Executive Director of Business Relations (Program Manager II) #2711

Doc PersonalBeratung GmbH; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Flexible schedules

Job summary

State of South Carolina seeks an Executive Director of Business Relations to lead and expand partnerships with business, industry, workforce groups, and community partners. You will guide apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and workforce initiatives while collaborating with college leadership and government agencies to strengthen regional economic development.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and program management experience, with strong leadership, communication, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and relevant program management experience.
• Experience in workforce or economic development preferred.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Department of Business Relations, including goals, performance metrics, and initiatives.
• Supervise and mentor staff while fostering innovation, collaboration, and accountability in external partnership management.
• Develop and maintain relationships with business leaders, chambers of commerce, workforce organizations, and community partners regionally and nationally.
• Lead efforts to expand apprenticeships, internships, contract training, and other partnerships meeting employer needs.
• Assess program effectiveness through data analysis and ROI evaluations to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with college departments to strengthen engagement with external partners and align workforce training with industry needs.
• Serve as the college's liaison with workforce partners, including Apprenticeship Carolina, readySC, retrainSC, and others.
• Support grant development and management related to workforce and economic development initiatives.
• Represent the college in professional activities and community engagement at state and national levels.
• Assist leadership with advocacy and manage departmental budgets in line with policies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Relationship management

Public speaking

Staff development

Data analysis

Grant management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM software

MS Office Suite

Job description

Job Responsibilities

Reporting to the Vice President of Economic Development, the Executive Director of Business Relations serves as the lead strategist and relationship manager for the division's engagement with business, industry, workforce development organizations, and community partners. This position cultivates and expands partnerships that support apprenticeships, internships, customized training, workforce development initiatives, and other innovative education and training solutions. The Executive Director provides leadership for business development, external relations, grant-supported initiatives, partnership expansion, and departmental operations while collaborating with college leadership, faculty, staff, employers, and governmental agencies to strengthen the college's role as a workforce and economic development leader throughout the region and state.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Department of Business Relations, including establishing goals, evaluating performance metrics, identifying emerging trends, and developing initiatives that enhance the college's visibility and impact within the business community.


• Supervise, mentor, and develop departmental staff while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and excellence in customer engagement and external partnership management.


• Develop, cultivate, and maintain relationships with business and industry leaders, chambers of commerce, trade associations, workforce development organizations, community partners, and other key stakeholders throughout the region, state, and nation.


• Lead efforts to expand apprenticeship, internship, contract training, customized workforce training, and other strategic partnerships that support employer needs and workforce development goals.


• Assess program effectiveness through data analysis, return-on-investment evaluations, market assessments, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.


• Collaborate with academic and administrative departments across the college to strengthen engagement with external partners and align workforce training initiatives with industry needs.


• Serve as the college's primary liaison with workforce and economic development partners, including Apprenticeship Carolina, readySC, retrainSC, and other state and regional organizations that support workforce advancement.


• Support grant development, implementation, management, and partnership activities associated with workforce development and economic development initiatives.


• Represent the college through participation in professional organizations, conferences, workgroups, economic development initiatives, and community engagement activities at the local, state, and national levels.


• Assist divisional leadership with advocacy efforts involving business leaders, workforce partners, and elected officials while managing departmental budgets and ensuring compliance with college and state policies and procedures.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

This position requires a bachelor's degree and relevant program management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in workforce development, economic development, business engagement, higher education, corporate training, or community relations.


• Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with business and industry leaders, workforce agencies, governmental organizations, and community stakeholders.


• Experience leading apprenticeship, internship, customized training, or employer partnership programs.


• Experience with grant solicitation, implementation, management, and reporting.


• Experience conducting program assessments, market analyses, performance evaluations, and return-on-investment analysis.


• Experience supervising professional staff and leading organizational change initiatives.


• Knowledge of workforce development programs and resources, including partnerships with organizations such as Apprenticeship Carolina, readySC, retrainSC, chambers of commerce, and related entities.


• Strong public speaking, relationship-building, business development, and strategic leadership skills.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and customer relationship management, reporting, or workforce data systems

Additional Comments

Occasional evening and extended hours may be required during peak operational periods. The position requires travel to all college campuses and other business-related sites, with occasional overnight travel.

Benefits For State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.