JOB SUMMARY

The Economic Development Director is a Director level position who reports directly to the Chairman/CEO.  This position is responsible for facilitating economic development planning and initiatives; identifying and fostering economic development opportunities; securing funding for economic development opportunities; assisting local organizations, businesses, and individuals with establishing economic development plans and projects; marketing Walker County to attract businesses to the area; serving as a liaison between the various state, county and city officials, county and city departments, civic organizations, the business community. 

Serves as the Executive Director of Walker County Development Authority.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

  • Maintain an inventory of available established businesses for sale within the county and municipalities
  • Maintain an inventory of available properties including commercial/industrial/retail/residential sites within the County and municipalities
  • Manage the development and implementation of economic growth through retention, expansion, attraction of new commerce
  • Development of economic growth within the county’s two industrial parks 
  • Monitors legislation and regulations relating to economic development, and reports findings to the appropriate impacted parties
  • Serves as County liaison with local, county, regional, and state economic development organizations and committees
  • Collaborate with utility providers to anticipate and address infrastructure needs for growth and development
  • Maintains a liaison with various local, state and federal agencies, coordinating projects with agencies as deemed necessary and appropriate. 
  • Represents the County at appropriate civic, cultural, charitable, business and community activities as well as serve on boards, commissions, committees and organizations related to the areas that are critical to the County’s goals and interest
  • Attends all meetings of the Walker County Development Authority, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Commissioners Meetings
  • Other duties as assigned. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

 

COMPETENCIES

  • Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to keep records, assemble and organize data, and prepare reports, and have excellent organizational skills and manage time effectively.  
  • Ability to organize workflows and coordinate activities for short-term and long-term projects
  • Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing
  • Ability to attend to details while keeping broad goals in mind
  • Ability to assign priorities to tasks and to reassign priorities as the situation and circumstances change
  • Ability to adapt to changes in work condition
  • Ability to analyze, plan and organize work
  • Ability to understand and follow quickly and accurately, complex, oral, written, or demonstrated instructions and procedures
  • Ability to work with a diverse constituency, business and development community
  • Able to type/keyboard 35-40 WPM  

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Preferably a Bachelor’s degree in an academic field related to economic development
  • Preferably at least five years experience in professional economic development that would include experience with a public economic development agency
  • A strong communicator who expresses him or herself well and builds positive working relationships with other staff members, partners, consultants, funder, and community members
  • A goal-oriented thinker who has the ability to set clear priorities among multiple tasks and stay focused on projects benchmarks and deadlines.  
  • Comprehensive knowledge of economic and community development issues, principles and techniques, including state and federal policies and programs, and capital improvements programming

 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Professional dress 
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the governmental officials, business and industry representatives, and news media
  • Competency with Web applications including Microsoft Office, and Google WorkSpace
  • Ability to multitask  
  • Ability to work without direct supervision
  • Skills in creative problem-solving to gather relevant information and to solve less well-defined planning problems
  • Ability to process information, applications, and forms requiring accuracy, thoroughness, and attention to detail
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, maps, plats, and site plans

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Must be able to communicate effectively (orally and written), possess excellent presentation skills and ability to lead discussions and meetings. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Basic knowledge of math skills and accounting required. Ability to formulate and evaluate financial proposals and analyze “deals” 

REASONING ABILITY: Must be able to analyze data, determine trends and apply the results. Ability to anticipate reactions from the public, elected officials, business community, and governmental agencies in order to manage various situations.

 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

  • A valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance, and maintain a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit and inspect meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification, although the job involves standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.  Position in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work in predominantly an office environment. Mobility to visit/tour construction sites, facilities, businesses, etc. required. Frequent travel (both local and out of the area) required.

 

STANDARDS FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE

  • Successful development and implementation of objectives; continuous growth in service provided.
  • Effective leadership.
  • Appropriate and positive interaction with staff, management, volunteers, community groups, and professional associates.
  • The accomplishment of job functions in an effective and timely manner. 
  • Proficiency in oral and written communication.
  • Effectiveness in establishing priorities, working on multiple assignments and concurrent projects.
  • Exercise of sound judgment in the absence of specific guidelines.
  • Demonstrated ability to thoroughly analyze problems; to meet demanding and changing deadlines in spite of interruptions.
  • Adherence to established policies and procedures.
  • Proper management of Department Budget

Apply online today!

 

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