Business Front Door Director

Job Description

About the Organization:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) supports economic growth by fostering business development, infrastructure investment, industry advancement, and consumer confidence. EOED operates through nine state agencies and five quasi-public agencies (QPAs) that deliver essential public programs and services.

EOED supports economic growth across Massachusetts through its network of agencies and partnerships, promoting business innovation, infrastructure investment, and consumer protection. The office embraces a culture of equity, inclusion, and collaboration-values that inform all aspects of its work.

The Executive Office of Economic Development is committed to creating and sustaining a work culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and mutually respectful to all its employees regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran or disability status. We strive to reflect diversity in all facets and levels of our agency. The Executive Office of Economic Development values inclusiveness and diversity within their employee and management teams. Within our community we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

The Executive Office of Economic Development is committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered to maximize their skills and talents to serve our citizens.

About the Role:

The Business Front Door Director is a senior management position overseeing the key business development platform on behalf of the Commonwealth. The Business Front Door is a streamlined process to better serve businesses and enable greater internal coordination across agencies. Reporting to the Assistant Secretary of Business Growth, this role exercises substantial independent judgement in shaping policy direction, platform roadmap, and ensuring the effective execution of the vision of the Business Front Door. This position serves as a key decision maker for the platform, and the incumbent is experienced and well versed in overseeing technology platform development. The Director will oversee the vision and roadmap for the platform, oversee direct consultants, oversee fiscal resources related to the platform, and direct and coordinate among the 13 Team MA agencies within the BFD. Additionally, the director will handle the day-to-day operations, working closely with partner agencies including the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to ensure coordination of top priorities. The Director will also ensure that the impact of the Business Front Door is measured, overseeing the data and dashboard measuring the success and impact of this key Secretariat Initiative.

Duties and Responsibilities: (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Vision & Roadmap: Lead decision maker on all aspects of the Business Front Door Salesforce platform. Own, develop and execute of the vision of the product. This includes owning all decision related to the development and management of the product roadmap and buildout. Manage consultants, various IT processes, internal and external user experiences. This includes the use of AI in the platform and processes.
• Maintenance and Process Oversight: Maintenance of the system. Regular and direct interaction with businesses and staff to provide technical assistance and support on utilizing the BFD system and other interactions as needed. Responsible for identifying and helping to resolve issues with technology, processes, and forms. Also responsible for reporting problems to, and seeking assistance/guidance from, appropriate senior staff.
• Sales Enablement and Marketing: Provide the data, insights and manage the CRM for effective business development. Own the continual improvement of dashboards (in Tableau) and reporting out of the BFD data and information as it relates to supporting business expansion in the state. Ensure appropriate data entry and processes by BFD leads. Direct marketing efforts and engagement related to business development.
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Serve as lead coordinator for the collaborative process amongst the partner agencies. Participate in interagency discussions related to how EOED programs interact with, support, and catalyze investment from other agencies.
• Other: Assist in developing briefs, summaries, presentations, and other office reports used for both internal and external communications. Includes data/info requests from Secretary, other EOED Executive staff, and/or the Governor's office.

• Experience or knowledge of private sector experience, public/private development as well as business development initiatives.
• Experience with technology product development/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 business development.
• 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 business and economic development.