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: https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en
MISSION STATEMENT:
Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity.
DLI CORE VALUES:
- Responsiveness
- Respect
- Integrity
- Excellence
- Cohesiveness
It's 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 DLI here.
Watch this short video to see why people love working for DLI: DLI Employee Testimonials
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: You’ll 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 - click here 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- click here 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, 2025 and July 1, 2026.
- This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)
The Office of Reentry at the Montana Department of Labor and Industry is a new team charged with driving a coordinated effort to improve reemployment services for justice-impacted individuals returning to local Montana communities. The team, housed in the Workforce Services Division, will be responsible for executing a collaborative effort among state agencies to coordinate career readiness, reemployment, and support services for individuals who are exiting or preparing to exit incarceration and reenter communities in Montana. The office will support coordinated efforts in the areas of:
Job training for individuals preparing to exit incarceration, including skilled-trade and apprenticeship programs;
Job placement for individuals after exiting incarceration;
Workforce and supportive services, including career education;
The availability of and access to online certificate training programs;
The availability of and access to general or secondary education programs;
Initiatives to teach entrepreneurship;
Transition planning and housing assistance;
Initiatives to ensure individuals exiting incarceration have adequate transportation and food security;
Coordination of care to address behavioral health needs of individuals,
Including initiatives to improve access to substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities for individuals exiting incarceration.
JOB DUTIES:
As the Supervisor for the Office of Reentry you will:
- Lead stakeholder engagement efforts for initial development of the office in coordination with the State Workforce Innovation Board to include input from the Department of Corrections, Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, Office of Public Instruction, Montana businesses, pre-release facilities, law enforcement, non-profit organizations serving the reentry population, and workforce stakeholders.
- Directly supervise Reentry staff, including an administrative specialist and an analyst, by driving work plans, priorities, and procedures and monitoring progress through meetings and consultations. Evaluate the performance of all positions directly supervised and complete performance evaluations.
- Provide recommendations and expert advice to agency leadership and reentry partners in developing responses and strategies for the execution of reentry service delivery.
- Lead or supervise the drafting of state and federal communications including annual reports, grants, state plans, and other documentation in consultation with the Commissioner’s Office.
- Participate in strategic efforts to establish goals, priorities, and practices that align within the division, agency, and with the Governor’s strategic workforce framework developed in partnership with the State Workforce Innovation Board. Regularly present to stakeholder groups such as the State Workforce Innovation Board, and other external boards and organizations as to the progress towards goals of the Office of Reentry.
- Please note that this is a leadership position responsible for directing strategy, building partnerships, and coordinating systems-level initiatives. This role does not involve direct case management or client services.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA’s):
If you are the right person for this opportunity, you will have the following knowledge, skills or abilities:
- The criminal justice system, including an understanding of corrections, reentry/transitional housing, workforce development for justice-involved individuals, probation and parole, or community-based services
- Reentry challenges and best practices, including the barriers faced by justice-impacted individuals in employment, housing, education, behavioral health, and transportation.
- Recidivism reduction strategies and the role of employment and workforce development
- State and federal programs and policies related to workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, corrections, behavioral health, and human services.
- Program development, implementation, and evaluation methodologies in public sector or human service nonprofit settings.
- Strategic planning frameworks and organizational development principles.
- Principles of trauma-informed service delivery, particularly in justice and workforce systems.
- Leading motivating a multidisciplinary team to execute complex, cross-agency initiatives.
- Performance management, including hiring, coaching, proving feedback, and handling sensitive personnel issues including disciplinary actions.
- Building and maintaining effective partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including state agencies, nonprofit organizations, business leaders, corrections personnel, and community members.
- Data analysis and reporting, including interpreting workforce and criminal justice data for planning and evaluation purposes.
- Grant writing, budget management, and compliance with state and federal funding requirements
- Navigate political and organizational dynamics to promote cooperation and alignment across departments and jurisdictions.
- Communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with a wide range of audiences, including government officials, community organizations, and individuals impacted by incarceration.
- Develop and present clear, evidence-based policy recommendations and operational strategies to executive leadership and policymakers.
- Design and manage collaborative stakeholder engagement processes to inform planning and implementation.
- Identify gaps in services, develop responsive solutions, and monitor the effectiveness of reentry-related programs and policies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Candidates with a strong mix of skills, experience, and leadership qualities in the above KSAs are desired. Candidates may demonstrate competency in the KSAs through experience, formal education (including certificates, credentials, or degree-based programs), or a combination of the two. Lived experience in the criminal justice system may be considered, provided that the candidate is no longer system-involved and has demonstrated leadership in a professional or community setting. Experience working in corrections, transitional/reentry facilities, or law enforcement may also be considered. Candidates should clearly describe how their experience and education meets the identified KSAs and provide examples in their cover letter that demonstrate their qualifications.
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 - In your cover letter, describe how your education, knowledge, and skills have prepared you for this position.
- 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.
