Economic Development Manager

JOB DEFINITION: 
Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, implements and supervises economic development functions and efforts of the City to secure opportunities for economic and business development and increase local employment, including business retention, business attraction and incentive programs; performs a variety of administrative, professional and technical work in preparation and implementation of economic development plans, programs and services. Implements economic development goals and objectives based on the direction of the City Manager’s Office and vision of the City Council; performs other related duties as required.
This position has a leadership role in developing and implementing the economic development plan for the City. The incumbent is expected to be dedicated to facilitating investment in the community to improve Desert Hot Springs resident’s quality of life.
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Economic Development Manager is expected to independently perform complex duties economic development activities. The incumbent in this position is a self-starter, driven, result-oriented, proactive, innovative, high-energy, visionary, displays outstanding communication skills and understands the need to have creative solutions to economic development issues. Other aspects of the incumbent's position as Economic Development Manager include but are not limited to business retention, property acquisition and negotiating development agreements; preparing complex technical reports and project management documentation.
 

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
Coordinates development projects and functions as liaison and facilitator between business, development professionals and City staff; responds to leads and inquiries for potential new business development; develops and manages marketing strategies to attract potential businesses. Researches policies, procedures and programs relative to economic development including low and moderate income housing; recommends and implements appropriate policies, procedures and programs in accordance with City goals and objectives; develops and implements programs to assist with low/moderate income housing, economic development including negotiations and preparation of related agreements; identifies, manages, and pursues potential funding opportunities. Performs other duties as assigned or required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/SUPERVISION:

SUPERVISION: 
Reports to the Deputy City Manager and receives administrative direction from the City Manager's Office.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Maintains excellent interpersonal skills in order to create and maintain open, collaborative and successful working relationships with various stakeholders such as business leaders, developers, commercial real estate brokers, and residents.
• Under the general management of the Deputy City Manager, directs, plans and organizes economic development functions for the City to expand and diversify the City's economy, generate job growth, foster business competitiveness and bolster the City tax base.
• Develops and administers a comprehensive economic development strategy for the City. Key aspects include short and long-term strategic planning focused on attracting increased capital investments and expanding and diversifying employment opportunities in the City as well as initiating, establishing and maintaining private/public partnership(s) for positive long-term economic change.
• Ability to be creative, adaptable and work independently when necessary and to develop ideas and carry them out to achieve the City's economic development goals and strategy.
• Develops and administers a comprehensive outreach program to new and expanding businesses.
• Works closely with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, CVB and other City partners to identify areas of concern in the promotion of business location,
expansion and retention within the City.
• Works closely with the City Manager's Office to identify focus areas for redevelopment and revitalization with specific goals and targets over defined time-periods.
• Research, collect and compile economic data and conduct analysis of such data relative to business attraction, retention and expansion.
• Plans, organizes and directs the research, planning and implementation efforts designed to achieve the economic development attraction, expansion and retention.
• Initiative to continuously refine plans and action strategies to target and attract businesses and industries to the City.
• Ensure that economic development activities comply with City goals, policies and procedures, as well as local, Federal and State regulations.
• Recommends and executes the implementation of goals and objectives for special programs and projects for effective recruitment of new industry, new business and new investment in the City; develop policies to stimulate expansion of existing industry, existing business and existing investments in the area.
• Analyzes existing economic situations relative to business attraction, expansion and retention; analyzes current availability of space for retail, office and industrial use.
• Assists with the development process for new and existing businesses, acting as a liaison between the developer and City departments as needed.
• Coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the effectiveness of various economic development programs and efforts.
• Strategizes, develops, analyzes, recommends and implements goals, objectives, policies and priorities for economic development and related programs.
• Analyzes, applies and interprets ordinances, laws, rules, regulations and legislation related to economic development programs and issues.
• Plans, directs, sets goals and implements economic development projects and programs. Manages and oversees property acquisitions and sales.
• Develops and maintains supportive relationships with other local, regional and state economic development organizations, existing City businesses, and real estate networks.
• Develops negotiation strategies and participates in negotiations relative to new and existing development projects.
• Collects, analyzes and compiles economic, market and demographic data for dissemination.
• Develops, manages, and monitors budget expenditures and budget expense records.
• Consults with and maintains effective relationships with citizens' organizations, public officials, consultants, developers, other cities and county agencies to develop and implement program goals and priorities.
• Assesses and recommends appropriate project financing methods and performs technical analyses and interpretation in the preparation of data for studies, and reports recommendations.

Experience and Education: 
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for an Economic Development Manager.  Ideally the required qualifications include possession of a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Urban Planning, Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, Marketing, or a related field AND/OR three (3) to five (5) years of experience in governmental and/or professional planning/economic development, including one year in a supervisory capacity.  A Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or Real Estate is highly desirable.  Experience in economic development and establishing programs related to business attraction and retention is highly desirable. 

License/Certificate:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California driver license, with a satisfactory driving record is required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
Knowledge of: 
Standard office and administrative policies and procedures; City codes and ordinances related to assigned department; principles and practices of economic development policies and programs; preparation of complicated documents requiring in-depth specialized knowledge; methods and techniques of supervision, training, and motivation; applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; methods and techniques of scheduling work assignments; standard office procedures, practices, and equipment; modern office equipment, including a computer and applicable software; methods and techniques for record keeping and report preparation and writing; proper English, spelling, and grammar; occupational hazards and
standard safety practices.

Skill to: 
Operate an office computer and a variety of word processing and software applications.  The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to a drive motorized vehicle.

Ability to: 
Plan and implement economic development programs and projects; review and analyze financial documents and information; interpret and apply a variety of government rules, laws and policies; independently perform difficult, complex and specialized housing studies; write clear and concise correspondence and reports; clearly and accurately communicate program policies and procedures to the
public and make presentations in public; respond courteously; efficiently and effectively to question and inquiries from elected officials, members of boards, commissions and the public.