CHIEF WORKFORCE OFFICER

Position Overview

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.

The State of Illinois seeks candidates to serve as a Chief Workforce Officer (CWO). This position will help to oversee, organize and advocate for workforce programming across the state, including those developed and managed by DCEO, that meets the needs of the employer community, serves jobseekers, and creates quality, career pathways for Illinoisans.

Essential Functions

• Serves as the state-designated Chief Workforce Officer (CWO).  
• At the direction of the Governor, establish and monitor strategic objectives and outcomes for all state and federal workforce programs administered by DCEO and partner agencies. 
• Develops and maintains ongoing communications with DCEO and partner-agency workforce-related programs. Assesses workforce program missions and populations served; strives to align programming with the state’s economic growth plan.  
• Works in partnership with state and federal workforce agencies to advocate for all workforce development system users, including jobseekers and employers, and makes recommendations to improve system access to ensure access regardless of race, gender or socio-economic status. Coordinates cross-agency workforce programming to promote a unified customer experience for job seekers, employers, and other system users. 
• Works closely with local workforce boards and provides leadership to the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, including identifying staff resources needed to support the Board and its members, and serving as the Administration’s lead representative on Board priorities. 
• Interprets new state and federal legislation and administrative policies and procedures and reviews and recommends to the Governor’s Office and the Director the feasibility and implications of proposed policies and procedures.   
• Serves as a member of the DCEO Director’s leadership team and supervises various DCEO bureaus. 
• Speaks on behalf of DCEO and the DCEO Director at meetings, conferences, and other settings, including authority to bind DCEO to specific courses of action.  
• Serves as representative of DCEO Director’s Office to various levels of government, the non-profit and for-profit sectors, and other stakeholders, including the public. 
• Serves as an official spokesperson for DCEO, speaking and acting on behalf of the Governor’s Office and DCEO Director on workforce development-related issues.
• Coordinates with DCEO and other agencies on both drafting and monitoring state and federal legislation affecting workforce programming.  
• Partners with state agencies including IDES, IDHS, ICCB, IBHE, ISBE, Aging, IDOL, IDOC, DJJ and others to provide access to and information regarding workforce programming and quality job initiatives; designs new programs in consultation with the same.  
• Collaborates with DCEO program offices including Energy and Business Utility, Employment and Training, Business Development, Regional Economic Development, and Local Government. 
• Identifies staff training and professional development needs necessary to support the development and maintenance of programs.  
• Assists in workforce program budget preparation and controls. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business, economic development, and workforce development.

• Requires a minimum ten (10) years’ progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization with a focus on workforce development, workforce talent acquisition and talent development, including developing and implementing programs and policies. Experience collaborating with state, federal, and local government workforce partners, community colleges and universities, secondary education career and technical education programs, and the business community is strongly preferred. 

  • Preference given to candidates who have administered public sector programs or partnered with the public sector in program administration.

     

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.

• Requires compliance with all state ethics laws, and all other laws governing state officials.

• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.

• Requires the ability to work a flexible schedule including weekends and holidays as needed.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.

As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A pension program
• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)