ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Creates and administers economic development programs and serves as primary contact regarding economic development programs, process and review all economic development program applications
• Attracts and retains businesses to the city
• Implements the city's Economic Development Strategy, including the creation and implementation of a Business Retention and Expansion Program
• Familiarize public officials, retailers, community groups, the general public and others with the nature and orientation of this effort
• Develops and maintains a cooperative working relationship with existing businesses, develop and maintain contacts with landowners, developers, site consultants, realtors, entrepreneurs, private industry representatives, and economic development related organizations and agencies
• Coordinates a wide range of projects, from supervising promotional activities to assembling market information
• Projects may include: property inventory, external marketing, maintaining the Economic Development website, business recruitment, small business assistance programs, and branding
• Serves as an authority on information, resources and programs related to operating a business in the city and acts as a data and information source for current and prospective businesses
• Engage and interface with the International District Businesses to build relationships and promote better understanding of their business needs and plans
• Prepares updates to community demographic information and maintains current data regarding the community on the economic development page of the city's website
• Assist with the Loop Special Business District (LSBD) and Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board (EDRSTB)
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of short and long range plans and policies related to economic development activities
• Serve as staff liaison to the Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board and other boards/commissions as assigned. Provide staff support to this and other boards.
• Attend occasional evening or weekend meetings
• Other projects and duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong written, oral, and organizational skills are required and include external communications such as newsletters, press releases, web copy, grant applications, etc.
• Must demonstrate strong community engagement/outreach skills and experience
• High level of technical ability with strong working knowledge of computer software programs such as desktop publishing, graphic design, website administration, and Microsoft office suite
• Knowledge or principles and practices of economic development, redevelopment and reuse, business retention and recruitment programs, and marketing and advertising
• Experience with event planning and organizational/membership/community meetings
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local economic development tools available (i.e. brownfields, tax increment financing, historic tax credits)
• Ability to produce quality materials and assigned responsibilities with competing demands, changing priorities, and required timelines and work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and the public, and gain the trust and cooperation of others to effectively communicate concepts and ideas
• Strong organizational, analytical, research, evaluation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to exercise a high degree of sound, independent judgment and work within established guidelines
• Ability to attend evening or weekend meetings as required

PHYSICAL/VISUAL ACTIVITIES OR DEMANDS

• Sitting, talking, hearing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending
• Concentrated mental and visual attention with normal hand-eye coordination
• Clarity of vision at 20 inches-corrected or uncorrected
• Occasional moving/lifting of items up to 30 lbs

EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM JOB

Telephone, computers, cameras, copy machine, fax, printers, scanner

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning or related field; Master's Degree preferred
• Five years related experience and/or training in economic development, downtown development, or industrial and commercial real estate development preferred
• Supervising experience