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 funding. 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.

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.

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

• Training, classes, and professional development
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

• A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
• Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

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