Economic Development Manager – City of Hudson, Ohio

Ohio Economic Development Association; Range (AL); On-site; USD 79,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Hudson seeks an experienced Economic Development Director to lead the municipal economic development program, oversee staff, and drive initiatives that attract investment and jobs. Reporting to the Community Development Director, you will coordinate grants, outreach, marketing, and public/private partnerships to advance the city’s strategic goals.

You will supervise staff, manage budgets, liaise with the Economic Growth Board, and serve on related boards as required, ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred) in business administration, finance, municipal planning, economics, marketing, public administration, or a related field.
• Ability to express ideas and communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Directs, plans, and organizes the operations of the economic development functions to expand and diversify the city’s economy.
• Develops and administers a comprehensive economic development strategy with public/private partnerships.
• Manages outreach, marketing efforts, and liaison activities with boards and community partners.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance/municipal planning/economics/marketing/public administration

Job description

September 22, 2026 | Jobs

Current Salary Range: $78,686 – $125,153

Hiring Range: $78,686 – $98,238 (depending on qualifications)

FLSA Status: Exempt | Class Code: Non-bargaining

Application Deadline: 4:00 p.m., Monday, October 5, 2026

Class Summary

Performs highly responsible, management-level work, directing the City’s Economic Development program. This position is responsible, under the general direction of the Community Development Director, for the management and direction of the municipality’s responsibilities in retention and expansion of key businesses in Hudson, administration of the City’s tax incentive programs, and serves as a general liaison between the City of Hudson and the Hudson business community.

The City’s general economic development policies are prescribed by the City Manager and City Council.

The incumbent in this position is an outgoing self-starter: a driven, results-oriented, proactive, innovative, high-energy visionary with outstanding communication skills. The successful applicant understands the need for creative solutions to economic development issues. Supervision is exercised over assigned staff within the Community Development Department performing subordinate economic development program-related tasks, including grants, special events, and downtown vibrancy. Will serve as a liaison to various City boards.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills to create and maintain open, collaborative, and successful working relationships with the City and various stakeholders such as business leaders, developers, commercial real estate brokers, etc.
• Directs, plans, and organizes the operations of the economic development functions to expand and diversify the City’s economy, generate job growth, foster business competitiveness, bolster the tax base, and retain business.
• Supervises and supports Community Development staff members focused on grants, special events, community relations, special projects, and downtown vibrancy to benefit residents and the business community.
• Develops and administers a comprehensive economic development strategy. Key aspects include short- and long-term strategic planning focused on attracting increased capital investment and expanding and diversifying employment opportunities, as well as initiating, establishing, and maintaining public/private partnerships for positive long-term economic change.
• Develops and administers comprehensive outreach, including the retention visit program to support existing businesses.
• Provides innovative ideas regarding future commercial, industrial, office, retail, and residential trends.
• Refines and maintains a directory of all businesses in Hudson, with appropriate key contact information.
• Researches, collects, and compiles economic data and conducts analysis of such data relative to business attraction, retention, and expansion; monitors current availability of space for retail, office, and industrial use.
• Manages the Economic Development marketing efforts, including developing and implementing promotional and marketing programs and materials.
• Serves as key liaison between the City, the business community, the Economic Growth Board, the Tax Incentive Review Council, the Economic Development Incentive Committee, and any other boards as required by administration.
• May serve on the board of Destination Hudson and as an ex-officio member of the board of the Hudson Chamber of Commerce.
• Strategizes, develops, analyzes, recommends, and implements goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for economic development programs and issues.
• Analyzes, applies, and interprets ordinances, laws, rules, regulations, and legislation related to economic development programs and issues.
• Develops and maintains supportive relationships with Summit County, Team NEO, JobsOhio, and other local, regional, and state economic development organizations.
• Collects, analyzes, and compiles economic, market, and demographic data for dissemination.
• Develops, manages, and monitors budget expenditures and budget expense records.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Must have regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Must follow and comply with City rules and policies.

Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

Half or more of the time in this role may be spent outside the office meeting with centers of influence, assessing opportunities, and retaining existing business.

Employee must be able to walk (or otherwise traverse) moderate distances, operate automotive equipment, and operate a computer keyboard; see well enough to review construction plans, engineered drawings, and similar technical documents and to use word processing, spreadsheet, and PowerPoint software; and hear well enough (or use appropriate alternate means) to converse by telephone and in person. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Most work involves only normal, everyday risks in offices and meeting rooms. Some activities involve on-site visits to active construction sites with exposure to potential hazards. Attends occasional evening meetings and occasional weekend special events, as directed.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred) in business administration, finance, municipal planning, economics, marketing, public administration, or a related field, and at least five to ten years of significant, directly related, and steadily progressive economic development experience in the public or private sector, or a combination of each. Ability to express ideas and communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

License Or Certificate Requirements

Must possess a valid Ohio driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within six months of employment.

Current Salary Range

Current Salary Range: $78,686 – $125,153

Hiring Range

Hiring Range: $78,686 – $98,238 (depending on qualifications)

FLSA Status

FLSA Status: Exempt

Class Code

Class Code: Non-bargaining

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills to create and maintain open, collaborative, and successful working relationships with the City and various stakeholders such as business leaders, developers, commercial real estate brokers, etc.
• Directs, plans, and organizes the operations of the economic development functions to expand and diversify the City’s economy, generate job growth, foster business competitiveness, bolster the tax base, and retain business.
• Supervises and supports Community Development staff members focused on grants, special events, community relations, special projects, and downtown vibrancy to benefit residents and the business community.
• Develops and administers a comprehensive economic development strategy. Key aspects include short- and long-term strategic planning focused on attracting increased capital investment and expanding and diversifying employment opportunities, as well as initiating, establishing, and maintaining public/private partnerships for positive long-term economic change.
• Develops and administers comprehensive outreach, including the retention visit program to support existing businesses.
• Provides innovative ideas regarding future commercial, industrial, office, retail, and residential trends.
• Refines and maintains a directory of all businesses in Hudson, with appropriate key contact information.
• Researches, collects, and compiles economic data and conducts analysis of such data relative to business attraction, retention, and expansion; monitors current availability of space for retail, office, and industrial use.
• Manages the Economic Development marketing efforts, including developing and implementing promotional and marketing programs and materials.
• Serves as key liaison between the City, the business community, the Economic Growth Board, the Tax Incentive Review Council, the Economic Development Incentive Committee, and any other boards as required by administration.
• May serve on the board of Destination Hudson and as an ex-officio member of the board of the Hudson Chamber of Commerce.
• Strategizes, develops, analyzes, recommends, and implements goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for economic development programs and issues.
• Analyzes, applies, and interprets ordinances, laws, rules, regulations, and legislation related to economic development programs and issues.
• Develops and maintains supportive relationships with Summit County, Team NEO, JobsOhio, and other local, regional, and state economic development organizations.
• Collects, analyzes, and compiles economic, market, and demographic data for dissemination.
• Develops, manages, and monitors budget expenditures and budget expense records.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Must have regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Must follow and comply with City rules and policies.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

Half or more of the time in this role may be spent outside the office meeting with centers of influence, assessing opportunities, and retaining existing business.

Employee must be able to walk (or otherwise traverse) moderate distances, operate automotive equipment, and operate a computer keyboard; see well enough to review construction plans, engineered drawings, and similar technical documents and to use word processing, spreadsheet, and PowerPoint software; and hear well enough (or use appropriate alternate means) to converse by telephone and in person. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Most work involves only normal, everyday risks in offices and meeting rooms. Some activities involve on-site visits to active construction sites with exposure to potential hazards. Attends occasional evening meetings and occasional weekend special events, as directed.

The City of Hudson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity for all employees and applicants. The City of Hudson does not discriminate in employment or the provision of services on the basis of race, color, national origin and ancestry, gender (sex), religion, age, disability, sex (wages), military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by Federal or State law.