Economic Development Manager

THE POSITION

Under general direction, plans, organizes, directs, manages, supervises, and coordinates assigned programs within the Economic Development Department which may include economic strategies, business attraction, expansion, and retention, City marketing, public relations, and promotional activities, redevelopment, and liaison to neighborhood associations; provides advice and strategic leadership to the City Manager, Mayor, City Council, and department directors in the development of short- and long-term strategic plans; facilitates the fast tracking of economic development projects and collaborates with a broad range of officials both internal and external between City departments, outside agencies, contractors, and clients to recruit, retain and broker expansion of business; coordinates assigned activities with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies; and provides highly complex staff assistance to the Economic Development Director.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Economic Development Director. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, administrative, and supervisory staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Assumes management responsibility for assigned programs within the Economic Development Department including economic strategies, business attraction, expansion, and retention, City marketing, public relations, and promotional activities, redevelopment, and liaison to neighborhood associations; oversees projects and contracts and manages staff activities to deliver performance results.
• Develops, implements, and maintains division goals, objectives, policies and priorities; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures for improving organizational performance, enhancing services and meeting goals; ensures that goals and deadlines are achieved.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.
• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work plan for assigned staff; assigns work activities, projects, and programs; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
• Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the division’s annual budget; participates in the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures; implements adjustments.
• Supervises, coordinates, and participates in the management of assigned projects; assigns, supervises and reviews the work of project management staff and contractors; reviews and updates project plans.
• Provides managerial, professional and technical staff assistance to the Economic Development Director; serves as lead on proposed and referred development projects; answers development questions, handles issues, and tracks and responds to project proponents.
• Researches and analyzes a variety of approaches to attract, retain and facilitate the expansion of businesses within the community by analyzing economic development opportunities within the community, surveying and interviewing local business owners to determine needs and issues, developing business retention and expansion programs, and functioning as a liaison with local business owners with regard to past, present, and future barriers to local economic development.
• Identifies and pursues development opportunities; facilitates the implementation of private development projects; assists new and expanding businesses in site selection, acquisition, and facility construction.
• Facilitates the recruitment of businesses to the City; interacts with developers interested in the City market; collaborates with businesses and ensures that the City’s needs and interests are met; develops recruitment and outreach materials and conducts outreach and marketing activities.
• Assists in managing contracts, determine contract requirements, issue requests for proposals, award contracts, provide contract information, resolve contract discrepancies, monitor contract performance, and ensure contracts comply with City Council action and federal, state, and local laws.
• Develops marketing, promotional, and public relations strategies designed to encourage retention, expansion and the attraction of new businesses and industry to the community by making presentations to the City Council and industry representatives on development issues; attends meetings and conferences, serving on committees and participating in discussions to promote the City with industries desirable to the community and compatible with the expectation of the economic development plan; analyzes and interprets data and prepares summary reports; compiles materials in the preparation of reports, manuals, and other publications; assists with the coordination of interdepartmental and departmental activities and with outside agencies related to the short and long term activities of economic development; prepares and presents complex executive and staff reports, statistical reports, recommendations, and other correspondence.
• Directs, plans, and coordinates the performance results and activities of assigned programs by conducting analysis, evaluation, research, creating new and entrepreneurial programs or improving current programs, benchmarking best practices, preparing and conducting presentations and training programs, networking with the community and other professionals in the field, understanding/applying/explaining complex technical and legal information, preparing reports and documentation, making recommendations, and implementing, administering and maintaining services and programs.
• Facilitates communication, building consensus, and resolving conflicts on projects and policy matters by conferring with, facilitating and conducting meetings with elected and appointed officials, other City departments, members of the public, and neighborhood organizations.
• Participates in developing and conducting citizen involvement/public participation events to explain policies, procedures, proposed development, and proposed regulations and policies; develops and conducts demonstration projects, workshops, and other training events.
• Engages the private sector and other public agencies in the implementation of economic development activities by forming partnerships, participating in strategic planning, and coordinating events.
• Serve as the liaison for assigned economic development programs with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies; negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
• Serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; responds to City Council questions and concerns.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings, conferences, and workshops; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of economic development; incorporates new developments as appropriate.
• Promotes a positive City image by maintaining excellent internal and external customer relations; responds to citizen inquiries and resolves difficult and sensitive complaints.
  Performs related duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS & MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of economic development programs.
• Economic Development principles, practices, and implementation including business development, real estate development, international trade, and local government financial incentives for business and marketing.
• Advanced principles, practices and techniques of public administration, public policy and community relations.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Principles, methods, and practices of municipal finance, budgeting, contracting, and capital and business finance.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs.
• Principles and practices of municipal government administration.
• Principles and practices of development, entitlements, and permitting, related to private development projects.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Principles of supervision, training, motivation, and performance evaluation.
• Technical, legal, financial, and public relations problems associated with the management of community development programs.
• Methods and techniques for the development of presentations, contract negotiations, business correspondence, and information distribution; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Principles and practices of project management, technical report writing.
• Research, and statistical methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Principles and practices of marketing, urban planning, economic and community development, and real estate.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to economic development planning and administration.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

ABILITY TO:

• Oversee and participate in the management of a comprehensive economic development program.
• Provide high quality, economical development services to the Rancho Cordova community, placing emphasis on responsive customer service.
• Participate in the development and administration of division goals, objectives, and procedures.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Plan, coordinate, assign, and review the work of subordinate staff.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Analyze complex economic development opportunities or issues and make sound policy and procedural recommendations.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general legal or policy guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and implement complex projects or programs.
• Work effectively with sensitive and confidential information as required by certain projects.
• Adjust to rapidly shifting priorities and timelines.
• Interpret and apply policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to assigned programs and functions.
• Prepare and administer a budget.
• Prepare and present clear, effective, and accurate staff reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other oral and written materials.
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Demonstrate political acumen by representing the city professionally at all times, dealing positively with controversial issues, facilitating community participatory decision making to resolution, and gaining cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Exercise initiative and independent, astute judgment in sensitive situations.
• Interview, investigate, solve problems and negotiate effectively.
• Demonstrate a civic entrepreneurial spirit by generating new, innovative ideas and development of better methods to accomplish tasks and complete projects.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

EDUCATION/TRAINING:
Equivalent to the completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in economic development, community development, planning, public administration or a related field.
A Master’s degree in a related field is highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE:
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible management level experience in economic development, urban development, redevelopment, or planning including two (2) years of supervisory responsibility.
Additional years of experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION:
Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Requires the mobility and manual dexterity to work in a standard office environment, use standard office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including the use of a keyboard; attend off-site meetings; stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; speech and hearing to communicate in person and by telephone; vision to read handwritten and printed materials and complex, color coded spreadsheets on a computer screen; strength and agility to lift and carry items weighing up to 20 pounds. Some accommodations may be made for some physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodations.