Economic Development Manager

Warren County; Front Royal (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Warren County seeks an Economic Development Manager to oversee the BRE program, small business support, and incentive compliance. You will coordinate with County, Town, and state partners, conduct employer outreach, and ensure accurate performance reporting.

The role requires independent judgment and data-driven analysis to drive local economic growth. You will serve as a key liaison, maintaining CRM data, coordinating with Virginia partners, and supporting workforce initiatives while reporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, business, public administration, planning, or related field; 3+ years in economic development or related field.
• Experience with Virginia locality or VEDP; grants or incentive programs.
• Familiarity with CRM and labor market data tools (JobsEQ).

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage BRE program with annual employer visits and target settings.
• Coordinate with County, Town, and state agencies to resolve business issues.
• Maintain compliance calendars for grants, incentives, and performance agreements.
• Prepare reports on investment, jobs, and wages; support site tours and investor outreach.
• Serve as backup to the Economic Development Director and coordinate with schools and workforce partners.

Skills

Interviewing business executives

CRM systems

Data analysis

Economic development knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in economics/business/public administration

Tools

CRM platform

JobsEQ

Spreadsheets

Job description

• Location 220 N. Commerce Avenue,Suite 100,Front Royal, VA, 22630,United States
• Employee Type Non-Exempt

Contact information

• Name Kayla Darr
• Phone [phone]
• Email [e-mail]

Description

County of Warren

Economic Development Manager

General Definition of Work

Performs responsible professional work managing the County’s business retention and expansion program, small business support, and incentive and zone program compliance. Work involves conducting employer outreach, resolving business issues with County, Town, and state partners, verifying performance under incentive agreements, maintaining Department data and records, supporting business attraction projects, and serving as the Economic Development Director’s designated backup. Work requires independent judgm ent and discretion with confidential business information. Work is performed under the general direction of the Economic Development Director.

Essential Functions / Typical Task

(These examples are illustrative only; additional related duties may be assigned.

Plans and conducts the County’s business retention and expansion (BRE) program, including a structured schedule of employer visits against an annual target set with the Economic Development Director; prioritizes high-value employers, target-sector firms, and companies showing expansion or risk signals.

Documents BRE visit findings and tracks follow-up; routes employer issues such as permitting, utilities, workforce, and transportation to the responsible County, Town, or state agency through resolution.

Identifies expansion projects early and supports them through site identification, incentive eligibility screening, and coordination with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP); monitors early-warning signs of contraction, relocation, or closure and escalates them to the Director.

Designs and implements local business support programs aimed at retention and long-term sustainability; organizes employer roundtables, recognition activities, and industry events.

Serves as first point of contact for small business, start-up, and downtown business inquiries; conducts direct outreach to identify business needs, challenges, and growth opportunities, and develops local programming in response.

Refers clients to the Small Business Development Center, SCORE, the Chamber of Commerce, lenders, and financing programs such as SBA and the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority.

Guides businesses through County and Town permitting, licensing, and zoning processes in coordination with Planning and Building Inspections; supports recruitment of businesses into vacant downtown commercial space with Town partners.

Administers the Technology Zone program, including intake, eligibility review, application processing, and recommendations to the Director

Maintains a compliance calendar for all performance agreements, grants, and incentive awards covering job, wage, and capital investment milestones; collects and verifies performance documentation in coordination with Finance, the Commissioner of the Revenue, and the County Attorney.

Prepares incentive compliance reports and, where performance falls short, documentation supporting clawback or repayment recommendations under County policy; tracks and reports annually on return on investment for incentive awards.

Maintains the Department’s customer relationship management (CRM) system for prospects, BRE contacts, and project activity.

Produces labor market and industry data using JobsEQ and other sources; conducts basic economic impact analyses; prepares quarterly activity reports, staff reports, and briefing materials for the Director, County Administrator, and Board of Supervisors.

Connects employers with Warren County Public Schools CTE programs, Laurel Ridge Community College, and the regional workforce development board; coordinates employer participation in career events, internships, and work-based learning, and relays employer hiring needs to workforce partners.

Prepares responses to VEDP and site-consultant requests for information, including site, building, utility, workforce, and cost data; coordinates prospect visit logistics and supports the Director during site tours.

Drafts newsletter, website, and social media content in coordination with the Director and County communications; represents the Department at business, civic, and partner meetings as assigned.

Serves as the Director’s designated backup for prospect inquiries, business assistance requests, and time-sensitive project deadlines; maintains written procedures for Department programs and manages records retention.

Provides staff support to boards and committees as assigned, including agendas, minutes, and compliance with Virginia Freedom of Information Act open-meeting requirements.

Performs related duties as required .

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of economic development, especially business retention and expansion, small business assistance , and incentive administration.

Thorough knowledge of Virginia economic development programs and partners, including VEDP, the Commonwealth Opportunity Fund, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, and the Technology Zone program.

Knowledge of performance agreement structures, including job, wage, and capital investment commitments and clawback provisions.

Knowledge of local government operations, budgeting, procurement, and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Knowledge of labor market and economic data sources, including JobsEQ and U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Skill in interviewing business executives and documenting findings accurately.

Skill in maintaining CRM systems, spreadsheets, and compliance tracking tools, and in basic financial analysis and economic impact modeling.

Ability to write clear staff reports, correspondence, and plain-language public materials, and to present information to elected bodies, business groups, and the public.

Ability to manage multiple concurrent cases and deadlines with minimal supervision.

Ability to protect confidential business and prospect information.

Ability to exercise sound judgment on when to resolve an issue directly and when to escalate it to the Director.

Education and Experience

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in economic development, business administration, public administration, planning, economics, or related field and three years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, business services, a chamber of commerce, commercial lending, workforce development, or related field. Experience in a Virginia locality or with VEDP; administering grants, incentive agre ements, or other compliance-based programs; running or supporting a structured BRE program; use of a CRM platform and JobsEQ or similar labor market tools; and completed IEDC coursework or progress toward the Certified Economic Developer ( CEcD ) designation is preferred.

Physical Requirements

This is sedentary work requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. Work requires fingering, grasping, repetitive motions, and prolonged periods of sitting, as well as walking and standing during site visits, including on uneven terrain. Vocal communication and hearing are required to express or exchange ideas and perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzi ng data, operating office equipment, and observing general surroundings. The employee may be exposed to noise, manufacturing environments, and outdoor weather conditions during visits to employer, industrial, and construction sites.

Working Conditions

Standard office environment, typically Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility based on operational needs. Requires regular local travel to employer facilities, industrial and construction sites, and partner offices. Occasional evening and weekend attendance is required at Board, Council, committee, and community events. Frequent contact with business owners and executives, state and regional partners, County and Town staff, elected officials, and the public; some contacts involve co nfidential project information or businesses facing difficult circumstances, requiring discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Unless it presents an undue hardship to the County, reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Special Requirements

Valid Virginia driver’s license with an acceptable driving record, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Signed confidentiality acknowledgment covering prospect and proprietary business information, handled consistent with the exemptions in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Completion of an IEDC-accredited Basic Economic Development Course within 18 months of hire, at County expense, unless already completed.

Successful completion of a background check under County policy.