FLSA: Exempt

Salary: Based on qualifications and experience

Are you ready to lead the charge in transforming our community and driving economic prosperity? Join us as our next Economic Development Director and become an integral part of shaping the future of our vibrant city.

Purpose of Classification:

As the City’s Economic Development Director (“Director”), you’ll manage citywide economic development efforts. Reporting to the City Manager or their designee, the Director is responsible for implementation of the Strategic Economic Development Plan (“SEDP”), facilitating economic development planning and initiatives, identifying and fostering targeted economic development opportunities, securing funding for economic development activities and programs, assisting local organizations, businesses, and individuals with economic development related needs, leading citywide recruitment and retention efforts, and marketing the City to expand economic development opportunities. With a focus on revitalization projects like the North End and City Springs Phase II, alongside targeted retail recruitment, your impact will be felt across the community.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Leading the implementation of economic development objectives from various citywide plans, driving progress and innovation.
• Forming strategic partnerships and structuring public-private collaborations to fuel capital investment and job creation.
• Prepares draft development agreements and structures financial and other public-private partnership arrangements for review.
• Reviews, updates, and facilitates economic development incentive programs and establishes metrics to regularly review the efficacy of established programs.
• Serves as a liaison to key external agencies and stakeholders, amplifying our city's presence and opportunities on a regional scale.
• Serves as the City’s staff liaison to the Sandy Springs Development Authority, Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber, North Fulton Chamber, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and other regional and statewide partners.
• Cultivating an environment conducive to small and entrepreneurial business development, fostering innovation and growth.
• Oversees business/industry outreach efforts including proactive business retention, recruitment, and expansion ranging from major corporations to small businesses.
• Creates a variety of analytical tools and benchmarks to measure and report on return on investment of City resources, program successes, and accomplishments.
• Facilitates proactive engagement with the community, business owners, property owners, and other key stakeholders to assist with economic development efforts.
• Supervision of Economic Development staff.
• Embraces other duties necessary to propel the City’s Economic Development initiatives forward.

Desired Knowledge and Skills:

We are seeking a visionary leader with a blend of skills and experiences, including:

• Proven ability to serve as a persuasive spokesperson and advocate for economic development initiatives.
• Deep understanding of economic development and redevelopment principles and strategic planning methodologies.
• Demonstrated track record of success in urban redevelopment projects and forging impactful public-private partnerships, including the development and analysis of financial deal structures.
• Proficiency in financial analysis and incentive program design, with a knack for creating compelling development scenarios.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local economic development financial and non-financial assistance and incentive programs, including experience with Tax Allocation Districts, Opportunity Zones, and other economic development tools.
• Strong leadership skills, adept at guiding teams and fostering collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, lead and monitor complex projects, prepare work plans, develop protocols and standards, and define and appropriately measure and report results.
• Demonstrated ability to listen, speak, and write in an effective manner, with a diverse group of individuals, including elected officials, department directors, representatives from other jurisdictions, residents, business community, and the general public.
• Tech-savvy mindset, with a keen eye for leveraging digital tools and innovations.
• Thorough knowledge of relevant policies, regulations, and best practices in economic development.
• Ability to operate a computer and general office equipment, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, project management, and other software.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, public administration, finance, planning or closely related field required. Master’s degree in business, economics, public administration, Planning, or closely related field preferred; supplemented by at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the economic development field, to include lead or supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required: None. Certified Economic Developers (CEcD) preferred.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.

Performance Aptitudes:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to synthesize and integrate data for predicting, anticipating, and planning for future events impacting the organization. Includes determining strategic and tactical decisions at the highest organizational levels of authority and responsibility.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to function in a director capacity for a major organizational unit requiring significant internal and external interaction.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information, as well as reference, descriptive and/or design data and information as applicable.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in critical and/or unexpected situations involving moderate risk to the organization.

ADA Compliance:

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
• Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The City of Sandy Springs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.