Economic Development Program Manager

AAED; Mesa (AZ); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arizona Association for Economic Development is seeking an Economic Development Project Manager in Camp Verde, Arizona. This role involves planning, managing, and evaluating economic development projects, focusing on business attraction and community engagement.

Ideal candidates will have a relevant bachelor's degree and five years of experience in economic development or related fields, with strong project management and communication skills. A commitment to community service is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, economic development, marketing, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in economic development, marketing, or related fields.
• Experience in project management and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and manage economic development project activities.
• Analyze market trends to identify business opportunities.
• Develop public improvement and revitalization project plans.
• Engage with partners to provide training and assistance to businesses.
• Represent the Town on economic development boards.

Skills

Project management

Innovative problem solving

Written and oral communication skills

Leadership and collaboration

Event planning and meeting facilitation

Research, analysis and presentation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Economic Development Project Manager plans, organizes, monitors, manages, and evaluates economic development project activities. Responsibilities include coordinating, and implementing programs and projects that support retail, hospitality, tourism, commercial, office, and industrial development; workforce development. The position manages the attraction of and assistance to domestic and international businesses; development of public facilities and infrastructure; small business development initiatives; and other economic development, redevelopment, or capital improvement programs or projects. This position also manages departmental interns, and contracts with a variety of outside consultants and vendors.

Every Town Employee is expected to follow the Town Core Values by setting the P.A.C.E.
(Professionalism, Accountability, Community and Excellence).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Work requires considerable independent judgment and initiative in combining a broad scope of professional planning and economic development knowledge and sophisticated, analytical judgments in order to solve a variety of complex, technical problems. Responsible for overall management of economic development project activities. Employees in this class may be required to work evenings and/or weekends for special events or programming coverage (by assignment). This class may functionally supervise Economic Development Specialist(s) and/or office support staff.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all the duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties and may be required to perform additional position-specific duties.

• Performs economic development ombudsman duties with Town departments on behalf of private developers located or located within the Town.
• Analyze target industries, market trends and competitor activity to identify, advocate and implement innovation and business development opportunities.
• Manage the Attraction, Business Retention and Expansion and Tourism efforts with existing businesses by connecting them to local programs and acting as a liaison with government departments.
• Develops plans including current and critical path schedules for public improvement and private revitalization projects; meeting and working with citizen committees, special interest groups, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups concerning economic development issues and problems.
• Works with the development services team to facilitate event management; and developing business assistance, business retention, attraction and financing plans.
• Engages partners to bring training; coordinates access to professional assistance, education, and events to support businesses; programming development and implementation; and RFP development and evaluation.
• Conduct BRE visits throughout the Town, and leverage network of business and trade groups, chambers of commerce, and other local partners.
• Work with internal and external partners, including the Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Public Service, and local and regional chambers of commerce, among other stakeholders and partners, on business attraction, retention and expansion projects.
• Assists in representing the Town on economic development boards and committees.
• Develop and manage a site selection tracking system.Solicits development proposals from private development companies; works with the Development Services Director negotiating and managing agreements, contracts and leases with partners, vendors, providers, and customers.
• Support Economic Development initiatives by promoting the Town of Camp Verde as a business destination and location to existing businesses, commercial real estate brokers, and site selection consultants.
• Respond to requests for information, and conduct research, economic and fiscal impact, financial modeling, and tax incentive analyses.
• Track interactions and maintain projects of current and prospective businesses in the organizations CRM system.
• Aid companies and developers navigating Town of Camp Verde processes and structures.
• Prepares reports on economic development activities for administrative, advisory boards, and Town Council decision-making.
• Manages marketing campaigns that support business attraction, business retention, business expansion, downtown and small business support, as well as tourism.
• Applies for and manages grants that support departmental goals and strategies.
• Travel is sometimes required for conferences, festivals or seminars.

Performs other related duties as assigned or required.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Minimum & Preferred Qualifications

• Must possess State of Arizona Driver’s license

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Economic development goals and strategies as outlined in council approved strategic planning documents, such as Focused Future, Verde River Recreation Plan and the Town’s General Plan, Camp Verde Tourism and Marketing Plan
• Town business environment and existing businesses
• Microsoft Office

REQUIRED SKILL IN:

• Project management
• Innovative problem solving
• Self-motivation and time management
• Written and oral communication skills
• Leadership and collaboration with groups and individuals of diverse backgrounds and interests
• Ability to work successfully in a team-oriented atmosphere that provides business, citizens and employees with accurate information and excellent customer service
• Employee management
• Event planning and meeting facilitation
• Computer software
• Research, analysis and presentation of information

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, economic development, marketing, public or business administration, finance, or a related field or equivalent experience or five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in an economic development, marketing, business attraction and/or development, research, community development planning, or a related field. Significant experience in project management, marketing, brand development, community engagement, business development and promotional material creation. Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job, may be considered.