Description/Duties
There is currently one vacancy in the Business Development Assignment and one vacancy in the Administrative and Small Business Development Assignment.
This classification has been designated as a non-classified, non-merit system; at-will position.
First review of applications will be on Monday, March 3, 2025, and weekly thereafter as needed.
A Deputy Economic Development Director performs administrative work involving designing, coordinating, directing, and implementing programs and projects that support commercial, office, and industrial development; including contract management, budget development and monitoring, negotiating, facility management, and entrepreneurial development; workforce development; the attraction of and assistance to domestic and international businesses; development of public facilities and infrastructure; small business, entrepreneurship, and technology business initiatives; and/or other economic development, redevelopment, or capital improvement programs or projects. Work includes: performing economic development ombudsman duties with City departments on behalf of private developers locating or located in the City; assisting in representing the City on economic development boards and committees, and other issues as assigned; developing management plans, including current and critical path schedules for public improvement and private revitalization projects; meeting and working with citizen committees, special interest groups, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups concerning economic development issues and problems; developing business assistance, business retention, technology, and financing plans or assessments. Duties also include: evaluating projects on a cost/benefit basis; evaluating and processing rezoning, design review, and use permit requests for projects; preparing written reports and giving oral presentations on economic development activities for administration, advisory boards, and City Council decision-making; soliciting development proposals from private development companies; negotiating development agreements and contracts with private developers; supervises and coordinates the activities of staff including training, scheduling, hiring decisions, written performance evaluations, working with employees to correct deficiencies, and implement discipline procedures. This class performs related duties as required.
Business Development Assignment: This assignment acts as the primary representative and advocate for the City’s positions on issues surrounding economic and business development and redevelopment activities in Mesa and the Mesa Gateway Airport; represents the Mayor, City Manager, and/or Economic Development Director in meetings, negotiations, and proposals with other municipalities, Airport Authority, tribal governments, etc., on various projects and issues; performs highly complex, confidential, and sensitive assignments on behalf of the Mayor, City Manager, and/or Economic Development Director; develops relationships with other municipalities, tribal governments, partner organizations, and special interest groups on behalf of the City Manager’s Office and Economic Development; briefs elected officials, City Manager, and senior management on complex airport, municipal, and community issues; researches and develops recommendations on various business development, redevelopment, and/or economic development issues/problems; oversees marketing activities related to strategic initiatives; works in collaboration within and outside the organization to achieve City goals as outlined by the Mayor and City Manager; negotiates and monitors contracts with various outside organizations on behalf of the City of Mesa; prepares and makes comprehensive presentations to a variety of audiences; and resolves differences between Mesa and other political jurisdictions through conferences and discussions.
Administrative and Small Business Development assignment: This assignment is responsible for assisting in planning and directing the general operations of the Economic Development Department and specialty spaces managed by economic development staff; overseeing design, coordination, direction, and implementation of programs that support or attract small business and entrepreneurship programs; preparing and conducting presentations to business owners, management, and public officials to report activities of and promote small business programs; overseeing the preparation and administration of the department budget; representing the Mayor, City Manager, and/or Economic Development Director in meetings, negotiations, and proposals with other municipalities, partners, etc., on various projects and issues; researches and develops recommendations on various small business development issues/problems; works in collaboration within and outside the organization to achieve City goals as outlined by the Mayor and City Manager; negotiates and monitors contracts with various outside organizations on behalf of the City of Mesa; supervising and directing staff engaged in specialized Economic Development projects and business assistance; and oversight of marketing activities related to small business, entrepreneurship, and strategic initiatives.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Economic Development, or a related field and 7+ years of demonstrated work experience at a level that required supervision or management of projects and programs in airport economic and business development, economic development, urban economic development, redevelopment, economics, public facility or infrastructure development, commercial development, real estate, public and/or private finance, marketing, small business/entrepreneurship development, or workforce development. Graduation with a Master’s Degree in one of the above areas can be substituted for two years of required work experience.
Special Requirement. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License by hire or promotion date.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in one of the fields outlined above. Experience related to business and/or economic development in and around a regional airport
(Business Development Assignment). Membership in related professional organizations, the ability to speak a second language, and designation as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) are highly desirable.
Link To Job Description
https://apps.mesaaz.gov/JobDescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs5908.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Which vacancy are you interested in? Select all that apply.
- The current vacancy in the Administrative and Small Business Development Assignment
- The current vacancy in the Business Development Assignment
02
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Economic Development, or a related field, or related field? Please detail your education on your application.
03
Do you have a Master's Degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Economic Development, or a related field? Please detail your education on your application.
04
How many years of work experience do you have at a level that required supervision or management of projects and programs in airport economic and business development, economic development, urban economic development, redevelopment, economics, public facility or infrastructure development, commercial development, real estate, public and/or private finance, marketing, small business/entrepreneurship development, or workforce development? Please detail your experience on your application.
- None
- Some but less than 5 years
- 5 years or more but less than 7 years
- 7 years or more
05
Please describe in detail your work experience at a level that required supervision or management of projects and programs in airport economic and business development, economic development, urban economic development, redevelopment, economics, public facility or infrastructure development, commercial development, real estate, public and/or private finance, marketing, small business/entrepreneurship development, or workforce development; including employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
06
Do you have or are you be able to obtain a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License by hire or promotion date?
07
Please describe your experience related to business and/or economic development in and around a regional airport, including employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
08
Please list below any memberships in related professional organizations that you possess. Please also detail this information on your application. If no memberships, type N/A.
09
Please list below any second languages that you are able to speak. If you do not speak a second language, type N/A.
10
Do you possess the designation as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)? Please detail this information on your application.
