Economic Development Manager

ISU Research Park; Des Moines, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Alliant Energy seeks an experienced Manager of Economic Development to drive growth across our service territory. You will lead a team focused on customer programs, data-driven market intelligence, and strategic outreach to communities and industries.

Responsibilities include directing economic development activities, managing relationships with officials, and coordinating responses to inquiries and RFPs while promoting our service areas for sustained growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field preferred.
• Associate degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field preferred.
• 3 years of supervisory experience or equivalent.
• 5 years of technical or professional experience in economic development, community/government relations, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead responses to site selection inquiries and RFPs; build relationships with large industrial customers.
• Partner with Key Account Managers and coordinate economic development activities for gas and electric products and services.
• Direct and manage a team; oversee database management and industry/company research.
• Engage with municipal, local, and state officials for committees and conferences to promote service area.
• Assist communities in planning, development, and attraction efforts to spur investment and growth.

Skills

Leadership

Account management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Marketing/Communications

Associate Degree in Business Administration/Marketing/Communications

Job description

Location: Des Moines, IA | Cedar Rapids, IA

Job Description

Join Alliant Energy as an Economic Development Manager and help drive business growth across our service territory. We're seeking a professional with economic development experience who can partner with Key Account Managers, lead responses to site selection inquiries and RFPs, and build relationships with large industrial customers.

Success in this role requires experience working with industries such as manufacturing, food ingredients, animal feed, industrial biotechnology, and health-related businesses , along with the ability to identify growth opportunities and attract new investment. You'll spend 1-3 days/week meeting with customers and communities , with one week of out-of-state travel per month .

Spring and fall are the busiest seasons, offering excellent opportunities to make a visible impact on customer and community growth.

Job Summary

Manager Economic Development manages and provides leadership for the community and leads the business support, retention, and growth efforts for Alliant Energy through the development and implementation of customer programs and services, utility service provisions, and load growth opportunities for customers and communities. This position is responsible for economic development strategy, planning, and implementation for the organization. This role ensures that Alliant Energy maximizes the value of its business, community, and economic development resources to drive economic vitality in the service territory and to spur customer growth. This position manages a team responsible for executing economic development activities for both gas and electric products and services and oversees database management and industry/company research.

What you will do

Performs all leadership duties including, but not limited to, hiring and rewarding talent, fostering an inclusive and safe workplace, partnering with employees to set clear goals and expectations, providing timely and specific feedback on performance, developing improvement plans to address performance gaps, addressing conflict with care and respect, identifying opportunities for growth and development, embracing and modeling lifelong learning, ensuring employees report to work fit for duty, adhering to our Code of Conduct, and modeling Alliant Energy's Core Values at all times.

Maintains an understanding of current trends in economic development.

Develops and proactively implements strategic customer account reviews on an ongoing basis to evaluate customer needs, usage trends, market analysis, and assessment of competitors, and market intelligence with a focus on future load growth and competitive value.

Directs and manages team efforts to represent Alliant Energy to municipal, local, and state officials for economic development committees, meetings, and events and at conferences to promote Alliant Energy's service area and regional business climate.

Assists local communities in business and industrial park planning, development, and attraction efforts, including sharing information and technical advice on grants, loans, incentives, land use issues, and community planning and development.

Oversees and manages team efforts to promote Alliant Energy territories to target audiences through proactive outreach and creative marketing plans, and responses to potential customer interest.

Maintains an in-depth understanding of utility industry, economic development, information technology, and regulatory trends to ensure the department is productive and efficient in meeting customer and Alliant Energy's business goals.

Supervises the database and research team members, ensuring effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Leads research and process development initiatives to innovate and improve economic development strategies and programs.

Serves as the business liaison between Alliant Energy and higher education institutions and public-private partnerships. Executes outreach plans and coordinates available higher education resources for Alliant Energy. Responsible for the coordination and measurement of activities and strategies executed through partnerships with higher education institutions and other governmental affiliates.

Engages in other duties as needed that support our Values and helps deliver on our Purpose to serve customers and build strong communities.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's Degree Emphasis in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field. Preferred

Associate Degree Emphasis in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field. Preferred

Required Experience

3 years of supervisory experience or equivalent. (Equivalent supervisory experience may include project management, providing work direction, leadership experiences through temporary assignments, roles in the community or external organizations, or other demonstrated leadership experience.)

Preferred Experience

5 years of technical or professional experience in economic development, community/government relations, or industrial, community, or commercial customer relations/account management

Key Skills

Our people are passionate about what they do, the product they sell, and the customers they serve. If you're looking for an opportunity to be a part of a work family that values collaboration, innovation and dedication, we're the right company for you.