Economic Development Coordinator

Performs complex professional, administrative, analytical, and program management work supporting the Economic Development Director and independently administering assigned economic development programs, projects, and departmental initiatives.

Work requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment in evaluating economic development matters, determining appropriate courses of action within established policies and delegated authority, analyzing information, resolving project issues, establishing priorities, developing recommendations, and coordinating activities involving City departments, businesses, property owners, site selectors, brokers, utilities, governmental agencies, and economic development partners.

The employee works under the general supervision of the Economic Development Director and is expected to plan and carry out assigned responsibilities independently. Significant policy, financial, contractual, incentive, or other matters requiring higher-level authorization are presented to the Director or other appropriate City authority with supporting analysis and recommendations.

1. Departmental Program Administration and Strategic Support

-Provides professional, programmatic, and administrative support to the Economic Development Director in administering departmental programs, projects, priorities, and strategic initiatives.

-Assists the Director in evaluating economic development opportunities, business and development issues, departmental priorities, and courses of action.

Researches and analyzes matters requiring Director review and develops background information, alternatives, recommendations, reports, presentations, correspondence, and other professional materials.

-Independently handles assigned matters and projects on behalf of the Director within established policies and delegated authority and determines when matters require escalation to the Director.

-Coordinates implementation and follow-up of decisions, assignments, strategic initiatives, and projects established by the Director.

-Represents the Department and, when authorized, the Director in meetings with businesses, partner organizations, City departments, governmental agencies, consultants, brokers, property owners, and other stakeholders.

-Handles confidential and sensitive information involving business prospects, economic development projects, property matters, incentives, grants, and departmental operations.

2. Business Recruitment and Project Management 

-Manages assigned business recruitment inquiries and economic development projects from initial inquiry through project resolution.

-Evaluates prospect requirements and conducts company, industry, workforce, property, infrastructure, utility, zoning, transportation, demographic, and other research necessary to determine potential project compatibility.

-Evaluates available information, identifies potential issues and alternatives, determines appropriate departmental resources and responses, and develops recommendations for Director consideration.

-Coordinates requests for information and project responses involving City departments, utilities, property owners, brokers, site selectors, regional and state economic development organizations, and other partners.

-Maintains confidential prospect and project information, establishes project timelines and priorities, monitors deadlines and deliverables, and independently coordinates follow-up activities.

3. Business Retention and Expansion Coordination

-Administers assigned business retention and expansion activities and serves as a professional point of contact for existing businesses.

-Determines appropriate City resources or partner organizations to address identified business needs and recommends potential responses or solutions.

-Identifies trends, risks, and opportunities affecting the City's existing business and industrial base and communicates significant findings and recommendations to the Director.

4. Research, Data & Reporting

-Conducts research and analysis of economic, workforce, demographic, industry, business, and industrial tax-base information to support business recruitment, retention, and expansion, property development, departmental programs, and strategic decision-making.

-Evaluates information from regional, state, federal, and private data sources; identifies trends, opportunities, and issues; and prepares findings and recommendations for Director review.

-Develops and maintains monthly, quarterly, and annual performance dashboards, spreadsheets, charts, tables, reports, Council materials, and grant tracking information.

-Determines appropriate data sources and reporting methods for assigned projects and responds to research and information requests within established departmental priorities.

5. Marketing, Communications & Branding

-Coordinates assigned economic development marketing and communications initiatives in collaboration with the Director and City Communications.

-Develops and reviews project summaries, property information, presentations, business and workforce materials, website content, property listings, announcements, newsletters, digital content, success stories, and other economic development materials.

-Evaluates information for accuracy, relevance, confidentiality, and consistency with departmental objectives before publication or distribution.

-Coordinates marketing activities with businesses, property representatives, partner organizations, and City Communications as appropriate.

6. Property, Site & Project Coordination

-Administers the City's economic development inventory of available industrial sites and buildings and maintains accurate information in Zoom Prospector and other applicable systems.

-Evaluates properties for potential economic development projects by reviewing available zoning, utility, infrastructure, transportation, GIS, workforce, environmental, and development information.

-Coordinates with property owners, brokers, utilities, Engineering, Planning, GIS, and other City departments to resolve questions and obtain information necessary for project evaluation.

-Analyzes prospect requirements against available properties and develops recommendations concerning potential sites or buildings for Director review.

-Monitors significant property and site-development issues; identifies matters that may affect the marketability or development potential of economic development properties; and communicates significant issues and recommendations to the Director.

7. Incentives, Grants & Compliance

-Administers assigned activities associated with economic development incentives, grants, and compliance programs.

-Analyzes project information, capital investment, employment commitments, performance requirements, eligibility information, and supporting documentation.

-Interprets applicable program requirements and identifies potential compliance issues or information requiring additional review.

-Assists in developing incentive and grant recommendations and prepares supporting analysis and documentation for consideration by the Director and other appropriate City officials.

-Monitors grant and incentive requirements, performance measures, reporting deadlines, and deliverables and coordinates corrective follow-up when necessary.

8. Department and Program Administration

-Assists the Director with departmental planning, work priorities, performance reporting, budget monitoring, procurement, records management, and administrative implementation of departmental programs.

-Prepares agendas, briefing materials, reports, presentations, and meeting materials; attends assigned meetings and prepares official or departmental meeting minutes; maintains meeting records; tracks action items and follow-up assignments; and coordinates required posting, distribution, and record retention activities.

-Reviews departmental deadlines, project commitments, grant requirements, purchasing activities, and other operational matters and identifies issues requiring Director attention.

9. Relationship Management & Professional Representation

-Develops and maintains professional working relationships with businesses, Union County Economic Development, state and regional economic development organizations, educational institutions, utilities, site selectors, brokers, developers, property owners, workforce organizations, and other economic development partners.

-Serves as a departmental liaison on assigned projects and issues and exercises professional judgment in responding to inquiries, identifying appropriate resources, and determining matters requiring Director involvement.

-Participates in meetings, roundtables, workshops, conferences, business visits, site tours, and other professional economic development activities including but not limited to site logistics, workshop, roundtable, and other outreach event planning.  

-Makes presentations and provides economic development information to businesses, partner organizations, community groups, governmental representatives, and other audiences as assigned.

10. Performs related duties and special assignments as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements below represent knowledge, skill, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with a disability to perform essential functions.

• Strong knowledge of economic development, business principles, business processes, industry sectors, and local government operations.
• Ability to coordinate multiple simultaneous projects with strict attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare professional reports, summaries, and presentations.
• Strong reporting and data organization skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, business information systems, digital platforms, and reporting tools  
• Ability to review and understand maps, zoning codes, utility infrastructure information, and demographic data.
• Ability to maintain strong relationships with partners, businesses, community groups, and stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Skill in organizing meetings, coordinating logistics, and preparing agendas and follow-ups.
• Marketing and design awareness; ability to support light design tasks or collaborate with Communications.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision, establish priorities among multiple assignments, exercise sound professional judgment, and recognize matters requiring consultation with or approval of the Director.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Planning, Marketing, Economic Development, or a related field; 
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in professional administration, project or program coordination, business operations, economic development, local government, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience independently coordinating projects, programs, departmental operations, or complex assignments involving multiple stakeholders is strongly preferred.
• Experience in economic development, business operations, business recruitment, business retention and expansion, land development, or local government is highly desirable.

PHYSICALREQUIREMENTS

This is light work requiring exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally; tasks involve frequent walking, standing, fingering, grasping, repetitive motions, and extensive computer work.

• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License.
• Ability to work evenings, early mornings, or weekends for events, tours, or deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding active projects and business matters.
• Completion of Economic Development training and/or coursework is encouraged.

This classification specification indicates the general nature and level of work employees perform within this classification. It is not intended to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform the job. The City of Monroe reserves the right to assign or otherwise modify the duties assigned to this classification.