BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

DESCRIPTION

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $131,593.31 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.

THE COMMUNITY

Idyllically located on the Pacific Coast just south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, Long Beach is a vibrant city of approximately 450K residents. Known for its diverse and inclusive community, Long Beach features a unique blend of urban sophistication, cultural richness, and coastal charm. The City encompasses about 51 square miles, offering an array of parks, beaches, and recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy mild climate year-round perfect for outdoor activities such as biking, running, water sports, and much more. Long Beach is home to world-class attractions including the Aquarium of the Pacific, the historic Queen Mary, and the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Long Beach will be the largest venue city for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Long Beach also boasts a thriving economy supported by industries such as aerospace, education, health services, manufacturing, tourism and professional services. With two advanced educational institutions, California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College, and robust K-12 schools, the City is a hub for learning and innovation. Transportation options abound. The Long Beach and Metro transit systems along with the City’s own airport provide convenient access throughout the broader Southern California region. Long Beach is recognized as one of the nation’s most walkable and bike-friendly cities.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and an FY26 annual budget of approximately $3.7B. The City employs over 6,000 full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations.

• City Departments
• Citywide FY26 Budget
• 2030 Strategic Vision
• Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan

The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization-from management to policy creation. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to advance fairness in all initiatives. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress.

THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Economic Development & Opportunity is an innovative department that leverages Federal, State, and City resources to generate growth in property, sales, and transient occupancy taxes that pay for services citywide. The Department continuously works to implement the recommendations of the Grow Long Beach Economic Blueprint. This comprehensive plan provides policy recommendations and will further Long Beach as an innovative ecosystem that lays a foundation for entrepreneurial success from business start-up to growth.

The Department has approximately 90 employees with five bureaus: Business Development, Business Operations, Real Estate Development, Waterfront Development, and Workforce Development. The Department's mission is to create economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs with an annual budget of over $31 million from eight different City funds.

To learn more about the Department visit:

• Department Website
• Department FY 26 Budget
• Grow Long Beach Initiative
• Bureau Website

THE POSITION

The Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking leader to serve as its Special Project Officer (Officer) in the Business Development Bureau’s Business Engagement Division. The Business Engagement Division is responsible for direct assistance to local businesses as a part of the City’s business attraction and retention strategies and is comprised of two functional units: the Business Engagement Team and the BizCare Team.

• In alignment with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and working directly with the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Executive Director and Workforce Officers, the Business Engagement Team is responsible for the implementation of WIOA employer engagement (business services) strategies, including business outreach and engagement; coordination of Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN), Rapid Response and Lay-off Aversion activities and strategies; recruitment and talent acquisition services; worker pipeline development; and other related services. In addition, the position will develop opportunities to connect career counseling staff to private/public-sector employers to center program design and delivery on local industry needs, and coordinate with local hire initiatives to ensure coordination with existing programs. The Officer and Business Engagement Team will develop business-focused workforce solutions that assist businesses in becoming more competitive, help guide investments in training and services and market workforce development services available to businesses.
• The BizCare Program provides support and resources to small businesses and nonprofits in Long Beach. Our dedicated staff is available to connect business owners and entrepreneurs with helpful information regarding grants, loans, technical assistance, special business designations and more to help small businesses thrive.

In addition to providing direction to staff and leadership, the Officer also is tasked with management-level support to the Business Development Bureau Manager as it relates to the development and implementation of a wide variety of special projects and initiatives.

This position offers a hybrid schedule with one (1) telecommute day per work week, and the option of a 9/80 alternative work schedule.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Oversees the activities of the Business Engagement Team and works directly with the LBWIN Executive Director, Officers, and programmatic staff to create cohesive processes between Bureaus for excellent customer service delivery for residents and businesses;
• Provides strategic direction in the development and implementation of the WIOA Title I Business Engagement, Rapid Response, Layoff Aversion, and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) programs, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations;
• Provides strategic direction, guidance, and performance oversight to ensure effective delivery of employer services and achievement of WIOA program performance outcomes;
• In alignment with the Business Development Bureau Manager and the LBWIN Executive Director, represents Business Development and LBWIN at local, regional, and statewide meetings, presentations, and events to promote business engagement and workforce development programs and foster collaboration among public and private stakeholders;
• Oversee BizCare team and the various programs administered by BizCare staff, such as the Green Business Program, Level Up Long Beach Small Business Bootcamp and Grant Program, and the Legacy Business Program and provide strategic feedback to maximize program impact for small businesses;
• Works in partnership with the Executive Team to connect internal data on program outputs and outcomes to external labor market information, facilitating automated reporting, impact assessment, and the critical connection between external trends and internal investment resource strategy and operations;
• Develops and delivers presentations on Long Beach’s local economy to a wide variety of technical and nontechnical audiences, including workforce development professionals, LBWIN Board members, employers, elected officials, educators, students, and job seekers, investors, and foreign diplomats and delegations;
• Design and implementation of programs aimed at business attraction, retention, and growth, with a special focus on small business retention and growing the City’s unique commercial corridors;
• Collaborate with internal departments such as Public Works, Community Development, Health, Fire, and other key City departments and teams that play an integral role in remaining a business-friendly City with a strong customer service focus for business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs;
• In alignment with and at the direction of the LBWIN Executive Director, assists with workforce development grant acquisition efforts by supporting opportunity scans, proposals, narratives, budgets, and ensuring alignment with LBWIN’s strategic priorities to expand training and employment pathways;
• In alignment with and at the direction of the LBWIN Executive Director, assists with creating compelling, data-driven grant narratives that articulate workforce needs, program impact, and measurable outcomes to strengthen competitiveness and attract sustained investment from public and private funders;
• Use research expertise to help attract and attain new grants or business-development opportunities;
• Recognize historic and present-day drivers of inequity in the labor market and identify opportunities for workforce and small businesses to improve economic, political, and social equity;
• Lead Bureaus’ processes and systems modernization by leveraging data and technology.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience managing economic development and/or community development programs and projects.

• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing workforce development, including WIOA Titles I-IV policies.
• Strong project management skills, including budgeting, timelines, and reporting.
• Experience leading and supporting community engagement efforts.
• Experience managing staff and overseeing vendor contracts.
• Knowledge of urban planning, public administration, business administration, and public policy is highly desirable.
• Experience writing Council letters, memos, and reports.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a closely related field (proof required).
  • A Master's Degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience (proof required)*.
  • Additional experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

EXPERIENCE:

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible paid full-time equivalent experience directing and coordinating projects/programs with at least one (1) year of lead supervisory experience in one or more of the following specialty areas:
  • Economic Development
  • Workforce Development
  • Community Development
  • Urban and Regional Planning
  • Public Policy and Government Affairs
• Two (2) years of experience supervising staff is required.
• Required to occasionally work nights, weekends, and extended hours for outreach purposes.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL:

• Develop, lead, and implement complex workforce strategies related to business engagement.
• Keen at quickly and meaningfully developing collaborative relationships with individuals and organizations and establish and maintain trust as part of these relationships across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
• Analyze and synthesize performance data to guide strategic decision-making.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with elected officials, community partners, staff and business leaders.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate professional staff.
• Manage multiple priorities and deliver results within deadlines by working across various teams, and be responsive to solve issues or adapt services to meet business and program needs as they arise.
• Develop, lead, and implement business development strategies to grow the City’s five industry clusters: aerospace/aviation; logistics/goods movement; healthcare; education; creative economy (tourism, arts, sports).
• Exercise open-mindedness, creativity, and innovation at work and promote this within teams.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Wednes day, May 20, 2026. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education (if applicable) in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact (562) 570-7126.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-7126.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally.As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

Retirement:California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% or 2.7% (depending on hire date) @55 for "Classic" members and 2% @62 for new members as defined by PEPRA, subject to the compensation limitations set by PERS. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.

Health and Dental Insurance:The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.

Life Insurance:City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.

Disability Insurance:City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.

Management Physical:Annual City-paid physical examination.

Vacation:Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.

Executive Leave:Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.

Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.

Holidays:Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.

Transportation Allowance:Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;

• Department Head $650.00
• Deputy Director/Manager/Director (Harbor/Utilities) $550.00
• Division Officer/Superintendent/ Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA $450.00
• Assistant to Executive / Executive Assistant / Executive Secretary/ Executive Support Staff $300.00

Deferred Compensation Plan:Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation).

• Classic CalPERS Members: The City will contribute a maximum of up to two percent (2%) of base salary* for all qualified Classic CalPERS members.
• Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) CalPERS Members: Effective the second full pay period following City Council adoption, the City contribution will increase from two percent (2%) to three percent (3%) of base salary* for all qualified PEPRA CalPERS members.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA):Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.

Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule:Available (subject to City Manager approval).

Paid Parental Leave: The City provides one hundred and sixty (160) hours of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child, regardless of the gender, marital status or sexual orientation of the parent.

Closing Date/Time: 5/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Long Beach

• 5625707057

Show more