Director of Economic Development
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
City of Prescott seeks a Director of Economic Development to lead the Economic Development Department, oversee staff and budgets, and drive business attraction and retention. You will shape goals with City leadership, manage projects, and ensure compliance with laws while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
The role requires a strategic leader with strong communication skills and a track record in economic development and public administration.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration, Economic Development, or related field.
- Five (5) years of recent experience in economic development; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Possess an Arizona driver's license in good standing.
Responsibilities
- Directs the staff, budget, resources, and operations of the Economic Development Department.
- Promotes business attraction, retention, expansion, and diversification.
- Plans, assigns, and oversees work to achieve established goals.
- Supervises, hires, trains, develops, and evaluates personnel in accordance with policies and laws.
- Develops marketing plans and materials to promote business attraction and expansion.
- Travels to recruitment, educational, and networking events to attract new businesses.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Major Benefits for Full-Time Regular Employees:
- A diverse range of complimentary mental health and wellness services is available, including an Employee Assistance Program, a free subscription to Calm, and health coaching
- Paid time off up to 20 days in first year of employment
- 10 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per year
- Free employee only coverage for medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance
- Free family coverage for select medical and dental plans
- Pension and long‑term disability through Arizona State Retirement System, click here for more details
- Supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation plans and additional life insurance
Pay Range: $163,690 to $201,464 DOE
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Grade: Open Range
Deadline to Apply: 04/13/2026
Directs the staff, budget, resources, and operations of the Economic Development Department.
- Manages the Economic Development department including staff, consultants, budgets, services, projects, and programs.
- Promotes business attraction, retention, expansion, and diversification.
- Works with City leadership to establish goals, strategies, and objectives for economic development. Plans, assigns, and oversees work to achieve established goals.
- Supervises, hires, trains, develops, and evaluates personnel; works with employees to correct deficiencies and expand capabilities; and implements incentives and discipline in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
- Provides visionary, innovative leadership which encourages and recognizes creativity, innovation and flexibility at all levels of the department and programs.
- Provides advice and counsel.
- Plans, designs, operates, reviews, monitors and guides the continued improvement of departmental projects and programs. Seeks to improve return on investment, where appropriate.
- Communicates official plans, policies and procedures to employees and the general public as required; responds to public inquiries and coordinates regularly with appropriate internal staff with appropriate political sensitivity and respect for proprietary business information.
- Facilitates meetings with staff, internal departments, committees, and/or other applicable groups. May serve or participate on various committees, teams and/or with external agencies. Prepares and gives presentations to a variety of audiences.
- Works collaboratively to develop marketing plans, materials, and information to promote business attraction, retention, and expansion.
- Travels to recruitment, educational, and networking events to learn best practices and to keep Prescott in the mind of potential new businesses.
- Develops lasting relationships and partnerships.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration, Economic Development, or related field. Five (5) years of recent experience in economic development; or an equivalent combination of directly related education and experience.
Possess an Arizona driver's license in good standing.
City of Prescott employees should seek to uphold the City's core beliefs throughout their day-to-day business and with every customer they come in contact with, both internal and external. Our core beliefs are: Act with Integrity, Work as a Team, Have Personal Commitment and Loyalty, Solve Problems, Take Pride In Excellent Results, High Level of Productivity and Being Nice.
- Knowledge of leadership principles and managerial practices and techniques to successfully supervise, develop, and empower staff.
- Knowledge of key economic development principles and methods.
- Knowledge of marketing principles and public relations techniques.
- Knowledge of destination marketing organizations and their role in the community.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and City laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to gathering and disseminating public information.
- Knowledge of budgeting and finance principles and practices.
- Knowledge of project management principles and practices.
- Knowledge of customer service principles and practices.
- Skill in supervising, leading, and developing staff.
- Skill in directing, developing, managing, identifying, communicating and carrying out the objectives of the department.
- Skill in interpreting and applying complex principles, methods and practices related to economic development.
- Skill in using computers and related software applications.
- Skill in interpreting and applying applicable Federal, state and local laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations.
- Skill in solving problems and proposing sound alternatives.
- Skill in communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public, elected officials, and other interested parties.
- Ability to establish and maintain cohesive working relationships with public and private sector representatives, elected officials, department heads, employees, media representatives, professional groups, and the general public.
- Ability to analyze, develop, and conduct research and surveys.
- Ability to exercise considerable judgment and discretion.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to develop professionally-targeted promotional material such as brochures, presentations, and materials utilizing computer software; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Desktop Publishing, Internet navigation, databases, social media platforms, and related programs.
- Work is performed in a standard City office and sometimes out in the community.
- Safely and effectively performs required duties and safely operates required equipment and City vehicle as needed.
- Clearly, concisely, and effectively communicates, both in person and over the telephone.
- Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
- Drug screening
- Motor vehicle records check
- Criminal background screening
201 N. Montezuma Street, Suite 207
Prescott, AZ 86301
Email: hr@prescott-az.gov
Website: www.prescott-az.gov
Phone: 928-777-1410 / Fax: 928-777-1213
When advised, reasonable accommodations will be made in order for an "otherwise qualified applicant" with a disability to participate in any phase of the selection process. In accordance with A.R.S. 23 - 493, this position has been identified as "Safety Sensitive".
The City of Prescott is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Salary: $163690 - $201464 per year
City of Prescott
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