POSITION TITLE:
Economic Development Coordinator
SALARY RANGE: $75,000 to $85,000
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Economic Development Coordinator supports economic development activity within the City of Jonesboro and overseas the Main Street Program.
DEFINITION:
Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, and coordinates economic development activity within the City of Jonesboro. The position is also responsible for supporting the City of Jonesboro and the Main Street Program. The position works with the City Manager
and staff to identify developers and investors to bring new business and encourage existing business expansion in the city.
Position requires an extensive depth of expertise and knowledge in specializing functions or business areas that can be used to develop policies and procedures as well as determine efficient and innovative ways to accomplish the City’s strategic priorities.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:
Administrative direction is provided by the City Manager.
GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• To support the vision, mission, and guiding principles of the city.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of strategies to attract businesses to the city.
• Main Street Program
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Support all economic development & Main Street functions, including strategic planning, meeting management, and report preparation.
• Communicates both in writing and verbally with other professionals on highly technical, sensitive, and complex topics.
• Develops and maintains an inventory of vacant businesses and market unoccupied properties.
• Assists tenants and property owners; meets with prospective clients.
• Collects and analyzes statistics on downtown and other areas.
• Prepares and delivers reports to the City Council, management team, and others.
• Represents the city on various boards, commissions, and special task forces related to economic development.
• Coordinates strategies and processes with the Community Development Department related to city economic development initiatives.
• Identifies resource needs; fundraises and prepares grant applications.
• Supports the activity of Main Street Program committees, ensuring that communication between committees is well established; assists committees with development and implementation of work plan items.
• Prepare all reports required by the State and National Main Street Programs and other key funders and administrators.
• Develops and conducts ongoing public awareness programs designed to enhance appreciation of the downtown businesses, to foster an understanding of the Main Street program’s goals and objectives, and to keep the program highly visible in the community.
• Manages recruitment, evaluation, and retention of volunteers, including members of the four Main Street committees, and special project volunteers.
• Assists with preparation and coordination of all Downtown Activities.
• Assists with writing, editing, and publishing informational and marketing brochures and flyers.
• Supports efforts for business retention, expansion, and recruitment, including providing information, expertise, and appropriate referrals to business owners, marketing the Jonesboro Main Street Program to outside businesses, working with developers and property owners to enhance the quality of retail and commercial businesses and the quality of their retail/commercial space.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• The coordinator supports any necessary volunteers. The coordinator maintains local Jonesboro Main Street program records and reports, establishes technical resource files and libraries, and prepares regular reports for the State Main Street program and the National Main Street program. The manager monitors the annual program budget and maintains local financial records.
• Other duties as assigned.
JOB SCOPE:
Job has recurring work situations involving a high degree of discretion. The need for accuracy and effective utilization of available resources is high. Errors in judgment could cause disruptions to the City’s mission and adversely impact attainment of the City’s goals. Incumbent operates independently but results are monitored by the City Manager. Content of work priorities are self-determined.
COMMUNICATIONS/CUSTOMER CONTACT:
Contacts are across the entire city community, in a leadership capacity. Community contact is a critical component of success in developing good will and support of City programs and initiatives.
COMPETENCIES/SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING PREFERRED:
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:
Education:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in business, planning, economics, or related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Thorough knowledge of principles, practices and processes involved in economic development.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of management, business, organizational procedures, and financing.
• Possesses knowledge of economic, social, and technological resources available in the economic development field.
• Possesses knowledge of the assets of the community and federal, state, and local laws pertaining to economic development and planning.
• Must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well organized, and capable of functioning effectively in an independent environment.
• Skills in data collection and analysis, and establishment of databases about pertinent city statistics and demographics.
• Ability to plan, organize, and effectively develop commercial leads for the city including building consensus among diverse groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with business executives and owners or representatives, public officials at the local and state levels, contractors, community leaders and organizations, other department heads, and other employees.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and make correct recommendations for each business contact.
• Ability to manage social media, marketing, and other forms of promotion.
• Ability to work effectively with the City Manager, Mayor, other Departmental Heads and City Council.
JOB CONDITIONS:
• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, and hearing.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force frequently or constantly moving objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, examine, and work with maps, charts, and detailed materials, operate a computer, inspect sites, use measuring devices, and read extensively.
The City of Jonesboro is an equal opportunity, drug-free employer committed to diversity in the workplace.