Business Attraction Advisor

About the Department The Department of Commerce aims to make sure Montana is the best place to work, live and play. We work alongside private industry and local organizations to create jobs, grow businesses, develop affordable housing, and improve community infrastructure. We uphold/excellence/,/integrity/,/engagement/, and/innovation/by delivering respectful, creative, and accountable service through collaborative, resilient teams. Rooted in a deep/love for Montana/, we proudly embody its authenticity, independence, and industry as we serve and partner with Montanans. (You can learn more about ushere.) About the Position Help shape Montana’s economic future. The Montana Department of Commerce is seeking a strategic, relationship driven leader to attract new businesses, investment, and quality jobs to our state. This role is ideal if you thrive on building high level partnerships, driving business development, and promoting Montana’s competitive advantages on a national and international stage. What You’ll Do As the Business Attraction Advisor, you will build and maintain relationships with prospective companies, site selection consultants, investors, developers, foreign consuls, and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in Montana. You will lead the full business attraction pipeline from identifying and generating leads, managing projects, and guiding site selection processes, to coordinating closely with state agencies and local economic development partners. Key Responsibilities: * Drive Montana’s business attraction strategy by targeting high value industries, executing national outreach, and generating strong investment opportunities. * Build influential partnerships with site selectors, brokers, developers, utilities, and economic development organizations to coordinate impactful outreach. * Represent Montana at regional, national, and international events and deliver effective presentations that highlight the state’s competitive advantages. * Conduct market research, develop competitive analyses, and prepare persuasive proposals to support business recruitment and deal closing efforts. * Provide strategic guidance to business owners and executives on expanding or relocating their operations to Montana. * Lead strategic planning efforts, maintain industry lead databases, assess risks and opportunities, and help shape statewide economic development initiatives. * Design and evaluate business programs, manage vendor partnerships, and support leadership communications, including preparing talking points for public, press, and legislative engagements. What are we looking for? To thrive in this role from day one, you should demonstrate the following qualifying skills: * Demonstrated sales acumen with the ability to identify opportunities and drive successful outcomes. * Proven ability to engage, influence, and build rapport with diverse audiences and stakeholders. * Strong understanding of community development, community organizing, and economic development principles and their application to business growth. * Exceptional attention to detail and highly effective organizational skills. * Enthusiastic and energetic about Montana and the business opportunities it offers. * Strong critical thinking abilities, with a talent for analyzing information and making sound judgments. If you have a combination of the skills outlined above and a desire to serve Montanans, we encourage you to apply. How to apply: Apply online by submitting your resume and cover letter. Please note: You do *not *need to complete the “work experience” or the “education and certifications” portion of the application process in our recruiting system. You only need to upload the requested documentation. Benefits: * Look here to see the additional benefits! They include: o Work/life balance, o Health coverage, o Retirement plans, o Paid vacation and sick leave and holidays, o And more… * *Public Service Loan Forgiveness – *Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF. Look here to learn more and see if you may qualify. Other important information to be aware of: * Only online applications are accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application. * This position allows for a hybrid work schedule from a remote location within the state of Montana. Weekly reporting to the office will be required. Specific conditions will be outlined as part of the job offer and must adhere to state policy. New employees may be required to complete training in person before hybrid work schedules begin. This agency participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, /Link to E-Verify Website/. Title: Business Attraction Advisor Location: Billings Requisition ID: 26142348 Other Locations: Missoula, Miles City, Glendive, Helena, Kalispell, Lewistown, Wolf Point, Glasgow, Bozeman, Great Falls