Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Master's or Bachelor's degree in policy analysis, business or public administration, economics, urban or regional planning, urban design, or a related field, plus six (6) years of professional experience in economic development, trade development, international trade, technology-based economic development, and entrepreneurship support, sustainability-based economic development, or commercial or residential real estate development, including three (3) years supervisory experience.
Demonstrated effectiveness in working closely with corporate, education, military, and non-profit sectors in implementing economic development initiatives, plans, and projects. Professional experience working at the intersection of economic development and urban or regional planning or urban design is preferred.
Licenses and Certificates: Valid Texas Class "C" Driver's License or equivalent from another state by time of appointment.
General Purpose
Under administrative direction, manage the City's economic development programs and initiatives in a bi-national and tri-state region through the oversight and direction of the Economic and International Development Department,
The Director of Economic and International Development Division serves as a member of the City's economic development leadership team, along with the Director of Planning & Inspections and the deputy directors of Planning and Building Permits and Inspections, and is the City's designated day-to-day liaison to a wide variety of external organizations that collectively comprise the City and region's collaborative economic development effort.
Typical Duties
Plan, organize, manage and direct economic development programs, projects and initiatives, setting clear goals, objectives, and associated metrics of performance. Involves: Cultivate and strengthen the City's formal and informal partnerships with external organizations charged with implementing City and regional marketing, downtown redevelopment, business recruitment, business retention, and business expansion programs; develop, lead, and manage the City's redevelopment program tied to its mass transit system (Rapid Transit and Streetcar); facilitate technology-based economic development; foster entrepreneurship and small business growth; sustainability based economic development; and develop sector- or cluster-specific projects or initiatives that strengthen the City and region's economic base (e.g., the Medical Center of the Americas initiative). Develop and coordinate the implementation of a strategic economic development plan that aligns with the City's comprehensive plan and with economic development functions delegated to external organizations. Formulate and oversee analysis of City and regional economic, market, demographic, and social trends to facilitate integrated economic and physical development planning, and develop effective partnerships with external think tanks to collaboratively undertake such work, as appropriate. Administer the City's development incentives programs, including fiscal and economic impact and cost-benefit analyses. Develop and evaluate plans and criteria for programs and projects relating to redevelopment of underutilized areas. Solicit development proposals from private development companies. Coordinate development and redevelopment activities with public officials, public and private organizations, committees, city employees, and manage and solicit public private partnerships. In coordination with other development-related departments, explore ways to improve City economic development and contribute to regional economic development efforts by developing plans and initiatives that are new and innovative. Coordinate with other departments and external organizations as appropriate to communicate the City's initiatives and accomplishments in economic development to local, regional, national, and international audiences.
Plan, design, implement, and review division short and long-term goals and priorities. Involves: Manage priorities and progress of projects and activities. Gather, compile, research and analyze data needed to develop periodic reports regarding division activities, accomplishments and goals. Deliver presentations. Assist in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, process and procedures necessary to provide economic development services. Design, establish and maintain an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the division's goals and objectives. Assist in development of budget. Monitor and approve expenditures.
Supervise directly and through subordinate supervisors. Involves: Participate, authorize, or approve the hiring of staff. Schedule, assign, and review work. Appraise employee performance and review evaluations by subordinate supervisors. Provide for training and development. Enforce personnel rules and regulations and work behavior standards firmly and impartially. Counsel, motivate and maintain harmony. As appointing authority, interview applicants and recommend hire, terminate, transfer, discipline, and assign merit pay or other employee status changes.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Application of comprehensive knowledge of economic development, urban redevelopment, business services, and public services.
- Application of comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of the economic development and redevelopment processes and concerns, public participation techniques and economic development issues.
- Application of considerable knowledge of city, state and federal incentives, grants, acts and regulations.
- Application of considerable knowledge of commercial and/or mixed real estate management.
- Application of considerable knowledge of budget preparation and standard general and fiscal administration policies and practices.
- Application of considerable knowledge of management and supervisory principles and techniques.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with businesses, coworkers, department heads, officials, customers, regulatory agencies and the general public.
- Assess objectives and operational requirements to develop and implement appropriate.
- Clear concise oral and written communication to prepare and present comprehensive reports to, Council, City management, businesses and the general public.
Other Job Characteristics
- May work extended hours as an executive reporting to the Deputy City Manager.