What are the responsibilities and job description for the Economic Development Analyst position at City of San Marcos, TX?
Become part of a team that thrives on Professionalism, Innovation, Customer Experience, Integrity, and Teamwork — the values that guide how we serve our community.
The Economic Development Analyst strengthens the organization’s economic development efforts by delivering high-quality incentive administration, fiscal analysis, and economic intelligence. The role conducts detailed economic and compliance evaluations, develops GIS and data-driven insights, and supports informed decision-making for business recruitment and retention initiatives. Working closely with internal teams and external partners, this position ensures accurate reporting, effective program management, and analytics that shape strategic economic outcomes for the organization.
The following list highlights the main responsibilities of this position. While it covers the core tasks, it may not include every duty that could be assigned. Employees may be asked to take on other responsibilities as needed to support the team and department.
- Support the administration and evaluation of economic development incentives by analyzing proposed projects, contributing to agreement development, and ensuring accurate, timely compliance monitoring and reporting that meet organizational and partner expectations.
- Deliver economic, fiscal, and financial analysis that informs business recruitment, expansion, and retention initiatives, including developing impact models, interpreting economic trends, and preparing clear analytical insights to support strategic planning and project assessment.
- Develop and maintain GIS maps, data, and research resources critical to economic development operations, including the creation of spatial analysis products, dashboards, and research outputs that strengthen responses to business inquiries, requests for information (RFIs), and organizational initiatives.
- Produce reliable economic intelligence by managing datasets, conducting industry and workforce research, performing benchmarking, and generating customized data products that support recruitment, retention, and regional competitiveness.
- Strengthen cross-departmental and external collaboration by coordinating with internal teams, business representatives, taxing entities, and consultants to gather required project information, support reporting obligations, and provide materials for leadership, boards, and community partners.
- Maintain organizational data systems and research repositories to ensure economic information, compliance documentation, and analytical tools are accurate, accessible, and aligned with ongoing economic development priorities.
- Bachelor's degree economics, finance, public administration, urban planning, GIS, business, statistics, data analytics, or a related field. Commensurate combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Three (3) years of experience in in economic development, economic analysis, public finance, incentives administration, planning, GIS, or data analytics.
- Texas Class "C" Driver's License or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with economic impact analysis, financial modeling, or fiscal analysis.
- Experience working with local governments, taxing entities, or public boards.
- Experience with GIS platforms and economic data tools.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of economic development incentive programs, compliance requirements, and basic economic impact methodologies.
- Knowledge of GIS platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online) and data sources used in spatial and economic analysis.
- Knowledge of economic, demographic, labor market, and industry datasets used for research and reporting.
- Knowledge of AI tools and workflows, including Copilot, automation platforms, text-generation models, and AI-assisted analytics systems.
- Knowledge of planning, permitting, and project tracking.
- Skill in analytical and quantitative evaluation, including interpreting data, conducting financial analysis, and producing clear, accurate reports.
- Skill in developing charts, dashboards, and data visualizations, including those generated through AI-enhanced analytics.
- Skill in using Excel, GIS, and related analytical tools to manage, visualize, and interpret large datasets.
- Skill in professional written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders.
- Skill in designing effective AI prompts and workflows to achieve consistent analytical or reporting outcomes.
- Ability to explain technical data, research findings, and AI-generated insights in a clear, understandable manner for non-technical audiences.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines, organize records, and coordinate work with internal and external partners.
- Ability to learn and adapt new analytical tools, databases, AI systems, and methodologies as organizational needs evolve.
- Ability to support leadership decision-making by generating dashboards, reports, and insights using AI-driven analytics.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This position requires the ability to lift up to 30 pounds occasionally. Visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office equipment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is primarily performed in an office setting with extended periods of sitting and occasional sitework on uneven surfaces. Occasional travel may be required for training or sitework.
Salary : $56,243 - $74,006