POSITION: Director of Economic Development

DEPARTMENT: Planning, Development and Sustainability.

HOURS OF WORK: Full-time (35 hours/weekly) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM; Friday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director works closely with businesses, developers, municipal departments, elected officials, and the community to recruit and facilitate the pre-development process for new commercial and residential growth; manages business retention/expansion efforts in Medford’s various commercial districts; supports planning efforts related to community and economic development; overseas and informs economic development related policy; and provides in-house expertise on topics such as planning, zoning, and real estate. Additionally, the position is responsible for developing and managing business support initiatives to ensure the recovery and resiliency of Medford’s small business community.

About Medford: The City of Medford is a diverse and growing inner-core community that is located less than 4 miles west of downtown Boston and Cambridge, neighbors Somerville, and is home to Tufts University. The recently created Office of Planning, Development & Sustainability (PDS) is a multi-disciplinary department that includes planning, economic development, housing, environmental sustainability, and conservation and that administers Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Community Preservation Act funding. The City is currently in the process of finalizing its first Comprehensive Plan and recently adopted a Housing Production Plan, Climate Action, and Adaptation Plan, and the first modernization of the zoning ordinance in over 40 years. In addition, there is significant commercial and residential development underway with growing private-sector interest in large- and small-scale projects.

SUPERVISION: Reports to the Director of the Office of Planning, Development & Sustainability (PDS) with the responsibility of leading economic development for the City of Medford.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with elected/appointed officials or other decision makers. Experience developing budgets and managing contracts and consultants. Excellent computer skills and familiarity with software programs like Microsoft Office and GIS. Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well-defined planning problems

Abilities: Ability to initiate and manage large-scale projects requiring planning, funding, and staffing.

Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously. Communicates clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

Physical Requirement: 

While performing the duties of this position, an employee is regularly required to sit, communicate in person, by telephone, use hands to finger, handle, feel and operate standard office equipment (such as calculators, copiers, typewriters, fax, and personal computers). 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Standard indoor office environment. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate.