Economic Development Officer

Perth County; Stratford; On-site; CAD 78,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefit coverage

OMERS Pension plan

Flexible work arrangements

Career development and training

Employee and family assistance program

Tuition assistance program

Job summary

Perth County in Ontario is seeking an Economic Development Officer to support, sustain and strengthen local business development. The role collaborates with municipalities and County departments to deliver Economic Development priorities and to advance community growth.

You will coordinate marketing, communications, events, data management, stakeholder engagement and funding applications, with a Monday–Friday schedule and a salary grid aligned to 2026 figures.

Qualifications

• University degree or college diploma in business, public administration, economic development or marketing.
• Professional designation (Ec.D., CEcD or PMP) or willingness to obtain is an asset.
• 3 years of direct economic development experience.
• Knowledge of economic development principles and practices.
• Experience in communications, public relations and marketing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multi-task and manage high workloads with competing priorities.
• Strong knowledge of social media and political acumen.

Responsibilities

• Supports the Director with projects and initiatives from the County’s Strategic Plan.
• Develops professional marketing and outreach strategies (newsletters, web and social media).
• Maintains Economic Development data, prospectus, and business directory.
• Identifies opportunities to recruit new industry and supports existing business.
• Prepares agendas and minutes for meetings and committees.
• Represents the office at events, conferences and tradeshows.

Education

University degree or College diploma in business, public admin, economic development or marketing

Ec.D./CEcD/PMP designation or willingness to obtain

Job description

Position: Economic Development Officer

Start Date: October/November 2026

Employment Status: Full-time

Reporting To: Director of Economic Development & Tourism

Union Affiliation: Non-union

Posting Date: September 14, 2026

Closing Date: October 2, 2026 at 4:30pm

Position Summary:

If you are eager to work in a team-based organization that expects employees to exercise critical thinking, make reasonable decisions and build organizational capabilities, then you are who we are looking for.

The Economic Development Officer is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of programs to support, sustain and strengthen business in Perth County. This position will ensure the effective delivery of Economic Development priorities. The role supports member municipalities and other County departments to advance community and business development.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Supports the Director of Economic Development & Tourism with projects and initiatives identified in County’s Strategic Plan including setting goals, timelines and systems for measuring results. Acts as a resource and support for the Director by attending regional or council meetings as assigned.
• Assists in the communications with member municipalities, County business organizations, stakeholders, businesses, media, and the public to strengthen business development, marketing and communications efforts.
• Assists in developing professional quality marketing and outreach strategies for the County to further Economic Development, including newsletters, web and social media content, print, electronic communications, and advertising campaigns.
• Maintains Economic Development information and statistics including Investment Property inventory, Investment Prospectus/Community Profile, economic and demographic information and Business Directory. Further maintains a database of contacts for managing Economic Development leads.
• Identifies opportunities to recruit new industry to attract to the County and provides support to existing industry and business.
• Prepares and maintains records relating to meetings and committees, including preparing agendas, minutes, action items etc.
• Updates and maintains the Economic Development photo inventory, website and social media.
• Represent the Economic Development Office at public events, conferences and tradeshows.
• Makes effective presentations to Municipal Councils and events to support outreach and promotion of the County and its Economic Development initiatives.
• Develops draft marketing pieces to further Economic Development priorities.
• Work in a team environment to successfully deliver the functions of economic development.
• Assists in planning and implementing public information campaigns and special events pertaining to Economic Development.
• Assists in the review of external documents to ensure that the County’s Accessible Communications policy and guidelines are being met.
• Engages the public/business via web and social marketing. Manages and maintains webspace’s and monitors County social media as it relates to Economic Development, Tourism and Transportation.
• Assists the Director in identifying opportunities to advocate on behalf of the region and the industry to municipal, provincial and general governments.
• Supports the Economic Development & Tourism Division by representation at conferences, tradeshows, businesses. Applies for funding and grant opportunities as directed by the Director.
• Develop programs that respond to the needs of Perth County businesses. (Welcoming Communities Training, Succession Planning Session).
• Maintain awareness of economic trends and best practices to support management and Council decision-making.

• Performs other assigned functions/duties as required.
• Adheres to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and County of Perth policies and procedures are adhered to.

Qualifications:

• University degree or College diploma in business, public admin, economic development or marketing
• Professional designation from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (Ec.D.), the International Economic Development Council (CEcD), or the Project Management institute of Canada (PMP) or willingness to obtain, is considered an asset.
• 3 years of direct economic development experience
• Knowledge of economic development principles and practices
• Experience in communications, specializing in corporate or integrated communications, public relations and marketing
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, and excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to multi-task and handle high work volumes with competing priorities
• Strong knowledge of social media
• Strong political acuity

Shift:

Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (35 hours per week). Requirement to work outside and beyond normal hours of work as required.

Salary Range:

$77,896.00-$91,127.40 (based on Perth County’s 2026 salary grid).

Our Benefits:

• Health and dental benefit coverage
• OMERS Pension plan
• Flexible work arrangements
• Career development and training
• Employee and family assistance program
• Tuition assistance program

Interviews may be conducted virtually. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to support the recruitment process. All hiring decisions are made and reviewed by a human decision-maker. This posting reflects an existing vacancy that we are actively seeking to fill.

We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Personal information is collected under MFIPPA and is used to determine eligibility for potential employment. The County of Perth is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.