Business Assistance Section Manager

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Interpret and Implement Advanced Labor Standards: Apply Montana and federal labor standards including wage and hour workers compensation working relationships employment verification and prevailing wage to complex fact patterns make sound compliance determinations and provide practical risk aware guidance to employers.
• Regulatory Program Design and Oversight: Design implement and continuously improve compliance programs including audits monitoring tools and corrective action processes that promote voluntary compliance and withstand regulatory scrutiny.
• Data Driven Performance and Process Improvement: Use data metrics and trend analysis to diagnose problems set performance targets and lead structured improvement initiatives that enhance timeliness consistency and customer experience.
• Strategic Budget and Resource Management: Manage an operating budget forecasting workload and staffing needs and making tradeoff decisions that balance statutory requirements service expectations and limited public resources.
• Inclusive Leadership and Staff Development: Lead diverse teams by setting clear expectations providing ongoing coaching addressing performance issues and building a positive culture of equity with professional growth opportunities.
• High Impact Training and Outreach: Develop and deliver focused trainings tools and outreach tailored to employers and stakeholders including those working on prevailing wage projects and other specialized compliance areas.
• Complex Stakeholder and Conflict Management: Build credibility and trust with employers employees unions legal representatives and partner agencies; navigate adversarial situations; and de escalate conflict while upholding laws and agency expectations.
• Strategic Vision and Change Leadership: Translate department and division goals into clear unit strategies lead staff through policy law and system changes and model a service oriented education first compliance philosophy.
• Public Communication and Presentation Skills: Communicate complex information clearly in public settings design professional presentation materials and adapt messages to diverse audiences to ensure understanding and engagement.
• Visual Communication: Skilled in developing professional presentation materials that convey complex information in an accessible and visually compelling manner ensuring audience understanding and engagement.
• Presentation Expertise: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in public settings by delivering clear engaging and informative presentations tailored to diverse audiences including staff leadership and external stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education and Experience)

• Demonstrated experience leading teams or projects in environments were advising others resolving complex issues and ensuring compliance with policies laws or standards are central responsibilities including regular supervision coaching or coordination of staff or peers.
• Demonstrated experience assessing and explaining complex employment personnel human services education or regulatory issues and providing clear actionable guidance to employees employers customers or community members.
• Experience interpreting and applying laws rules policies contracts or technical standards and using sound judgment to balance regulatory requirements with practical business and customer needs.
• Demonstrated experience planning coordinating or improving programs or operations such as developing work plans monitoring metrics leading process improvements or enhancing customer service or compliance outcomes.
• Experience managing or stewarding resources which may include overseeing budgets grants contracts or staff time and making decisions that reflect accountability for public resources.
• A Bachelors degree in Public Administration or related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY:

A complete state application is not required; however you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application but the application will not be scored or reviewed.

Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.

Tip: When attaching your resume cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as RELEVANT or we will be unable to view your documents.

Required application materials:

• Cover Letter - Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified Knowledge Skills and Abilities with examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
• Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position including duties dates of employment.

Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.

All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents.

If you need an accommodation with the application process please contact the HR office.

BENEFITS:

Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking camping biking fishing boating hunting skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs rodeos and theaters. Read more about our great state here.

See our other incredible benefits here. These are some of our benefits just to name a few:

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: Youll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health dental vision life insurance coverage flexible spending accounts EAP - clickhere to learn more.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- clickhere to learn more!
• Career progression training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.

This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1 2026.

*This position may be covered by aVoluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

Note: Employees for the State of Montana must reside within Montana. All applications and required application documents must be submitted through the MT Careers site at: to shape Montanas business culture and lead statewide impact As Business Assistance Section Manager with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry you will lead a team of professionals who partner with employers across the state to promote fair lawful and sustainable workplaces. This leadership role blends regulatory expertise team development and continuous improvement to help Montana businesses navigate working relationships wage and hour workers compensation employment verification and prevailing wage requirements.

MISSION STATEMENT:
Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity.

DLI CORE VALUES:

• Responsiveness
• Respect
• Integrity
• Excellence
• Cohesiveness

Its about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open team-based supportive and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLIhere.

Position Overview:

The Business Assistance Section Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight for a unit that supports employers in understanding and complying with state and federal labor standards. The role is responsible for aligning unit work plans goals and processes with division objectives while fostering a culture of proactive assistance accountability and high-quality customer service for Montana businesses.

Essential Functions:

The Business Assistance Section Manager will:

• Provides leadership and vision by developing processes that identify businesses which are not in compliance with labor laws and assist them in coming into compliance.
• Supervise and develop knowledgeable teams delegate authority and foster an environment of high performance and continuous learning.
• Develop training and audit plans for prevailing wage projects while ensuring compliance with required state laws.
• Utilize data analytics to monitor program effectiveness identify trends and develop actionable solutions for improvement.
• Monitors and evaluates the progress of unit work plans goals and objectives to ensure alignment with divisional priorities. Continuously assesses processes and identifies opportunities for improvement to support the divisions strategic objectives. Implement policies and procedures that guide daily operations and advance long-term organizational goals.
• Provides budget administration support by collaborating with the Bureau Chief and Division Administrator in the development management and oversight of the units budget.
• Coaches trains and mentors staff to ensure they have the resources necessary to perform their duties effectively. Provides regular feedbackboth orally and in writingto recognize performance encourage development and maintain clear expectations.