ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

POSITION DESCRIPTION

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time position with a starting salary range of $73,000 to a maximum salary of $81,000 per year, depending on the elected medical stipend. Staff are paid bi-weekly and receive annual benefits, including:

·         80 hours vacation

·         40 Hours sick time

·         9 Federal holidays observed

·         Simple IRA retirement account with 3% matching contribution; up to $3,000 per year

·         Taxable stipends

§  Medical $450-$1,200/month

§  Cell phone $50/month

·         Flexible/hybrid work schedule negotiable

 

All benefits are subject to change.

POSITION FUNDING

This position is fully funded by a private foundation for one year, and partially funded for an additional two years. SCDC plans to secure the remaining funding required to continue the position for an additional two years and beyond.

GENERAL FUNCTION

Under general supervision of the Executive Director, this position is responsible for developing, managing, and implementing programs designed to attract, retain, and support the expansion of businesses and investment of SCDC’s service territory. SCDC’s territory is from Florence to Brookings-Harbor on Oregon’s South Central and South Coast. This position maintains an office with other SCDC staff in the Newmark Center on the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus in Coos Bay.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications: An associate degree or similar, plus experience, in economic development and/or related field such as real estate, marketing, community development, public relations, communications, business assistance, economic research/economist, planning, and business administration. The job title may be revised to reflect applicant experience level as determined by Executive Director upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications: To be a competitive recipient to receive the maximum minimum salary, applicants should possess an undergraduate degree or higher education level in economic development or related field, plus three or more years’ experience working directly in economic development, such as at an economic development organization, with economic development in job title, etc. Certified in economic development i.e. be a CEcD, PCED or hold a state economic development certification. If you are in the process of attaining an economic development certification, provide details in your resume and/or cover letter.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The essential duties of this position include but are not limited to strategic business expansion, attraction and recruitment and retention.

·         Provide accurate and up to date economic, demographic, and other statistical data used by companies, site selectors, commercial real estate professionals, municipalities, and other organizations that are considering locating to, or expanding in the region. This includes assisting in the maintenance of applicable sections of SCDC’s website, including, but not exclusive to, Data, Invest Here, Top Employers List, interactive economic development map, and others as necessary

·         Manage the Enterprise Zone (EZ) incentive program for the Bay Area, Coquille Valley, and Lower Umpqua Enterprise Zones

o   Assist eligible businesses in submitting an Oregon Enterprise Zone Authorization Application

o   Coordinate and hold Preauthorization Conference with local officials to review the application, and draft a summary to be included in the final submission

o   Maintain and file exemption claims with the county assessor and/or other necessary entities to initiate and maintain the tax abatement once a qualified property (e.g., new buildings, modifications, machinery) is operational

o   Maintain communication with zone sponsors, participating businesses and interested parties as necessary

o   Perform all duties necessary for creating, amending, managing, and renewing managed zones

·         Identify and target businesses in industries which align with the region’s strengths and opportunities

o   Build contacts and relationships with business and real estate professionals. Procure and/or build site selector, broker, and/or business real estate development officers email marketing list(s)

o   Host targeted inbound visits, tours, trade missions, etc.

o   Participate in appropriate outbound events/activities to attract new businesses to the region

o   Respond to qualified requests for business site proposals

o   Update and maintain SCDC’s OR Prospector commercial real estate property listing through continued coordination and communication with property owners, brokers, and/or other economic development agencies

o   Market available sites, including individual community’s benefits and assets, as well as the entire SCDC region to prospective businesses and industries

o   Coordinate with Business Oregon’s (State Economic Development department) industrial lands staff, including exploring the Significant Industrial Sites program SCDC previously participated in

·         Coordinate business prospect opportunities from lead to move in while providing and maintaining excellent customer service

·         Work with confidential information and maintain strict confidentiality

·         Seek to maintain and grow targeted businesses from post move in, to expansion to succession, always providing excellent customer service

o   Create a business visitation program

o   Identify, and seek to address, barriers to growth, consider conducting business surveys

o   Facilitate connections between businesses and other businesses/potential partners, as well as regional, state, national, and international resources

o   Inform business owners, managers, and partner referral sources about educational resources and engagement opportunities

o   Create a buyers/sellers database of people interested in buying and/or selling their business

o   Serve on the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee, and potentially on the Natural Resources Committee and Business Development Committee

o   Coordinate as appropriate with CCD Business Development Corporation’s Technical Assistance Program

·         Work with confidential information and maintain strict confidentiality

·         Assist the Executive Director in being a supportive partner to those working to develop business related infrastructure such as housing, childcare, utilities, and workforce development as needed

·         Assist in developing and maintaining strong relationships with new and existing communities and stakeholder groups and organizations

·         Promote a positive image of SCDC

·         Perform other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

·         Possess experience and/or knowledge in economic development and related fields

·         Strong data management and research capabilities

·         Possess experience and/or knowledge in program and service development, organization, coordination, marketing and overall management

·         Possess experience and/or knowledge in marketing such as market research, branding, advertising, promoting, digital and social media, customer relationship management, and product/service positioning

·         Proficiency with and working knowledge of Excel, Microsoft Word, internet navigation and other word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs

·         Possess a good sense of direction/geography for efficient available site awareness. Experience with Oregon Prospector a strong plus. GIS, Google Earth, and/or other public mapping experience could be beneficial

·         Possess effective communication (both written and oral), including in-person networking skills and providing exceptional customer service to all SCDC stakeholders. Excellent follow up and follow through

·         Possess the ability to develop and maintain effective and positive internal and external working relationships

·         Possess a process improvement mindset, as SCDC is continuously evaluating and enhancing processes to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness, for example, by streamlining workflows. Ability to adhere to processes and maintain operational conformity.

·         Possess good judgement, be dependable and able to hold oneself accountable with independent problem-solving abilities

·         Possess effective project/task prioritization and time management capabilities

·         Possess the ability to appropriately balance productivity with quality of work while being flexible and adaptable to changing needs

·         Possess metric tracking and reporting capability with the ability to catch important details while keeping the big picture in mind

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Manual dexterity and coordination are required for most of the daily work period which is spent sitting while operating office equipment such as computers, keyboards, 10-key, telephones, and other standard office equipment. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, reach, bend, kneel, stoop, twist, crouch, climb, balance, see, talk, hear, and manipulate objects. The position requires some mobility including the ability to move materials, 5 lbs. or less daily and 5-25 lbs. occasionally. This position requires both verbal and written communication abilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is primarily working indoors in an office environment. The employee is not exposed to hazardous conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and the lighting is adequate.

SCDC offices are in the Newmark Center on the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus in Coos Bay. This positions’ office is adjacent to the Economic Development Technician and Executive Directors offices, with the Entrepreneurship Program Manager’s office across the building on the same floor, where the business incubator and future coworking space is located. We have a connecting door to our partners at the Southwestern Small Business Development Center. All existing staff work or have the option to work from home part of their week and/or to flex their hours. The office works hard while maintaining work/life balance.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

·         This role will require travel in your personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed) away from the office work site

·         Some flexibility in working hours will be required to meet event and program needs

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

SCDC is seeking a qualified professional who will become an integral part of the team. The right candidate will possess not only the experience, knowledge, and skills required to perform the essential job duties, but will also be internally motivated with a drive to realize the potential of our region.

 

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Lexie Woodward, Executive Director by email at Lexie@SCDCInc.org. Limit your cover letter to one page, detailing your interest in the position and relevant experience. Applicant materials will be reviewed internally, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If you would like to have a brief call prior to submittal, that may be arranged at Lexie’s discretion. Please email her.

The planned start date is negotiable but no later than January 6th (a soft start on the 2nd might be nice).