problems and responds, systematically gathers information, sorts through complex issues, seeks input from others, addresses root cause of issues, makes timely decisions, can make difficult decisions, uses consensus when possible, and communicates decisions to others.
  • Initiative – Tackles problems and takes independent action, seeks out new responsibilities, acts on opportunities, generates new ideas, practices self-development.
  • Job Knowledge – Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary job knowledge, has necessary technical skills, understands company mission/values, keeps job knowledge current, is in command of critical issues.
  • Listening Skills – Listens attentively to others, asks clarifying questions, actively listens, stays open to other viewpoints, manages distractions and interruptions.
  • Problem Solving/Analysis – Breaks down problems into smaller components, understands underlying issues, can simplify and process complex issues, understands the difference between critical details and unimportant facts.
  • Results Focus – Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, accepts accountability, sets team standards and responsibilities, provides leadership/motivation.

Working Conditions:

General business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, though exempt positions will typically require work to be performed outside general business hours. Work is generally performed in an indoor, professional office environment. This position will have designated space at the EMDC headquarters office at 40 Harlow Street, Bangor, and space in the Katahdin region at the Katahdin Higher Education Learning Center.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or listen, and regularly required to use a keyboard for typing. The employee is often required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee must travel to different locations and must be able to provide own transportation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.