Principal Development Specialist - Economic Development

The Riverside County Office of Economic Development (RIVCO ED) is excited to announce an excellent career opportunity for a Principal Development Specialist to join their Economic Development unit in Indio. 

In this role, the Principal Development Specialist will play a key part in fostering positive relationships between the County and the public, as well as with various stakeholders, including Chambers, Cities, State and Federal partners, small business organizations, educational institutions, and other local and regional economic development organizations. RIVCO ED collaborates to foster a business-friendly atmosphere to cultivate thriving communities and economic vitality, elevating quality of life, promoting private sector investment and propelling regional economic growth, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the County of Riverside.  The successful candidate will help promote the County’s objectives by developing messaging, identifying target audiences, and creating strategies to effectively engage journalists, bloggers, investors, and the public in support of Riverside County’s economic goals.

In addition to these responsibilities, the Principal Development Specialist will oversee various programs and budgets, represent the County on local boards, groups, and committees and serve as the Center Director of the Coachella Valley Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC) and oversee this program hosted by RIVCO ED. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in economic development, including business retention and attraction strategies, small business development, facilitating site selection, the permitting process, and navigating entitlements, budgeting, management of 3 RIVCO ED staff members and 7 CVSBDC consultants. This role also requires the ability to market the County to potential developers, retailers, and other investors, advancing Riverside County’s economic development goals.

Key Qualifications:

• Comprehensive understanding of legal requirements regarding revolving loan funds (RFL).
• Confidence in communication and presentation, with strong writing skills for marketing campaigns for small businesses.
• Excellent organizational, program management, and time management abilities.
• Experience within grant administration and application processes.
• Proven experience in economic development, including working with the Board of Supervisors (BOS), business retention, attraction, and facilitating development processes and small business development.
• Strong knowledge U.S Economic Development Administration (USEDA) or California Economic Development (CalED) grants.

Required: 

• Bilingual in Spanish 

• Applicants must have three years of full-time working experience within grant management for economic development programs within a public sector or government agency.

Meet The Team!
The Riverside County Office of Economic Development’s mission is to elevate the economic position of the county and foster economic vitality, encourage business growth, build a positive business climate, preserve and enhance neighborhoods, improve the quality of life, provide and promote cultural and learning opportunities for all.

• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate, directly or through subordinate supervisors, the administrative and operational activities of a major program function, department unit, or department projects in geographical regions.

• Participate in the development and review of department policies and goals, particularly as they affect the incumbent's assigned division/unit.

• Analyze, interpret and explain laws, statutes, ordinances, and procedures to subordinate staff and large committees of officials and public; lead, participate and/or represent the department in state and/ or County-wide activities and programs.

• Review and evaluate existing programs for overall effectiveness and efficiency in meeting division/unit goals and initiating action for operational improvements as necessary; direct administrative, organizational and governmental financial systems and programs.

• Assist in the preparation of the department budget by compiling and analyzing data on staffing, support resources and program needs within the assigned division/unit.

• Assume responsibility for a variety of personnel activities including performance evaluations, training, selection, and disciplinary actions.

• Develop and maintain operational procedures for use by staff; establish and maintain working relationships with federal, state and local agencies, County departments, community groups, and private-sector businesses and developers.

• Negotiate, administer and monitor contracts and agreements; write Requests for Proposals and Quotes, reports and correspondence.

• Provide technical advice to businesses and developers, County departments and staff.

OPTION I

Experience: Two years as a Supervising Development Specialist with the County of Riverside.

OPTION II

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, which included 30 semester or 45 quarter units of coursework preferably in business or public administration, behavioral science, social science, political science, public policy, urban studies, education, marketing, economics, environmental sciences, geography, or a job-related field similar to that utilized within the County of Riverside Office of Economic Development, Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions, or Facilities Management Department. (Additional professional, technical, or senior clerical experience in a job-related field similar to that utilized within the County of Riverside Office of Economic Development, Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions, or Facilities Management Department may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of qualifying full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units of the required education.)

Experience: Six years of professional experience, including two years of supervisory experience, in a job-related field similar to that utilized within the County of Riverside Office of Economic Development, Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions, or Facilities Management Department. (A master's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, behavioral science, social science, political science, public policy, urban studies, marketing, education, economics, environmental sciences, geography, or a job-related field similar to that utilized within the County of Riverside Office of Economic Development, Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions, or Facilities Management Department may substitute for one year of the required non-supervisory experience.)

EXAMPLES OF BUSINESS & COMMUNITY SERVICES/HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION & WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FIELDS: Economic development; housing and community development; commercial development; real estate; facilities management; community services (e.g., parks, community centers or lighting, water and utilities programs); workforce development (e.g., employment programs or job training programs); eligibility or social programs; finance; contract monitoring/management; environmental or sustainability programs; foreign trade; public relations; marketing; fundraising; film; aviation; human resources; museums; libraries.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of: Principles, methods and techniques of supervision; principles of public administration and personnel management; techniques of administrative and budgetary analysis; federal regulations for the Community Development Block Grant Program, housing and/or job training programs.

Ability to: Plan, organize, coordinate, and evaluate the work of a division; train staff members; schedule, assign and evaluate the work of others; assess program design and implementation; analyze issues and data, generate and evaluate alternatives and develop effective courses of action; understand, interpret and apply provisions of various governmental regulations, policies and contracts; prepare and present reports and recommendations; establish and maintain effective working and public relationships; represent the County effectively and negotiate with representatives of other agencies and firms.

Salary : $122,743 - $139,167