POSITION/TITLE: Economic Development Manager/Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director
POSITION TYPE: Exempt
SALARY GRADE: 250
HIRING RANGE: $107,625- $141,066 annually
REPORTS TO: City Manager
Please submit applications here: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/6188EF2E4605187C80196F1680F28FF9/jobs/68000
Help Shape the Next Chapter of Wheat Ridge
The City of Wheat Ridge is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial professional to serve as our Economic Development Manager and Executive Director of Renewal Wheat Ridge (the City’s Urban Renewal Authority). This is a unique opportunity to help lead the city into its Next Chapter by implementing the community’s new economic development strategy — the Wheat Ridge Prosperity Plan.
Wheat Ridge is a vibrant inner-ring community in the Denver metropolitan area known for its strong neighborhoods, engaged business community, and strategic location. As the city continues to evolve, we are focused on fostering thoughtful redevelopment, supporting local businesses, and creating new opportunities for investment and economic vitality.
Wheat Ridge was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush as a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting.
GENERAL PURPOSE: The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in implementing the “Wheat Ridge Prosperity Plan”, advancing redevelopment opportunities, strengthening business retention and recruitment, and leveraging urban renewal tools to catalyze strategic investment throughout the community. They will perform professional management of urban renewal and economic development initiatives, under the supervision of the City Manager. Duties will include business recruitment, retention and redevelopment opportunities, business navigation, marketing, blight remediation, finance, and developer solicitation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Urban Renewal Authority
· Serve as the Executive Director of Renewal Wheat Ridge (RWR), the City's Urban Renewal Authority.
· Assist with the development and implementation of redevelopment strategies, urban renewal plans, and/or plans and programs to remediate blighting conditions.
· Represent the City in negotiations with developers and businesses, and communicate with residents, businesses, and property owners in urban renewal areas.
· Addresses retention and expansion of existing businesses and assist with marketing opportunities to developers, realtors, and investors.
· Assist in structuring development and redevelopment incentive packages and public/private financing structures.
· Create agendas, staff memos, Board packets, official postings for RWR.
· Work with RWR’s legal counsel assuring compliance with urban renewal statute.
· Create and manage the annual budget for RWR and assure financial obligations are met as required by redevelopment agreements, grants and other financial mechanisms of urban renewal.
Economic Development Manager
· Prepare strategies for market areas and assist with development and implementation of goals, objectives, and policies.
· Direct, write, and produce programs to enhance City's image and implement the tasks and strategies outlined in the Wheat Ridge Prosperity Plan.
· Market the services of the Economic Development program through interactions with local businesses, community members, regional economic development partners, commercial real estate brokerage and the development community.
· Collect organize, and analyze information about local businesses and available space.
· Maintain database of pertinent information, and create customized reports in response to requests from businesses, property owners, government agencies, the community, and city departments.
· Provide advice and consultation to existing, emerging and established businesses in the city, including start-up information, marketing and business strategy.
· Serve as the liaison between the City and affiliated economic development partners, including but not limited to: Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Wheat Ridge Business Association, Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, West Metro Chamber of Commerce, Localworks, Applewood Business Association, and Downtown Colorado Inc.
· Lead city's Business Retention and Expansion program and represent the City's economic development program at local, regional and state economic development forums.
· Provide first point of contact for businesses, citizens, and others regarding business retention and the expansion program.
· Determine customer needs, provide information or assistance to satisfy customer needs, respond to inquiries, and work to resolve any concerns or complaints from customers.
· Provide assistance to businesses and/or developers in navigating City approval processes.
· Assist new and existing businesses on navigation through the city building and licensing process working with the business and various departments and divisions for a successful outcome.
· Attend weekly Development Review meetings coordinated by the Community Development Department. Work with other departments and divisions on economic development opportunities in the community.
· Assist and provide guidance for business ribbon cuttings.
· Prepare, administer, and implement annual operating budget for the division and exercise control over expenditures of budget and funds.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training, and Experience
· Required: Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Studies, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, or a related field that provides a technical foundation for community and economic development.
· Preferred: Master's Degree in Urban & Regional Planning, Urban Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Real Estate Development, Law, or a closely related field. Certification in Economic Development (CEcD).
· Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience that includes economic development, project management, and government agency service. Direct experience in leading redevelopment initiatives such as urban renewal is preferred.
· Possess a current and valid Colorado driver's license or ability to obtain within thirty (30) days from date of hire.
· Will need to pass a criminal background and MVR check before hiring.
Knowledge
· Principles and practices of online and internet information search capabilities and general knowledge of reference tools, both print and media.
· Principles, practices and techniques of business and marketing.
· Colorado real estate law and practice, economics, economic development, real estate finance and public private financing, tax increment finance, working knowledge of applicable state and federal laws, Colorado Urban Renewal law, and the City charter and codes.
· Methods utilized in forecasting, monitoring, planning, and developing divisional budget information.
Skills
· Read, write and verbally communicate at a level appropriate to the duties of the position.
· Excellent computer, written and verbal communication skills.
· Requires initiative, organizational and time management skills, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, professional demeanor, speaking and written communication skills.
· Refined and effective public relations skills are essential.
Abilities
· Possess abilities in identifying relationships between issues, making plans for complex issues and events, and analyzing data.
· Can derive innovative solutions to difficult situations with little or no precedent, express and present ideas clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
· Act with tact, good judgment and discretion, exercise independent judgment and evaluate program effectiveness and efficiency,
· Exercise initiative and react resourcefully under deadline-oriented and multiple-demand conditions.
· Demonstrate high degree of confidentiality, trustworthiness, and accuracy while working on several projects simultaneously and adapt to rapid changing priorities.
· Communicate and interact with diverse individuals and groups and can establish and maintain effective working relationships.
· The incumbent should demonstrate the ability to skillfully negotiate on behalf of the City and the Authority, think independently and use logic along with all of the known facts to render appropriate decisions and direction in administrative matters.
HOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: This is a full-time position that needs to be available to work during typical weekday office hours along with the ability to attend after-hours meetings, and special events. Majority of the work is conducted in an office environment. Travel around the City and at times through Denver Metro or outside travel will be required.
The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office.
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.
