Southeast Regional Economic Development Lead

State of Oklahoma; Alabama; On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce seeks to fill a Rural Development Specialist (RDS) – Southeast Region. This full-time position coordinates with local entities to support BR&E and state incentives, serving 11 counties in the SE region.

The role requires strong communication, program delivery, and regional collaboration. The successful candidate will lead regional development efforts, partner with private and public stakeholders, and travel within Oklahoma.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in a related field (economic development, public administration, business, etc).
• Experience in economic development, community assistance, business assistance, project management, or public administration.
• EDI graduates or direct experience in business assistance, finance, business retention & expansion, community development, and economic development preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work with private sector businesses to provide information on state business incentives to eligible companies.
• Work with communities to deliver BR&E programs and provide tools to enhance development needs.
• Provide updates to the Rural Services Director and input into the ODOC CRM database.
• Connect entities with resources to fit their needs and provide regional economic development support.
• Develop and support regional entrepreneurship programs and small business development, including retail.
• Assist in workforce initiatives and travel to communities in the Southeast region as needed.

Skills

Effective communication

Team-building skills

Computer literacy

Data entry

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

EDI graduates preferred

Job description

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce seeks to fill a Rural Development Specialist (RDS) – Southeast Region. This full-time position coordinates with local entities to support BR&E and state incentives, serving 11 counties in the SE region.

The role requires strong communication, program delivery, and regional collaboration. The successful candidate will lead regional development efforts, partner with private and public stakeholders, and travel within Oklahoma.