Economic Development Specialist

Description/Duties

The current vacancy is in the Economic Development Department; however, this recruitment will also be used to create a Citywide list to fill possible future vacancies.

First review of applications will be Monday, April 8, 2024.

An Economic Development Specialist performs a wide variety of activities to attract new development opportunities and promote Mesa's value as a business location, generate qualified prospects, and improve the competitiveness of the community's business climate. An employee in this classification may also assist Economic Development Project Managers with more complex projects.

An employee in this class also performs statistical comparisons and trend analysis to be used in marketing and promotional materials. This class performs related duties as required.

Office of Economic Development Assignment: An Economic Development Specialist may be assigned to assist in implementing a targeted program that integrates multiple platforms to influence and build relationships with prospects, consultants, company decision makers, and media information sources; proactively identifying and addressing community business climate issues; and assisting in providing research and information, and/or technology support needed to execute these tasks.

Duties also may involve: working with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) to provide detailed and targeted responses to business leads; staffing regional and national sales missions and trade shows to promote greater Phoenix and Mesa; coordinating prospect site visits, assisting in establishing a baseline of information with respect to existing local businesses; support local business growth; increase employment for Mesa citizens; expand the community's economic base; and provide outreach to existing businesses. Work involves: establishing and strengthening relationships with local businesses; providing information to existing businesses regarding the availability of assistance programs, including project management assistance, job training, employee recruitment, and financing programs; discovering and confirming local service and location advantages for use in marketing Mesa to firms considering a new location; identifying service or location deficiencies which hinder economic development; and developing strategies to eliminate or mitigate the deficiencies.

In addition, an Economic Development Specialist may assist in providing targeted research support, including but not limited to: researching data; preparation of information for targeted promotional activities; database management; GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping; and a variety of other duties related to developing, writing, producing, updating, and designing marketing and promotional materials for business retention and expansion, business recruitment, and international trade activities.

City Manager's Office (Downtown Transformation) Assignment: An Economic Development Specialist performs a wide variety of activities to promote Downtown Mesa development and redevelopment opportunities, Downtown's value as a business location, development of the Downtown Innovation District, support Downtown property owners, and retention and expansion of existing businesses. An employee in this classification will also assist the Downtown Transformation Manager and/or Economic Development Project Managers with more complex projects.

An Economic Development Specialist may research information, provide technical support, coordinate site visits, assist with research on existing Downtown businesses, manage data, prepare presentations, support business growth, and provide outreach to existing businesses. Work involves establishing and strengthening relationships with existing businesses and new business prospects; and providing information to existing businesses regarding the availability of assistance programs, including project management assistance. This position may serve as the main point of contact for downtown public parking management, including coordination with the Downtown Mesa Association and City of Mesa's Real Estate Division.

The Economic Development Specialist position may offer the opportunity to travel to recruit companies and meet with company representatives, trade councils and organizations, government officials, and interested investors. Incumbents exercise independence and initiative to complete assigned tasks.

Supervision is received from the Economic Development Department Director, designee, or Downtown Transformation Manager who reviews and assigns work through conferences, meetings, and reports and monitors results achieved. Functional supervision may be received from senior-level staff on more complex or large projects. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.

Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.

Qualifications & Requirements

Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, Marketing, Research, Analytics, Commercial Real Estate, International Business, Political Science, or a related field. Two years of employment in a professional-level capacity in economic development or a related area.

Special Requirement. Must possess a valid Class DArizona Driver's License by hire or promotion date.

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Proficiency in the use of computer software programs (example:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, dBase, GIS, desktop publishing such as Photoshop or InDesign) and the internet is preferred. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, Commercial Real Estate, International Business, or a related field; membership in related professional organizations; the ability to speak a second language; and designation as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) are desirable.

City Manager's Office (Downtown Transformation) Assignment: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Economic Development, Business or Public Administration, Commercial Real Estate, International Development, Planning, Real Estate Development, or a related field. Experience working in a downtown setting with multiple stakeholders, including business improvement districts, enhanced municipal services districts, and/or convention and visitor bureaus; contract negotiation and management; and grant writing.

Link to Job Description

http://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4810.pdf