Summary:

Plans, organizes, and implements economic development functions from conception to completion, including business retention, business attraction and incentive programs, research and planning and organizational capacity and facility development; performs a variety of responsible administrative, professional, and technical tasks. Implements economic development goals and objectives for the City, interfaces and coordinates with the development community, local businesses and various City departments and staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Assume management responsibilities for all services and activities of economic development including attracting increased capital investments and expanding and diversifying employment opportunities; establishes and maintains a private/public partnership for positive long-term economic change and implementation of the City of Harvey’s core strategies:

• Support Entrepreneurship Development
• Workforce Development
• Business Retention and Expansion
• Business Recruitment and Marketing

• Development of short and long term economic and community development plans, as well as the gathering of information and preparation of studies, reports, and recommendations to achieve such goals.
• Analyzes existing economic situations relative to business attraction and expansion; review modern techniques for business attraction and retention and negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues; monitors program performance and provides reports to the City Administrator and City Council.
• Becomes familiar with the existing inventory of available buildings and businesses in the City. This will include both public and private building and land areas.
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of various economic development programs and efforts.
• Manages the development and implementation of economic change through retention, expansion, attraction of commerce and light industry and the creation of incentive zone/programs.
• Develop infrastructure (industrial parks, shell buildings, utilities, transportation, etc.) to support business growth and expansion.
• Represents the City 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 City of Harvey’s goals and interest.
• Prepares and presents annual budget for approval by the City Council and City Administrator.
• Maintains a liaison with various local, state, and federal agencies, coordinating projects with agencies as deemed necessary and appropriate.
• Provides information and makes presentations to supervisors, boards, commissions, civic groups, businesses, individuals, and the public on economic development issues, programs, services, and plans.
• Oversees the administration of the City’s enterprise zone, tax credit and bounty programs.
• 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.
• Provides project management direction and oversight.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• • A strong communicator who expresses him or herself well and builds positive working relationships with other staff members, partners, consultants, investors, and community members.
  • A solid background in leadership, management, budget oversight and supervisory experience,
  • Must have demonstrated experience successfully completing time-sensitive and/or high-profile projects through collaboration, consensus, and creativity.
  • A goal-oriented thinker who can set clear priorities among multiple tasks and stay focused on project benchmarks and deadlines.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of economic and community 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 Experience:

• • Bachelor’s Degree in a related economic development or business field and five years substantial experience in planning, economic and/or community development, business or related field OR equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
  • Experience managing projects and people in a nonprofit, public agency, or private company.
  • Direct experience developing close working relationships with governmental groups at the local, state, and federal level, and constituents/stakeholders which might include elected officials, employees and other business and community support organizations.

Language Skills:

Must be able to communicate effectively (orally and written), possess excellent presentation skills and ability to lead discussions and meetings.

Mathematical Skills:

Basic knowledge of math skills and accounting required. Ability to formulate and evaluate financial proposals and analyze deals.

Reasoning Ability:

• Must be able to analyze data, determine trends and apply the results.
• Ability to anticipate reaction from the public, elected officials, business community, governmental agencies to manage various situations.

Certificates, Licenses and Other Requirements:

Valid Driver’s License

Physical Demands:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit and inspect meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification, although the job involves standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Position in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and

file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work in predominately an office environment. Mobility to visit/tour construction sites, facilities, businesses, etc. required. Frequent travel (both local and out of the area) required.

Benefits
The City of Harvey offers a wide variety of benefits to full-time employees including health, dental and life insurance, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), sick days, holidays, and vacation time.

Important Information

• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
• This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• This job description is subject to change at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The City of Harvey provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.