Current Employment Opportunities with the City of Meridian:

Job Title: Economic Development Administrator
Department: Mayor’s Office
Reports To: Chief of Staff
Open Date: February 20, 2024
Close Date: Open Until Filled
Salary: $7,387.31 per month

Job Summary:
Serves under the direction of the Mayor’s Chief of Staff and consults with the Community Development Department as needed. Primary responsibility is to grow the economic base and vitality of the City, retain existing businesses, attract new businesses, and develop tools and strategies with the City and community partners to serve and attract a varied commercial base and sustainable employment opportunities to the City. This position must be able to work independently, strategically, and with great individual initiative. The position must be mindful of both the private sector business needs in concert with the challenges of the public sector. This individual must be able to think strategically, develop goals, set timelines and milestones, and meet deliverables. The position functions daily as the main point of contact for economic development in the City.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Provides site location information to businesses interested in locating in Meridian coordinating inquiries with local economic development professionals, chambers of commerce, other economic development organizations, and the state agencies;

Serves as business liaison by providing assistance and advise to Meridian businesses;

Conducts forums and surveys of the business community to assist in formulation of the City’s economic strategy;

Prioritizes incoming applications for development and construction projects, expediting the review process whenever possible and allowing the more critical projects to receive top priority and attention;

Engages with City departments, divisions, and outside agencies; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues;

Supervises CDBG Administrator and Business Liaison, as well as interns when needed;

Serves as the City’s representative on boards and committees as needed;

Attends and participates in professional group meetings;

Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the program annual budget;

Directs the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies;

Monitors and approves expenditures; implements adjustments;

Prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence;

Generates favorable print and media coverage, raising awareness of Meridian as a desirable place for business in consultation with the City Communications Manager;

Performs other duties as assigned or needed by the hiring Manager;

Evaluates the financial and economic feasibility of proposed projects;

Assesses needs of businesses for retention/expansion in Meridian;

Establishes a network of private and public contacts to market Meridian as a business expansion or relocation site;

Develops and utilizes economic development tools, such as industrial revenue bonding, tax increment financing, new market tax credits, and the plethora of state and local incentives to assist businesses in ways that provide a net benefit to the community;

Keeps abreast of information which may impact program goals and objectives, and initiates appropriate strategies and policy change recommendations;

Seeks out new trends and innovations in the field of economic development;

Prepares cost comparisons to recruit businesses and researches and provides information on state utility rates, labor costs, fringe benefits, tax rates, worker's compensation, transportation costs, land use, capital formation resources, workforce training programs and other incentives;

Meets with developers, contractors, and business representatives to discuss new construction projects or plans for expansion;

Monitors progress of projects through on-site visits and frequent contact with business representatives;

Responsible for the creation and production of marketing materials which detail economic development opportunities in Meridian;

Responsible for the creation and evaluation of potential economic models;

Coordinates with state, federal and regional partners to assist in business expansion and entrepreneurial development;

Collects, analyzes and compiles economic, market, and demographic data for dissemination;

Prepares various business reports and presents oral presentations to the public;

Ability to evaluate and recommend appropriate business site locations and expansions; providing technical economic development assistance to businesses, business organizations, and community groups; analyzing and implementing economic development marketing concepts;

Provides reports to the Mayor, City Council, Senior Leadership and manager on the progress of major projects, division goals and objectives as needed;

Provides input and support to Mayor, Council, Leadership team and manager on State Legislative matters;

Serves as a liaison to Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor, IEDA and other agencies and associations to generate prospects, build relationships, and raise awareness of recent Meridian City market developments;

Provides technical advice and assistance to the Mayor, Council, Leadership team and manager on matters related to a wide variety of economic development activities and programs.

Job Specifications:
College – Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree required with a preferred major in business, marketing, finance, and economics, pre-law or equivalent;

A minimum of three (3) years either working in high level management in the private sector; owned or managed own company; executive level experience with a governmental entity performing related recruitment and retention of business interests, or equivalent is highly preferred;

Experience working in a professional capacity with federal, state, or local economic development/assistance programs is highly preferred;

Strong knowledge of financial management, economic development, business assistance and marketing concepts; state and local economic development practices is highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Must have excellent communication skills;

Must have especially strong professional writing skills for writing reports, and other communication;

Considerable knowledge of: micro and macroeconomic theory; economics and econometric research including time-series methodologies; principles of public finance theory;

Must have exceptional organizational skills and the ability to effectively establish priorities and complete multiple, competing and time-dependent projects with superior attention to detail;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Department personnel, city officials and the general public;

Ability to communicate, meet and deal with the public and co-workers with respect in a pleasant, professional, and courteous manner;

Integrity in the performance of assigned tasks;

Must be able to provide exceptional customer service and outstanding professionalism;

Must be willing to work in a fast-paced and demanding environment and display an attitude of cooperation with the ability to work professionally and effectively with others;

Must be tactful, discrete, and diplomatic as well as be assertive, resilient, have problem solving ability;

Must have demonstrated excellent oral and written skills to communicate effectively with customers, vendors, and the public in face-to-face meetings, one-on-one settings, and in groups.

Licensing:
Must hold a valid State of Idaho Driver’s License and safe driving record.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:
Work is usually performed in an office environment with moderate noise level;

Constantly requires sitting at a desk or computer terminal for long periods of time and ability to lift up to 15 lbs.;

Constantly requires clarity of speech and hearing, which permits the employee to communicate effectively with the public and other department members;

Constantly requires clear vision to read printed materials and computer screen to accomplish work.

Travel Requirements:
Travel is occasionally required.

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