Economic Development Specialist

About our opportunity:

The City of Asheville is seeking qualified applicants for the Economic Development Specialist position within the Housing and Economic Development (CED) Department. The Economic Development Division is dedicated to driving long-term economic prosperity and economic resilience within the community. 

The Economic Development Specialist plays a pivotal role in accomplishing the City's economic development objectives by understanding and promoting all division activities and serving as a proactive advocate for Asheville’s commercial corridors. Operating under general direction, this position handles complex projects and performs professional and administrative functions in the coordination and management of economic development policies, procedures, and programs. 

The Economic Development Specialist reports to the Economic Development Division Manager.

Work Schedule: Generally Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Some evening and weekend work may be required, such as occasional attendance at evening meetings of the Asheville City Council, related community meetings, or infrequent overnight travel. Position requires attendance at in-person meetings off-site. Hybrid work options may be approved by the Department Director.

Initial review of applications will occur as received. This position will remain open until filled or until a sufficient number of applications are received.

Essential Functions:  
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Business Development, Ombudsman, and District Support

• Acts as a central point of contact and dedicated ombudsman for "Main Street" businesses and startups, navigating regulations, resolving complex issues, and directing business owners to Local, State, and Federal resources.

• Serves as the active district liaison for commercial corridors, prioritizing direct engagement and business retention and expansion efforts by attending meetings with district groups, conducting targeted site visits, and documenting district needs.

• Works collaboratively to develop and maintain strategic partnerships with outside organizations and businesses to advance the City’s economic development and business retention goals.

• Works with the Economic Development Coalition and the Division Manager to attend meetings between industry representatives and local officials, participate in site visits, and serve as a liaison during construction and expansion projects.

• Develops and uses a business issues matrix to systematically track and triage complex commercial corridor concerns in collaboration with departments such as Public Works and CAPE. 

• Establishes and manages an inventory of vacant or underutilized commercial properties, actively connecting local entrepreneurs or displaced businesses with flexible space options.

• Acts as a primary point of contact to receive and share information in a post-disaster environment, listening to business owners to understand their needs and sharing those needs with local, regional, state, and federal officials.

Project Management and Cross-Functional Support

• Leads or supports cross-functional teams in implementing economic development strategies, initiatives, special projects, and events, including focus areas such as commercial activation, economic recovery, and revitalization.

• Serves as an internal resource regarding economic development and business support initiatives, proactively collaborating with departments such as Planning and Urban Design, Development Services, Public Works, and Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) to streamline processes and coordinate economic development opportunities.

• Interfaces closely with Development Services and Planning and Urban Design to help streamline the City's permitting and regulatory navigation for local businesses.

Funding Strategy, Grant Support, and Research

• Provides logistical and staff support to the Division Manager in seeking grant awards, including researching funding opportunities, writing strong proposals, and developing compelling project narratives.

• Conducts economic research and gathers relevant community data to support division projects, inform strategic planning and decision-making, and strengthen grant applications.

• Assists the Economic Development Division Manager in the administration of the City’s Economic Incentives program.

Communications and Public Engagement

• Attends and presents at meetings for business and industry associations, advisory boards, commissions, and Council committees (e.g., Planning, Economic Development, and Environment Committee, Economy Recovery Board, CarolinaWest, and others).

• Participates on advisory boards, commissions, and Council committees by attending meetings, preparing and presenting reports and resolutions, and recommending improvements to processes.

• Writes or drafts staff reports, policies, procedures, guidelines, and other resources to promote economic development initiatives and resources.

• Assists in maintaining relevant economic development web pages and content, collaborating with Community and Public Engagement (CAPE) to promote economic development.

Additional Functions

Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications: 
Bachelor’s Degree in degree in Business, Public Administration, Political Science, Planning, or related field, with two (2) to four (4) years of related experience in public relations, economic development, and/or local government, including contract or program management experience.

Specific License or Certification Required:  Must possess and maintain a valid North Carolina driver’s license.  Completion of UNC School of Government Basic Economic Development course is preferred within one year of hire.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive understanding of the economic development field and application of advanced principles, techniques, and theory, including business recruitment, expansion, and retention, and the development process.

• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, funding streams, and policies that govern programs, as well as ethical guidelines applicable to the position.

• Knowledge of other municipal, county, state, federal, and private agencies whose work impacts the City, with which the City partners.

• Experience with data tools and analysis related to demographics, economic trends, employment, and labor statistics preferred.

• Knowledge of the general principles of financial management, generally accepted accounting principles, and/or grants management practices preferred.

• Local Government experience preferred.

Skills:

• Excellent verbal communication skills, including public speaking, alongside excellent writing skills and proficiency in preparing written reports and business correspondence.

• Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural, and customer service skills with the ability to work cooperatively and professionally with internal and external customers and elected officials.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to develop, recommend, and implement effective plans and objectively evaluate progress toward goals.

• Proficiency with Google Suite or ability to translate skills from other platforms.

• Skill with economic impact modeling software such as IMPLAN is preferred.

• Skill with Canva or other graphic design software is preferred. 

Abilities:

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision, work well under pressure, and handle conflict in a professional manner.

• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data and draw conclusions from the analysis pertaining to the evaluation of project/program objectives.

• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of subjective or sensory information to resolve business issues and interpret policies.

• Ability to analyze situations to pinpoint problems, identify sources of obstacles, and bring resources together to provide a solution.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with grantees, employees, and the general public.

• Ability to read and understand basic workplace data (forms, tables, graphs, schedules) and operate a personal computer utilizing standard office software.

Performance Aptitudes: 
Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives
Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with others to coordinate the more complex programs and more complex problems associated with the responsibilities of the job. Often represents the department and/or organization when dealing with others. 
Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information. 
Mathematical Aptitude:  Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures. 
Functional Reasoning:  Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems. 
Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.ADA Compliance:  
Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, and visual cues or signals.  Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions