Director of Economic Development

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Management:

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine the Department’s strategic plan in alignment with County priorities.

• Establish annual goals, KPIs, and performance benchmarks tied to economic growth, investment, and community impact.

• Provide leadership, supervision, and performance management for department staff.

• Oversee departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and financial stewardship.

• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.

Business Navigation and Regulatory Leadership:

• Lead and oversee the County’s Business Navigation program as a core economic development function.

• Serve as the executive-level point of contact for complex, high-impact development projects requiring coordination across jurisdictions.

• Ensure the County delivers a best-in-class, predictable, and transparent permitting experience.

• Oversee development and implementation of digital permitting platforms and tools.

• Lead regulatory advocacy efforts by partnering with industry and government to improve policies, procedures, and permitting efficiency at local, state, and federal levels.

• Identify systemic barriers to development and implement process improvements.

Site Development and Investment Readiness:

• Lead strategy to identify gaps between market demand and available sites.

• Oversee development of investment-ready sites, including coordination with developers, landowners, and public partners.

• Guide site certification efforts and alignment with JobsOhio and regional partners.

• Ensure sites are effectively prepared, positioned, and marketed for investment.

Community Development:

• Provide executive oversight of CDBG and CHIP programs.

• Ensure compliance with all federal and state requirements while maximizing community impact.

• Align community development investments with broader economic development goals.

• Promote equitable development and strategic deployment of resources across the County.

External Relations and System Building:

• Serve as the primary representative of the County in economic development matters.

• Build and maintain relationships with regional, state, and local partners.

• Engage with developers, utilities, infrastructure providers, and regulatory agencies to align systems supporting development.

• Represent the County in public forums, policy discussions, and high-level negotiations.

Data-Driven Decision Making and Accountability:

• Ensure integration of data and performance tracking into all departmental strategies.

• Oversee reporting on KPIs, including navigation timelines, site readiness, and community development outcomes.

• Provide regular updates to the Board of County Commissioners and stakeholders.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Deep understanding of regulatory environments, permitting, and public sector processes.

• Strong knowledge of site development and infrastructure planning.

• Experience with federal community development programs (CDBG, CHIP) preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to influence systems, policy, and cross-agency collaboration.

• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to translate strategic vision into measurable system improvements.

UNUSUSAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• Frequent external meetings and stakeholder engagement.

• Visits to businesses and occasionally construction locations.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.

• Some evening or weekend work may be required.

Qualifications