Economic Development Director

This position is open until filled.
The Human Resources Office is unable to provide status updates by telephone.
The salary range is listed above. Starting salary will depend on qualifications and experience.

The Economic Development Director performs promotional and consultative work in developing and directing an economic development program for the County. An employee in this class is responsible for consulting with local officials, community leaders, and industry executives for the purpose of promoting the industrial growth through expansion and retention of existing industrial bases, and attraction of new industries and business into the County. Duties include development of data, statistics, and publications which portray the economic potential of the county; identification of prospective industries; and maintaining proper records, reports, and public information for the program. Work requires considerable planning and timely execution of work. Decisions must be made quickly with accuracy when dealing with the industrial management teams. Employee must exercise independent judgment and simultaneously must consider financial, socio-economic, legal, and regulatory variables as they affect the County. Work is performed under the general direction of the County Manager evaluated through conferences, reports and results.  

• Serves as initial contact for potential industries and businesses considering new location or expansion; shows sites and arranges meetings with local officials; researches land and coordinates contacts for the property; serves as liaison during plant or facility construction; investigates labor supply, utilities, and works with various groups to ensure the availability of an adequate, well trained workforce for industrial concerns. 
• Develops marketing tools for the economic development of the County including brochures, flyers, booklets, website, and ads, etc. 
• Develops a network of contacts to identify potential parks and sites; monitors building projects and works with local officials. 
• Develops grants and funding sources to support infrastructure improvements, i.e. Community Development Block Grants, rural Development Administration and NC Rural Economic Development Center Fund; researches, writes and contracts for grants procurement and administration; lobbies and works with Department of Transportation for road and highway improvements and keeps abreast of long range transportation plan. 
• Maintains contact with state industrial developers, community leaders, and representatives of businesses and industry. 
• Develops business retention program; visits each industry in the county regularly to stay abreast of their status, any potential for expansion, and assists with problems; follows up on requests. 
• Keeps current records on sites and buildings, and reports changes to the State industrial developers; keeps files and statistics on labor wages, demographics, economic base, maps, profiles, utilities, retail sales, building permits, finances and schools; reports on growth announcements and statistics on various agencies. 
• Supervises administrative staff; makes work assignments; provides guidance on workload; monitors and evaluates work; and may initiate disciplinary action; makes recommendations for final selection, salary increases and dismissal to the County Manager. 
• Prepares department budget recommendation; establishes yearly goals and objectives.
• Serves as staff resource and technical consultant to the County Economic Development Commission, and to the Board of Commissioners; and makes presentations to commissioners on infrastructure expansion to support new or expanding industry. 
• Researches and recommends strategies, serves on Board, and promotes Main Street program for the County. 
• Coordinates efforts with a wide variety of local, regional and state groups such as Regional Partnership officials, NC Department of Commerce and others; serves as a liaison for various city, county, and state agencies and organizations. 
• Coordinates immigration, visa, and other issues for visiting staff and dignitaries for international companies.   
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Minimum Requirements:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Community Development, Public Administration, Economics, Marketing, or a closely related field.

A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible, successful experience in implementing economic development strategies and techniques, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements: 

• Possession of a valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:

• CEcD (Certified Economic Developer) or other relevant professional economic development credentials and certifications highly preferred
• Local Government Experience
• Experience in an economic development office

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of local government operations, policies and plans, and modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs.
• Knowledge of principles, practices and processes involved in economic development. 
• Knowledge of the principles of management, business, their organizational procedures, and financing. 
• Knowledge of economic, social, and technological resources available in the economic development field. 
• Knowledge of the assets of the community and federal, state, and local laws pertaining to economic development and planning. 
• Knowledge of the local, regional, state and federal resources and agencies available to assist with various economic development activities. 
• Knowledge of the application of information technology to the development of information and to the recruitment and retention of economic capital. 
• Knowledge of marketing principles and practices. 
• Skills in data collection and analysis, and establishment of data bases about pertinent County statistics and demographics. 
• Ability to plan, organize, and effectively develop industrial leads for the County including building consensus among diverse groups. 
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with industry and business executives and owners or representatives, public officials at the local, state and federal levels, contractors, community leaders and organizations, other department heads, superiors and other employees. 
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and make correct recommendations for each industrial contact.
• Ability to meet and deal with employees and the public in an effective and courteous manner.
• Ability to get along with others, and work effectively with the public and co-workers.
• Ability to multi-task and work within deadlines.
• Ability to use computers for data entry, word processing, and accounting purposes.