Economic Development Manager in Des Moines, Iowa at GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP

JOB TITLE: Economic Development Manager

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS: This position serves as the primary point of contact for contracted economic development efforts in a community. The role functions as the lead staff support for local development initiatives, identifying and implementing the City’s economic development priorities.

Across other communities in the region, the position develops and maintains relationships with local partners to support development efforts. The position serves as an advisor on development strategies, including community and site readiness, identifying and responding to prospect leads, supporting applications for financial incentives, and connecting partners to workforce recruitment and training resources. The position also supports the regional existing industry visit program in Central Iowa in collaboration with local economic development organizations. Additionally, it is responsible for maintaining a database that tracks organizational progress toward economic development goals.

SPECIFIC JOB RESPSONSIBILITIES:

• Provide 15-hours a week of contracted, direct local economic development support to contracted city
• Develop and implement a plan designed to grow the commercial and industrial base in the community.
• Serve as an advisor and connector for smaller communities related to site readiness, business retention & expansion (BRE), and industrial, retail and housing development
• Develop and maintain relationships with state and local partners
• Serve as liaison between local business executives and state & local officials to address business development issues
• Identify grant and funding opportunities to support rural communities’ development efforts
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Detailed and process oriented.
• Extremely well organized.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment often with short deadlines, and, at times, outside of normal business hours to be responsive to prospect needs.
• This position requires excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Team player with a positive attitude.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.

Education and Experience:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher, plus related professional experience.
• A minimum of three years of economic development experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word.
• Strong Adobe Acrobat skills.
• Salesforce or other CRM experience required.