Economic Development Manager

Showme; University City (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Showme is seeking an Economic Development Administrator to lead city programs, attract businesses and implement the economic development strategy. You will coordinate with public officials, retailers, and community groups to build strong partnerships and support the Loop and district initiatives.

This role requires a bachelor's degree in a related field (master's preferred) and at least five years of relevant experience. Strong communication and project management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Five years related experience in economic development or related real estate.
• Strong written, oral and organizational skills; ability to engage stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Creates and administers economic development programs and reviews all program applications.
• Attracts and retains businesses to the city and implements the Economic Development Strategy.
• Coordinates communication with officials, retailers, community groups and the public.
• Engages with landowners, developers, site consultants, realtors and private industry reps.
• Manages a range of projects from promotions to market information; coordinates district activities.
• Serves as liaison to boards and commissions and prepares demographic updates for city pages.
• Attends evening or weekend meetings and performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong written/oral/organizational

Community engagement/outreach

Analytical/research/problem-solving

Effective communication of concepts

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Admin/Public Admin/Urban Planning

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Desktop publishing

Graphic design

Website administration

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Creates and administers economic development programs and serves as primary contact regarding economic development programs, process and review all economic development program applications
• Attracts and retains businesses to the city
• Implements the city's Economic Development Strategy, including the creation and implementation of a Business Retention and Expansion Program
• Familiarize public officials, retailers, community groups, the general public and others with the nature and orientation of this effort
• Develops and maintains a cooperative working relationship with existing businesses, develop and maintain contacts with landowners, developers, site consultants, realtors, entrepreneurs, private industry representatives, and economic development related organizations and agencies
• Coordinates a wide range of projects, from supervising promotional activities to assembling market information
• Projects may include: property inventory, external marketing, maintaining the Economic Development website, business recruitment, small business assistance programs, and branding
• Serves as an authority on information, resources and programs related to operating a business in the city and acts as a data and information source for current and prospective businesses
• Engage and interface with the International District Businesses to build relationships and promote better understanding of their business needs and plans
• Prepares updates to community demographic information and maintains current data regarding the community on the economic development page of the city's website
• Assist with the Loop Special Business District (LSBD) and Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board (EDRSTB)
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of short and long range plans and policies related to economic development activities
• Serve as staff liaison to the Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board and other boards/commissions as assigned. Provide staff support to this and other boards.
• Attend occasional evening or weekend meetings
• Other projects and duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong written, oral, and organizational skills are required and include external communications such as newsletters, press releases, web copy, grant applications, etc.
• Must demonstrate strong community engagement/outreach skills and experience
• High level of technical ability with strong working knowledge of computer software programs such as desktop publishing, graphic design, website administration, and Microsoft office suite
• Knowledge or principles and practices of economic development, redevelopment and reuse, business retention and recruitment programs, and marketing and advertising
• Experience with event planning and organizational/membership/community meetings
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local economic development tools available (i.e. brownfields, tax increment financing, historic tax credits)
• Ability to produce quality materials and assigned responsibilities with competing demands, changing priorities, and required timelines and work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and the public, and gain the trust and cooperation of others to effectively communicate concepts and ideas
• Strong organizational, analytical, research, evaluation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to exercise a high degree of sound, independent judgment and work within established guidelines
• Ability to attend evening or weekend meetings as required

PHYSICAL/VISUAL ACTIVITIES OR DEMANDS

• Sitting, talking, hearing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending
• Concentrated mental and visual attention with normal hand-eye coordination
• Clarity of vision at 20 inches-corrected or uncorrected
• Occasional moving/lifting of items up to 30 lbs

EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM JOB

Telephone, computers, cameras, copy machine, fax, printers, scanner

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning or related field; Master's Degree preferred
• Five years related experience and/or training in economic development, downtown development, or industrial and commercial real estate development preferred