Economic Development Director

Gfoat; Burkburnett (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Burkburnett Development Corporation seeks a Director of Economic Development to lead strategic initiatives, recruit and retain businesses, and coordinate cross-departmental development efforts. The role drives downtown revitalization, corridor development, tourism initiatives, and incentive program administration.

This senior position requires a strong background in municipal economic development, budgeting, and stakeholder collaboration, with a focus on expanding the city's tax base and quality

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Planning, Marketing, or related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, municipal administration, planning, business development, commercial real estate, or related field.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• CEcD, EDFP, TEDC certification, or ability to obtain within two years of employment.
• Experience administering a Type A or Type B Economic Development Corporation.
• Experience negotiating incentive agreements and administering grants.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements comprehensive economic development strategies aligned with the City's Strategic Plan.
• Identifies emerging economic trends and recommends policies and initiatives for long-term prosperity.
• Markets Burkburnett to prospective development and coordinates prospect visits.
• Coordinates development projects among City departments and assists developers through the review process.
• Leads downtown revitalization initiatives and corridor development.
• Administers incentive programs and grants in accordance with applicable codes.

Skills

Economic development principles

Public administration

Project management

Contract negotiation

Written and verbal communication

Relationship building

Multitasking

Open Meetings Act knowledge

Open Records Act knowledge

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Planning, Marketing, or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

CEcD/EDFP/TEDC certification (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the administrative direction of the City Manager and in accordance with the Burkburnett Development Corporation Bylaws, the Director of Economic Development plans, organizes, administers, and implements the City's economic development program and the activities of the Burkburnett Development Corporation (BDC).

The Director serves as the City's primary professional responsible for promoting sustainable economic growth through business retention and expansion, commercial and industrial recruitment, downtown revitalization, corridor development, tourism initiatives, strategic partnerships, and administration of economic development incentive programs.

The Director serves as staff liaison to the Burkburnett Development Corporation Board of Directors and collaborates closely with City departments, elected officials, developers, regional partners, local businesses, and community organizations to implement the City's Strategic Plan and expand the City's tax base while enhancing quality of life.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

• - Develops and implements comprehensive economic development strategies consistent with the City's Strategic Plan.
• - Identifies emerging economic trends and recommends policies and initiatives supporting long-term prosperity.
• - Maintains a strategic pipeline of business recruitment, retention, redevelopment, and investment opportunities.
• - Develops annual work plans, goals, and performance measures.

Business Retention & Expansion

• - Serves as the primary point of contact for existing businesses.
• - Conducts regular business visits to identify expansion opportunities and operational challenges.
• - Coordinates City resources to assist businesses with permitting, utilities, infrastructure, workforce, and regulatory issues.
• - Facilitates business expansions, relocations, and redevelopment projects.

Business Recruitment

• - Markets Burkburnett to prospective commercial, retail, industrial, office, and tourismrelated developments.
• - Responds to RFIs from site selectors and partner agencies.
• - Maintains inventories of available development sites.
• - Coordinates prospect visits and prepares demographic and market information.

Development Facilitation

• - Coordinates development projects among City departments.
• - Assists developers through the development review process.
• - Identifies infrastructure improvements necessary to support growth.
• - Facilitates communication between developers and City staff.

Downtown Revitalization & Corridor Development

• - Leads downtown revitalization initiatives.
• - Coordinates redevelopment of strategic BDC-owned properties.
• - Coordinates the management and administration of BDC-owned real property, including acquisition, disposition, leasing, maintenance coordination, redevelopment planning, and compliance with Board policies and applicable law.
• - Develops strategies for I-44 corridor development and targeted commercial areas.
• - Identifies redevelopment opportunities and recommends strategic property acquisitions and dispositions to advance the City's economic development goals.

Tourism & Destination Development

• - Supports tourism initiatives, destination projects, and quality-of-life investments approved by the BDC.

Incentive Administration

• - Administers incentive programs in accordance with Chapters 501 and 505 of the Texas Local Government Code.
• - Negotiates and monitors incentive agreements.

Marketing & Community Relations

• - Develops and implements marketing strategies that promote Burkburnett's economic development opportunities through print and digital media, recruitment materials, demographic information, annual reports, website and social media content, and participation in trade shows and promotional events.
• - Represents the City and BDC before business and civic organizations.
• - Builds productive relationships with developers, brokers, property owners, utilities, and regional partners.

Grants & Special Projects

• - Identifies grant opportunities and coordinates grant applications and administration.
• - Oversees special projects assigned by the City Manager or BDC Board.

Board Administration

• - Serves as staff liaison to the BDC Board.
• - Prepares agendas, reports, budgets, and supporting documentation.
• - Advises the City Manager and Burkburnett Development Corporation Board regarding compliance with Chapters 501 and 505 of the Texas Local Government Code and the BDC Bylaws.
• - Develops, administers, and monitors the Burkburnett Development Corporation budget; ensures expenditures comply with adopted budgets, Board direction, City financial policies, and applicable state law.

Performance Management

• - Tracks business retention visits, capital investment, tax base growth, sales tax growth, grant funding, incentive performance, and implementation of Strategic Plan objectives.

• - Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Typical qualifications include:

• - Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Planning, Marketing, or related field.
• - Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, municipal administration, planning, business development, commercial real estate, or related field.

Preferences:

• - Master's degree in a related field.
• - CEcD, EDFP, TEDC certification, or the ability to obtain within two years of employment.
• - Experience administering a Type A or Type B Economic Development Corporation.
• - Experience negotiating incentive agreements and administering grants.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• - A valid Texas driver's license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days or a military waiver is required.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• - Economic development principles and Texas Local Government Code Chapters 501 and 505.
• - Municipal budgeting, public administration, development processes, project management, and contract negotiation.
• - Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• - Ability to build relationships with elected officials, developers, businesses, and the public.
• - Ability to manage multiple projects and exercise sound professional judgment.
• - Knowledge of laws, ordinances, and regulations regarding land use, property development, and economic development.
• - Knowledge of the Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act
• - Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The conditions herein 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 essential job functions.

Environment:

Work is primarily performed in an indoor office setting with extended periods at a computer. Physical effort is needed to lift and carry office materials. May be subject to repetitive motion, such as typing and data entry, and to visual monitoring. May be subject to extended periods of intense concentration in the review of fiscal and accounting reports. Mobility is needed to attend various meetings, and basic communication skills are necessary for frequent telephone usage. May be required to work beyond normal working hours and on weekends.

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances.