Economic Development Director

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The purpose of this position is to plan, direct, manage, and oversee the activities and operations of the Economic Development Department including programs and projects design to promote and attract growing businesses, and encourage efforts to expand the local economy while creating and expanding jobs with a skilled workforce; manage the CRA-Community Redevelopment Agency; coordinate assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; and provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Administrator. Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Administrator. (Due to the job duties of this position, it is required that the employee must live within a 45-minute commute from City Hall or agree to meet this requirement within one year from date of hire. (The individual that is selected and moves within six (6) months of their start date may be eligible for up to a $5,000 moving expense reimbursement upon approval of the City Administration.) ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS The following essential functions represent the primary duties of this position but should not be considered an all-inclusive list of responsibilities. Other duties may be required and assigned. Manage all Economic Development Department services and activities including community vitality and efforts to expand the local economy and workforce; plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the City's economic development activities. Promote retention and expansion of business and industry within the city, identify impediments to business retention and expansion, and coordinate with local resource partners to address needs and challenges of the business community which serves the best interest to the City of Apopka. Coordinates and assists the City Attorney and Community Development Department in drafting and reviewing commercial and industrial related development agreements and ordinances related to land development. Directs Economic Development Staff and oversee the daily activities, tasks, and programs of the Department. Play major role in facilitating development, support existing development and help coordinate possible public-private partnerships. Manage and provide leadership of the CRA-Community Redevelopment Agency and the CRA Redevelopment Plan. Provides expertise for financing and project management of complex development projects including Community Development Districts, business incentive or loan programs, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Opportunity Zones, CRA Assistance Programs, and capital improvement projects. Meets and confers with businesses to identify needs and challenges and coordinate business resources and technical assistance such as financial solutions, site selection, business plan development and marketing, workforce development, etc. Seeks to attract new business to the City through attendance at high visibility networking events and conferences, and utilize a variety of economic development tools and resources. Develop and implement a strong communications plan including the preparation of economic development related press releases, articles, summaries, agendas, web pages, and quarterly reports. Identify opportunities for development and redevelopment projects. Designs, directs, and coordinates economic and planning studies, assist with strategic planning, conduct and coordinate basic economic development and fiscal analysis, and feasibility studies. Coordinate and analyze economic incentive and grant programs available through local governmental entities and economic development related organizations, and review and evaluate economic incentive applications for eligibility and return on investment. Develops and maintains short and long-term executive strategies to achieve City of Apopka goals. Review, evaluate, summarize, and prepare economic development related grant applications. Plan and implement business development workshop programs in coordination with other local resource partners and represent economic development and redevelopment efforts through attending events, speaking engagements, press releases, and other media outlets. Attend and participate in professional group meetings, maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the fields of redevelopment and economic development, incorporate new developments as appropriate. Act as a liaison between internal departments, external organizations, and individual businesses. Maintain and develop relationships with property owners, developers, site consultants, realtors, business owners, key government officials, Chambers of Commerce, and economic development related organizations and agencies. Participate and serve on local economic development-related boards, councils, and committees. Obtain, analyze, and prepare data to prepare reports to organizations and city officials about economic development and redevelopment and real estate activities. Assist with recruitment and expansion of business opportunities. Work closely with city managers and planners, as well as other key city personnel. Maintain a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations, maintain an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession, reads professional literature, maintain professional affiliations, attend workshops and training sessions as appropriate. Essential Employees may be required to work during a declared or undeclared emergency. Performs related duties as required. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES Knowledge of principles and practices of economic development, redevelopment and reuse, marketing and advertising, real estate, commercial development/redevelopment financing alternatives, and annexation procedures. Knowledge of business retention and recruitment programs, as well as principles, practices, and methods of public administration, including budgeting, financial management procedures, and organizational productivity improvement. Knowledge of zoning, comprehensive planning, and GIS. Skill in gathering, analyzing, and evaluating a variety of data. Skill in solving problems and dealing with a variety of variables in situations where little or no standardization exists. Skill in operating a variety of office equipment to include an office computer and a variety of word processing, spreadsheet, analytical, and project management software applications, as well as graphic and presentation programs. Skill in developing, writing, and implementing strategic plans and providing necessary documentation to support economic development program requirements. Ability to apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process and interpret maps, graphs and statistical data. Ability to manage assigned responsibilities with competing demands, changing priorities, and required timelines. Ability to work confidentially with discretion regarding economic development projects. Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, interpret, and apply applicable laws, codes, and regulations. Ability to attend evening meetings as required and overnight travel. Ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and prepare grants, technical reports, proposals, and correspondence. Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with city officials and employees, the general public and representatives of other agencies toward the accomplishment of assigned projects. Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively in a variety of situations, prepare clear and comprehensive written reports, and perform basic and complex mathematical and statistical calculations. Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines for economic development opportunities, planning deadlines and proactively and utilize innovative techniques and ingenuity in implementing economic development programs and planning efficiencies. Ability to communicate effectively orally, written, and in a public speaking setting. Ability to establish and maintain effective and amiable relationships with leadership, supervisors, residents, customers, employees, other departments, and agencies. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, provided that the education and experience are in a relevant and related field. Master's degree in urban planning, business administration, economics, public administration, or a related field with seven (7) or more years of experience in economic development, real-estate community development, and planning administration or related experience to include AND four (4) years of progressively responsible supervisory/managerial experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. OR An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in a related field such as real estate and commercial development. Certification by the IEDC- International Economic Development Council preferred. Valid Florida Driver's license. A valid out of state License is acceptable, but selected candidates must obtain and provide a valid Florida driver's license within thirty (30) days of start date. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Related experience of four (4) years of progressively responsible supervisory/managerial experience. ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, occasional standing, walking, bending/twisting, pushing/pulling up to 10 lbs., lifting up to 10 lbs. Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Environmental Conditions: Exposure to dim or bright lights. Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally. JOB LOCATION City Hall. Any off-site locations and facilities utilized as part of the City's participation or involvement in an event, activity, or job assignment. ADA Statement: The City of Apopka is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to achieving excellence and strength through diversity. The City seeks a wide range of applicants for its positions so that one of our core values, a qualified and diverse workforce, will be affirmed. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requires the City to provide reasonable invited to discuss accommodations. DISCLAIMER: The City of Apopka reserves the right to fill positions prior to the closing date and also reserves the right to close the posting prior to the date indicated. Positions will be filled by competitive selection from among categories of qualified and available candidates. It is the policy of the City of Apopka to give first consideration to all employees and other internal applicants prior to considering external (outside) applicants. Applicants should expect a starting salary at the minimum of the pay grade range; applicants with exceptional qualifications and/or experience may be eligible for a rate of pay which is higher than the range minimum upon approval by Administration. Your social security number is requested for the purpose of payroll eligibility verification, processing employment benefits, applicant and employee background checks, and income reporting and will be used solely for those purposes. The City of Apopka participates in E-Verify. Employers are required by federal law to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. We utilize the E-Verify system to process our new hires. We provide information to the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with Information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.