Please Note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $83,556 to $130,207, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

The Montgomery County Government, Business Center in the Office of the County Executive seeks to fill two (2) Program Manager II positions: Business Liaison and Business Engagement & Innovation, to problem solve, share resources, and communicate with established businesses or businesses seeking to establish operations in the County. Proficiency in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Amharic, or French is preferred but not required.

The successful candidates will proactively establish strong working relationships with businesses through regular, face-to-face contact that fosters support and encourages participation in the County's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Candidates will work with business clients to solve problems, share resources to support business growth, and promote the success of the County's businesses. These positions work in close coordination with the County's Small Business Navigator, other members of the County Executive's Office, as well as all County departments and agencies, the County-funded economic and workforce development organizations, and business, academic and community partners.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR (Applicable to Both Positions)

You enjoy working with people, including public and private sector employees, to resolve issues, and provide guidance and information regarding relevant business support resources.
You maintain positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward business clients, fellow County employees, and County partner organizations.
You have strong customer service and case management and project management skills.
You are a creative problem solver and are comfortable researching additional information and engaging other team members or partners if necessary to address business needs.
You are diligent about follow-up with clients and documenting client interactions and support.

Business Liaison (Program Manager II)

The individual will serve as a Business Liaison, building strong working relationships with businesses through regular, face-to-face engagement that supports growth and encourages participation in the County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This includes working with both established businesses and those seeking to locate or expand operations within the County. The Business Liaison will collaborate with business clients to address challenges, connect them to relevant resources, and promote the overall success of the County’s business community. This position works closely with the County’s Small Business Navigator, members of the County Executive’s Office, all County departments and agencies, County-funded economic and workforce development organizations, and a broad network of business, academic, and community partners.

Community Outreach & Business Engagement

Proactively engage with businesses across the County to share resources, identify challenges, and build trusted relationships. Maintain a visible presence in key commercial corridors and industry clusters through planned weekly walk-throughs and site visits, with virtual check-ins conducted as needed for follow-up.

Intake, Triage & Case Resolution

Respond promptly to business inquiries, assess needs, and connect businesses to appropriate services. Establish clear expectations, track progress, and close cases with documented outcomes. Develop and maintain a structured intake process that categorizes inquiries related to permits, licensing, financing, workforce, procurement, and operations. Determine urgency and appropriate escalation paths (e.g., zoning matters to Planning, health code issues to the Health Department), and provide tailored step-by-step guidance, checklists, and timelines.

Guidance on County Laws, Regulations, and Processes (Non-Legal)

Translate County requirements into practical, actionable steps for businesses. Reduce administrative barriers by clarifying procedural sequences, such as zoning, permitting, inspections, occupancy, and licensing. Maintain plain-language guides and FAQs on common processes, including signage permits, health inspections, fire safety, and occupancy. Develop tailored pathways for common business types, such as restaurants, retail establishments, personal services, and home-based businesses.

Program Gap Identification & Solution Design

Identify gaps in County programs and services affecting businesses and propose actionable solutions. Collaborate with County agencies and external partners to improve access, clarity, and service outcomes. Analyze client management system data to identify recurring challenges, such as licensing confusion or language access needs. Develop recommendations that may include process improvements, new resources, eligibility adjustments, or pilot initiatives, and convene cross-agency working sessions to validate findings and co-design solutions.

Partnerships, Training & Ecosystem Coordination

Engage and coordinate with external partners—including SBDC/SBA, chambers of commerce, lenders and CDFIs, incubators, and workforce providers—to address needs beyond County services. Design and support workshops and training opportunities that assist businesses in starting, growing, and maintaining compliance.

Communications & Disruption Management

Provide clear and timely communication to businesses during events that impact operations, such as construction, service changes, or right-of-way issues. Share actionable information and mitigation options, monitor feedback, adjust messaging as needed, and relay concerns to appropriate County agencies for resolution.

Equity, Inclusion & Culture

Ensure equitable and inclusive outreach and service delivery across diverse business communities. Contribute to a respectful, collaborative workplace culture. Prioritize engagement with underrepresented business owners, support multilingual access where appropriate, and partner with trusted community organizations.

CRM, Reporting & Performance Management

Use the Client Management System to document activities, track outcomes, and support performance management. Analyze case data to generate insights that inform leadership, guide policy considerations, and drive operational improvements.

Business Engagement & Innovation (Program Manager II)

The individual will work closely with the Director of Economic Development Special Projects (Special Projects Manager) on business innovation ecosystem and other economic development initiatives. Responsibilities include research, planning, coordination, promotion, hosting, and follow-up professional and administrative support for a broad range of activities. While this position does not include staff supervision, it carries significant responsibility for advancing key elements of the County Executive’s vision, including County incubators, business development programs, international business onboarding efforts, and other high-profile initiatives.

Project & Resource Management

Track and monitor project budgets, expenses, timelines, and resource utilization to support effective delivery of initiatives. Facilitate clear communication and coordination among internal teams and external partners to ensure alignment and timely execution.

International Trade Initiatives

Organize activities related to international trade missions focused on recruiting new jobs to the County and assisting County companies looking to grow overseas thru exports. Work on other programs organized by the Director of Economic Development Special Projects that are not supported by other County groups (e.g., County Business Center, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation) and/or in conjunction with these groups.

Program Development and Business Growth Initiatives

Participate in the development and promotion of programs and partnerships that support County business growth and attraction. These initiatives are based within the Office of the County Executive (CEX) and County Departments and may include incentives, incubators, and other strategic resources.

Research and Analysis for Economic Development

Conduct research to inform analysis and decision-making processes related to new economic development partnerships and activities. This work supports strategic planning and ensures data-driven outcomes.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Expansion

Support expansion efforts related to programmatic and capacity resources for innovation and entrepreneurship, with a focus on supporting local advanced technology businesses and international soft-landing companies. These efforts aim to strengthen the County’s position as a hub for business innovation. Assist in developing an international soft-landing resource network by providing custom research for domestic and international prospects. Support the integration and promotion of expanded programming to attract global business opportunities.

Business and Economic Development Engagement

Engage in various activities related to business, innovation, and economic development on behalf of the County Executive. These efforts contribute to advancing the County’s economic priorities and fostering strategic partnerships.

Communication and Information Management

Facilitating communications, convening meetings, and managing the flow of information between the County Executive, internal teams, and external partners. Ensure timely and effective coordination across all stakeholders. Prepare presentations, reports, marketing collateral, and other materials for internal and external stakeholders. Ensure all content is clear, professional, and aligned with the County Executive’s strategic objectives. Draft marketing and promotional materials to support business and economic development activities led by the County Executive. These materials aim to enhance visibility, attract partnerships, and promote County initiatives effectively.

Experience: Thorough five (5) years professional experience in small business assistance, entrepreneurial business support, economic development, customer service, operations, or a combination thereof.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of experience and education may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class “C” (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence.

Note: A portion of the work is performed in a comfortable office setting, but the position requires the ability to meet with businesses in the field, attend meetings, or perform work at locations outside the office. The position also requires the employee to attend meetings which may occur on weeknights and occasionally on weekends.

To ensure a positive workplace and to comply with federal, state and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing mandatory trainings within the first three to six months or within the specified timeframe. For information about Montgomery County's comprehensive benefit offerings, please visit the MCG Careers Total Rewards webpage and check out our competitive benefits!

Preferred criteria screening questions will be used pertaining to:

1. Experience using CRM to aggregate and report data.
2. Experience using multilingual skills with business.
3. Strong customer service experience which includes helping and working with customers with diverse backgrounds and challenges.

Interview preference criteria will be used pertaining to:

1.Strong verbal and written communication experience.

2.Strong customer service experience which includes helping and working with customers with diverse backgrounds and challenges.

3.Strong project management and interpersonal experience.

4.Experience using CRM to aggregate and report data.

5.Experience using multilingual skills with business.

6.Experience working independently and as a member of a team.

7.Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously while working with stakeholders from various backgrounds, industries, cultures, and levels of government.

Montgomery County (MD)

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Business Liaison / Business Engagement & Innovation (Program Manager II), Grade N25