ECONOMIC DEVLEOPMENT FOUNDATION POSITION DESCRIPTION

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POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE: President/CEO
STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt, Contractual

Overview:
The President/CEO supervises and coordinates economic development planning activities for the county under the general direction of the Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors. General responsibilities include, but are not limited to, marketing, analysis of financial assistance resources, and acting as a resource to commercial and industrial developers, and small businesses. Acts as Chief Executive Offices and manages all staff and day-to-day operations.

Supervision Received
Works under the general supervision of the Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors and its Chair.

Supervision Exercised
Exercises supervisory authority over the Administrative Assistant/Office Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The President/CEO will serve as the chief appointed economic development official. In this role, the President/CEO will provide leadership and direction in the development of the organization’s statement of vision, mission and goals and the corresponding strategies to achieve them. The President/CEO is expected to meet and exceed goals in the areas deemed important to this organization’s mission, including, but not limited to, the areas of Business Recruitment and Retention, Community Leadership & Communications, Sales & Marketing, Financing, International Affairs and Organizational Management.  The requirements of these areas are better defined as

Leadership & Communications

1. Represent and promote the community and its objectives and strategies in a variety of forums, with federal, state and local governments, partnering organizations, academic institutions, and businesses.
2. Be a thought leader on issues pertaining to the economic viability of the community and the greater region.
3. Be the chief spokesperson for the organization and the “go-to” person for issues relating to local, regional, state and national economic issues.
4. Maintains contacts with local, state and federal governmental departments that are involved with economic development issues. Maintains contact with state-wide economic development partners such as Georgia Power, GEMC, MEAG and other partners.
5. Attend community meetings as necessary and requested in order to assure the community that the Foundation is aware of their concerns and can be responsive to their needs.

 

Recruitment & Retention

1. Develop an innovative and focused business attraction, retention, and creation strategy to capture a larger share of activity in areas best suited to the strengths of this community.
2. Prepare, organize and implement a coordinated target marketing program to generate leads for specific business and industry.
3. Participates in exhibitions, seminars, media events and related events to attract businesses to Athens-Clarke County.
4. Travels as necessary to attend conferences, meet with prospective clients, research potential problems and financing.
5. Maintains current inventory of commercial property within the County, both building and vacant land, including contact information.
6. Develops and conducts a business retention and expansion program including site visits, marketing and business advocacy.
7. Assists locating or expanding businesses in understanding and anticipating comprehensive plan locations, zoning districts, standards and processes. Works closely with Planning, Building Inspections, Public Utilities, Transportation and Public Works to help facilitate an efficient review process.

 

Marketing and Sales

1. Maintains website & newsletter and makes use of technology for marketing purposes.
2. Participates in creative social media marketing outlets to promote our area to audiences outside of our geographic reach.
3. Develop customer relationship management techniques and implement software or systems used to manage this process.
4. Update our commercial property and land real estate database on our web site and ensure those properties are properly represented with the project managers.
5. Identify our primary target markets and develop a strategy to target those markets.
6. Work with Foundation board to develop marketing goals. These goals might include suggested number of contacts per month with project managers, number of  RFP responses, number of visitors to see property, etc)

Fund Raising

1. Work with local private businesses to develop a marketing fund to promote the area.

 

Project Management

1. Serve as the local single point-of-contact for economic development projects.
2. Works with prospective businesses to develop a proposal suited to their specific needs, including alternative locations and financing packages.
3. Negotiates economic incentive packages with prospective businesses. Analyzes financial needs of specific companies to insure that public/Foundation resources are applied judiciously.

 

Financing

1. Coordinate resources of public and private sectors, including, but not limited to, Federal and State Grants, Industrial Development Bonds, SBA Loans, Tax Allocation Districts, Tax Abatement financing, banks, mortgage companies and other fund sources.
2. Develops strategies and programs for allocation and delivery of Foundation’s financial assistance resources.

General Operations

1. Maintains updated demographic data, promotional materials and existing business lists for economic development programs.
2. Periodically reviews all economic development programs for effectiveness, making recommendations to Foundation and County officials for changes as deemed appropriate.
3. Recommend annual budget for Board approval and prudently manage the organization’s resources in accordance with approved policies, procedures, laws, and regulations. Develops innovative cost-saving programs/operations in an effort to meet operation goals.
4. Ensure the development of priority plans, organizational and employee performance measurements and evaluation instruments, management controls, and critical success factors.
5. Prepare agendas and background information reports for Foundation meetings. Provide monthly and annual reports to the Economic Development Foundation regarding status of work program, future program potentials and activities of the staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Thorough working knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of community and economic development.
2. Ability to organize and coordinate support from professional and technical County staff, legal consultants, other government agencies, private business, and the financial services industry.
3. Thorough working knowledge of marketing strategies for small business, industrial and commercial properties.
4. Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
5. Thorough working knowledge of public and private financing techniques and programs for economic development and the ability to apply creativity to each situation.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to other staff members, advisory commissions, county commission members, and outside groups to enhance their understanding of economic development issues.
7. Ability to prepare grant applications to public and private sources.
8. Ability to review and analyze financial statements of businesses.
9. Ability to work independently.
10. Ability to work with diverse groups of people, communicating mutual goals and policies into coordinated action. Must be able to present a positive image of the community to prospective business clients and the community in general.
11. Ability to establish and maintain contacts and effective working relationships with potential business clients.

Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements

1. Bachelor's degree with major coursework in finance, real estate, marketing, public administration, economics, local and urban affairs, or a related field.
2. Three years experience in economic development with emphasis in public and private financing techniques.
3. Any equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Experience in governmental economic development.
2. Certified Economic Developer status (CEcD) or related certification.
3. Masters Degree in a related field.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed mostly in office settings. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear; sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate in the field.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.