Job Overview 
SALARY: $163,000 - $203,700Baltimore County, Maryland, seeks a dynamic and innovative professional to lead the Department of Economic and Workforce Development. The Director is responsible for the executive management of the department including developing and implement department wide strategic planning of all administrative and programmatic functions.The Director of Economic and Workforce Development reports to the County Executive and/or senior staff designee(s).Please be sure to upload your resume for further consideration. Candidates will be contacted by Abacus Corporation on behalf of Baltimore County if their qualifications align to the requirements of the role.The Director plans, organizes and implements economic and workforce development functions from conception to conclusion: including but not limited to business attraction, business retention and competitive business incentive programs; Business research planning, organizational capacity and development; Performs variety of high level business, administrative, professional and technical processes. Implements economic and workforce development strategic goals and objectives for the County; Interfaces and coordinates with development communities, local businesses, various County departments and staff to advance the County's overall strategic plan.
Essential Functions

• Assumes management responsibilities for all services and activities for the economic and workforce development department including but not limited to attracting increased capital investments, expanding and diversifying of department's portfolio; Establishes and maintains strategic private and public partnership for positive long and short term economic goals; Implements Baltimore County's strategic goals for the department to include:
• Expansion of Economic Development portfolio
• Expansion of Workforce Development portfolio
• Business Expansion and Retention
• Promotes a coordinated business expansion and retention campaign; Oversees, manages and directs Economic and Workforce Development activities; Assists with planning, organizing, coordinating, and evaluating major economic development activities within the County; Assists with the development of strategies that maintains and enhances long-term economic vitality.
• Coordinates and monitors all economic development programs with contractors, property owners, and other interested groups; Solicits potential economic developers to the County; Generates and nurtures professional working relationships with private developers, realtors, business leaders, banking and financial leaders, professional economic development and trade associations, state and local government leaders, economic development professionals and other community leaders.
• Manages and assists in the grant application process for potential funding sources for economic development projects; Works with other departments to review proposed ordinances and codes that related to economic development.
• Analyzes economic and workforce cases relative to business attraction and expansion; Reviews and implements modern techniques for business attraction and retention; Negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues; Monitors program performance and provides reports to the County Executive, County Administrator or designee.
• Manages the development and implementation of economic and workforce development change through attraction, expansion, retention, and various needed techniques.
• Represents the County at appropriate civic, cultural, charitable, business and community activities as well as serves on boards, commissions, committees and organizations related to the areas that are critical to the County's goals and interest; Prepares and presents the department for budget approvals.
• Creates and maintains short and long term economic and workforce development plans; Conducts business and workforce development case studies; Makes appropriate recommendations according business case reviews and reports.
• Continuously maintains strategic relationships with various local, state and federal agencies, coordinating projects with agencies as deemed necessary and appropriate.
• Provides information and make presentations to Council, boards, commissions, civic groups, businesses, individuals, and the public on economic development issues, programs, services and plans; Provides project management direction and oversight.
• Identifies workforce skill needs of the business community and coordinates action with educational and training institutions to develop and provide the appropriate training and educational programs.
• Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships to address local and regional workforce needs, including fostering the creation of high quality jobs, preparing and training residents for in-demand careers, and leveraging innovative approaches to aligning employer needs with the skills of unemployed and underemployed residents.
• Oversees all federal and state workforce training programs and funding streams
• Other duties as assigned.

• Ideal candidate will be a visionary and thought leader, solution-oriented, and results-driven with a passion for public service.
• Ability to learn and work with existing inventory of economic development and workforce cases while leveraging business resources, available buildings and businesses in the County.
• A strong communicator; Strategic Relationship builder.
• Strong background in leadership, management, budget oversight and supervisory and Project Management experience,
• Must have demonstrated experience of successfully completing time-sensitive and/or high profile projects through collaboration, consensus and creativity.
• A goal-oriented thinker with the ability to set clear priorities among multiple tasks and stay focus on project benchmarks and deadlines.
• Comprehensive knowledge of economic, community and workforce development issues, principles and techniques, including state and federal policies and programs, capital improvements programming, applicable regulations and regulatory devices, associated data sources and information systems.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in economic development or business field and five – ten years substantial experience in planning, economic and workforce development, business or related field OR equivalent combination of experience and training with required knowledge, skills and abilities. Master's degree preferred.
• Experience managing projects and people in a public, private or a nonprofit agency or company; Direct experience developing close working relationships with governmental groups at the local, state and federal level, strategic stakeholders including but not limited to: elected officials, board of directors, other businesses and community support organizations.
• Ability to anticipate reaction from the public, elected officials, business community, governmental agencies; manage various situations and act accordingly.

Employees hired after July 1, 2022 are required to participate in the Baltimore County Employees’ Retirement System, with very limited exceptions. 
Employment Background Investigation
Applicants selected for an appointment to a position in Baltimore County must successfully complete an employment background investigation, including, but not limited to a criminal background, education, and fingerprint check.