Community & Economic Development Director

DDA Human Resources, Inc.; Fairmont (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fairmont is seeking a Community & Economic Development Director who understands planning and zoning, knows how local government works, and is ready to help move a community forward. This is a leadership role in a city of about 10,000 people, focused on housing, redevelopment, and strong relationships with residents and businesses.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in a related field and five years of progressive experience in planning and economic development, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in community planning, economic development, public administration, business administration, economics, or a related field.
• Five years’ progressively responsible experience in planning, economic development, community development, housing, and/or redevelopment, including supervisory experience.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certifications.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) or Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certifications.
• Master’s degree in community planning, economic development, public administration, business administration, economics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future by guiding planning, zoning, redevelopment, housing, and economic development initiatives with lasting impact.
• Lead a relatively new department, strengthen collaboration, improve processes, and establish a clear path forward.
• Apply understanding of planning and zoning to real-world challenges while leveraging the community’s needs.
• Provide leadership in a community of approximately 10,000 and influence outcomes through informed decisions.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in community planning, economic development, public administration, business administration, economics, or a related field

Master’s degree in community planning, economic development, public administration, business administration, economics, or a related field

Job description

Ready to make a meaningful impact in a community with complex challenges and significant potential?

The City of Fairmont, Minnesota, is seeking a Community & Economic Development Director who understands planning and zoning, knows how local government works, and is ready to help move a community forward.

This is not a position for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. It is an opportunity for a thoughtful, resilient, and solutions-oriented professional to help shape what comes next.

Fairmont has the foundation for meaningful progress: five lakes, an established downtown, available redevelopment opportunities, a strong base of existing businesses, and a community with tremendous potential. The needs are real: housing availability and affordability, aging properties, redevelopment, development processes, and the relationships needed to move projects from ideas to action.

What makes this opportunity different?

• Shape the future. Help guide planning, zoning, redevelopment, housing, and economic development initiatives that will have a lasting impact.
• Build something better. Lead a relatively new department, strengthen collaboration, improve processes, and establish a clear path forward.
• Put your expertise to work. Apply your understanding of planning and zoning to real-world challenges while working alongside a team with knowledge of the community and its needs.
• See the impact of your work. In a community of approximately 10,000, your leadership and decisions can make a visible difference.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in community planning, economic development, public administration, business administration, economics, or a related field.
• Five years’ progressively responsible experience in planning, economic development, community development, housing, and/or redevelopment, including some supervisory experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certifications.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) or Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certifications.
• Master’s degree in community planning, economic development, public administration, business administration, economics, or a related field.

Fairmont needs a leader who can navigate complexity, communicate the why behind decisions, support professional staff, build relationships with residents and businesses, and remain steady when the work gets difficult.

This is an opportunity for an experienced professional; or an emerging leader with strong planning and zoning knowledge, sound judgment, and the drive to grow; who is ready to roll up their sleeves and help a community realize more of its potential.

Fairmont, Minnesota | Community & Economic Development Director