Business Development Spc
To be considered for any Department of Agriculture Agency position, applicants must complete and submit their application online, as well as upload any required application materials. Successful applicant(s) are required to successfully pass all Department of Agriculture specific background check(s) relevant to each position.
Please type any applicable or required supplemental responses in a Word document and attach to your application. HELPFUL HINT: when attaching you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application. PLEASE do not attach more than requested. If you have more than 25 attachments in the system you will need to email these to: Jen.downing@mt.gov failure to do so will conclude in an incomplete application.)
Department Mission: To protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries. The Agricultural Development & Marketing Bureau is responsible for administering programs that promote and enhance Montana agriculture. Responsibilties include market enhancement and development through direct market development activities, grants, seed capital loan investments in new and innovative products or process, marketing, and product development. Marketing and agri-business development personnel work closely with individuals and organizations to promote and enhance our agriculture industry.
Jobs overall purpose: This position serves as a Agriculture Development Specialist for the development and administration of a variety of business development activities to promote and sustain individual agri-businesses in Montana, as well as the statewide agricultural industry. This position also directly provides expert consultation and assistance to agri-businesses in market analyses, feasibility studies, licensing/permitting processes and requirements, funding sources, and a variety of other issues. Duties include program development and administration, program implementation, and other duties as necessary to fulfill the goals and objectives of the Bureau and Department.
The position reports to the ADD Bureau Chief and does not supervise other Bureau staff.
Major Duties:
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
(1) Assesses regional agriculture development needs; evaluates new or alternative agricultural products; reviews and interprets licensing/permitting processes as well as grant/loan requirements and parameters.
(2) Monitor changes national agriculture and business trends and standards and changes thereof, new market opportunities, industry practices, needs of producers, new technologies, and other factors. With this information, and when appropriate, identify potential new programs to discuss with ADD Bureau Chief.
(3) Initiates and actively maintains effective relationships with members of the agri-business community (e.g., producers, agricultural organizations, other agencies, etc.) to explain program policies, operations, and activities. This involves exchanging information to gain cooperation, coordinate activities, explain projects, resolve conflicts, and maintain current knowledge of statewide agri-business needs, economic conditions, and trends.
AGRI-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
This position conducts a variety of advanced professional duties to ensure the effective implementation of statewide agriculture development plans. The incumbent frequently coordinates with other Bureau staff according to the needs and objectives of the program and Bureau. Primary duties include providing expert consultation and business assistance; directing or developing business plans, feasibility studies, and marketing plans; guides and assists agri-businesses with licensing, permitting, funding proposals, and other business requirements; researching and evaluating specialty crop production, assisting with appropriate funding sources for Montana agri-businesses; planning and directing statewide specialty crop and business development workshops; and developing solutions in response to a variety of agriculture development problems, deficiencies, and impediments. These duties require knowledge of agriculture, business administration, marketing, and development; state, federal, and private funding sources, procedures, and requirements; economic issues related to agriculture; Agriculture Development Division objectives and ADD Bureau goals; strategic marketing and planning practices; and statistical demographics and analyses. These duties also require skill in explaining technical and legal concepts to a variety of audiences; synthesizing information from diverse sources into integrated market analyses, feasibility studies, development plans, and other complex reports; and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
(1) Provides professional consultation and assistance to producers and agri-businesses in Montana in developing and implementing complex and unique business development strategies. The incumbent provides one-on-one consultation to producers and agri-businesses on markets, funding sources, licensing and permitting requirements, and implementation plans. The incumbent must apply sound judgment and expertise in developing business-specific development plans and responding to unusual, unique, and unprecedented business development issues.
(2) Examines and provides feedback on business plans, feasibility studies, and marketing plans for agriculture products, specialty crops and markets to provide effective strategies, methods, analyses, and other essential information necessary for effective production and business development. The incumbent also coordinates with other agencies, bureau staff, agri-businesses, agricultural organizations, and other parties as necessary.
(3) Provides guidance and directly assists agri-businesses in identifying, interpreting, and fulfilling licensing/permitting processes, funding parameters, statutory requirements, and other standards related to the implementation of specific business development plans, products, and activities. The incumbent researches and analyzes requirements, provides professional interpretations, and coordinates with other local, state, and federal agencies as necessary to facilitate processes and ensure compliance.
(4) Researches and evaluates state, federal, and private funding sources (e.g., grants, loans, etc.) to determine the most appropriate funding sources for specific agriculture development needs. The incumbent evaluates the specific needs, products, markets, and other characteristics of individual producers and businesses; determines most appropriate funding sources; and guides the development of funding proposals.
(5) Plans and directs the delivery of statewide business development workshops to provide producers and businesses with current information on markets, trends, tariffs, funding sources, and other issues affecting Montana’s agriculture industry, including specific sectors as well as the industry as a whole. This involves assessing statewide industry strengths, deficiencies, and informational needs; developing workshop objectives, content, schedules, etc.; and coordinating the delivery of workshops and informational material with Bureau staff, contractors, agricultural organizations, members of the industry, and other involved or affected parties.
(6) Develops solutions to a broad range of agriculture development problems and impediments to facilitate the successful implementation of business development plans and ensure compliance with federal and state requirements. This involves coordination with producers, agricultural organizations, and business professionals and the theoretical application and testing of business, trade, and marketing concepts to assess the feasibility of various alternatives.
(7) Representing the Bureau and/or Department at conferences and meetings, directing special projects, and attending ongoing education and training as directed.
OTHER DUTIES
Performs a variety of other marketing, producer education, business development, and outreach activities as assigned by the Bureau Chief in support of the Bureau and Department goals and objectives.
Physical and Environmental Demands: Predominant work is performed in a normal office environment. The position involves in-state and out-of-state to conferences, meetings, and on-site visitations in excess of 500 miles per month in all weather conditions. This position must be able to lift up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors): This position requires extensive knowledge of the concepts and theories of business administration, marketing, and development as well as state, federal, and private funding sources, procedures, and requirements. The position also requires a comprehensive knowledge of public administration principles and practices; program management; contract administration principles; and contract law and claims management. The position also requires knowledge of economic issues related to agriculture; Agriculture Development Division objectives and AM&BD Bureau goals; budgeting; strategic marketing and planning practices; and statistical demographics and analyses.
Skills: This position requires extensive skills in budgeting, program management, plan implementation, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The incumbent must exercise skill in applying advanced research methods and techniques to a diversity of information sources and requirements; explaining technical and legal concepts to a variety of audiences (e.g., government officials, agricultural organizations, producers, etc.); and synthesizing information from diverse sources into integrated market analyses, feasibility studies, development plans, and other complex reports.
Abilities & Behaviors: This position requires the ability to plan, organize, and direct short and long-term agri-business development activities; apply analysis and judgement in arriving at solutions to routine, unusual, and unprecedented business problems; communicate effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with Bureau and Department staff, agricultural organizations, other state agencies, and Montana agri-businesses. The incumbent in this position must be innovative, must be able to use good judgment, and apply his/her professional expertise to new programs with little assistance or precedent.
Supervisory Responsibilties: The position provides guidance and direction to Bureau staff involved with business development assistance, research and other activities related to the Agricultural Business Development Program operations and activities. The incumbent does not provide daily supervision to agency staff.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):
Education
High school diploma or equivalent College degree (Bachelor’s) or equivalent (*)
(*) Applicable fields of education my be in business administration, marketing, public administration or a related field plus
Experience
3-6 years of job-related work experience or closely job-related work experience (**)
(**) Progressively responsible business management or development experience.
The agency will accept alternative methods of obtaining necessary qualifications to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis .
Eligible Training Assignment:
29.42
