Think Beyond The Label Jobs

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the State of Minnesota's principal economic development agency. DEED's mission is simple: to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone. We are driven to find talented and innovative public servants, motivated by the opportunity to serve businesses, people, and the greater good. At DEED you will join a diverse team, inspired by challenging work and united by shared values that guide our work every day. At DEED we live our values by; focusing on the customer, communicating early and often, seeking solutions, creating inclusion, encouraging new ideas, and being gracious. DEED is a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon agency and committed to proactively supporting service-members, veterans, and military families. DEED offers great employment opportunities with a meaningful mission to truly make a difference in the lives of those under our care and for those in communities throughout Minnesota. Working Title: Workforce Development Product Specialist Job Class: Management Analyst 3 Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development Job ID: 77818 Location: St. Paul Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible to telework up to five (5) days per week Full/Part Time: Full-Time Regular/Temporary: Limited Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers Date Posted: 06/27/2024 Closing Date: 07/11/2024 Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Employment & Economic Development Department / MAPE Division/Unit: Performance and Technical Management Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift Days of Work: Monday - Friday Travel Required: Yes, up to 10% of the time Salary Range: $26.64 - $39.06 / hourly; $55,624 - $81,557 / annually Classified Status: Unclassified Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE End Date: Up to three (3) years FLSA Status: Nonexempt Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities : Yes The work you'll do is more than just a job. At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Job Summary The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) serves hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans in need of career support. Whether they are customers at a CareerForce center, users of our Unemployment Insurance system, or a participant in a reskilling program, DEED, and its nonprofit and county partners, offers the programs and tools to help Minnesota work. We seek to improve our systems to make them more functional and easier for our customers to navigate - and this is especially true for our digital presence. The Workforce Development Product Specialist will focus on improving the usability and functionality of Workforce Development (WFD) digital products by leading usability studies, analyzing data, implementing configuration changes, developing and tracking metrics, writing user stories, and generally leading the continuous improvement of the products. As the technical and planning expert, the incumbent will coordinate the activities of Minnesota Information Technology Services (MNIT) and WFD program staff to support their efforts to configure WFD digital products to better serve customers. The incumbent will develop methodologies and perform user acceptance testing. The incumbent will routinely communicate with stakeholders and develop stakeholder communication about performance measures, progress towards goals, and product recommendations. This position will work closely with the WFD Product Owner, MNIT Project Manager, CareerForce staff and partners, and Information Technology (IT) vendors. This role will contribute to maintaining websites and developing and tracking metrics which could impact future DEED fundi g. This position will be recognized as a business partner to WFD program managers and staff, MNIT managers and staff, and WFD program partners at city, county, and nonprofit offices across Minnesota. We are looking for a passionate advocate for DEED stakeholders and customer base who loves relationship building, consensus creation, and fun. This position is expected to last up to three (3) years. This posting may be used to fill multiple positions. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment. Two (2) years* of experience in the areas of product management, content management, technical communication, web design, user-experience research, or other closely related field as determined by the agency. *Bachelor's degree in computer science, economics, political science, business, or other closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience; master's degree substitutes for eighteen (18) months of experience; PhD substitutes for twenty-four (24) months of experience Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following: Ability to: Develop custom configurations and workflows with content management systems such as Drupal and Microsoft SharePoint. Build constructive relationships with WFD program managers and staff, MNIT managers and staff, and WFD program partners at city, county, and non-profit offices across Minnesota. Knowledge of: Information technology concepts, including basic application development and user testing, to function as a bridge between technical experts and end users. User experience, including knowledge of accessibility guidelines for digital products, usability testing, user personas, human-centered design, and using data to improve user experience (e.g., comfort with Google Analytics). Skill in: Communication sufficient to engage with stakeholders at all levels and colleagues of all personality types related to process improvements. Project management to be able to conceptualize, design, plan, implement, deliver on time, and reflect upon each project. Preferred Qualifications Experience in Workforce Development, career coaching, education and training, or other closely related field as determined by the agency. Experience in federal, state, and/or local government OR experience working with products in a regulated environment. Skill in process improvement, including familiarity with scrum method, lean kaizen concepts, and other elements of and approaches to continuous improvement. Ability to identify how technology systems are interconnected and discuss the social, economic, and political implications of adopting a new technology. Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures. Additional Requirements This position requires successful completion of the following: Resumes of all applicants to this posting will be evaluated against the Minimum Qualifications stated above. If your skills match the required skills for this position, the department may contact you. Employee reference checks will be conducted on all finalists. This may include a review of documentation related to job performance and education. It includes contact with the applicant's current and/or former employers. A Criminal Background Check will be conducted on all finalists for this position. A criminal conviction will not automatically remove you from consideration for employment. When the position requires travel and the applicant drives a state owned or leased vehicle, a driver's license record check will be conducted. Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).