Director of Community and Economic Development

Job Description

Our employer is in search of a Director of Community and Economic Development.

JOB SUMMARY :

The director is responsible for the coordination and management of grants and / or projects awarded to the city. Monitor and assist departments in fulfilling compliance directives from the county, state, and federal government. Strategizes with personnel to develop goals and objectives which outline how funds are to be used and explains procedures that involve monitoring of funding, reporting, and re-application. Additional duties include increasing community engagement and economic development, tourism and visitor participation rates for Pahokee. Provide research and data for economic development and business retention. Research, develop and successfully write grants for community and economic development. Work with the City Manager to formulate the yearly legislative agenda and request format for state allocations. Collaborate with the City’s government lobbying firm and Palm Beach County to prepare applications for state and federal earmarks for key projects and grant applications.

ESSENTIAL TASKS :

1. Administer the steps for funded programs and projects through development of contracts and bid language, oversee the commencement of infrastructure projects through contract settlement, engineering, design, and final approval.

2. Maintain a listing of state and federal grant opportunities for economic development initiatives.

3. Provide expertise and leadership in the grant application process coordinate efforts with City Departments.

4. Coordinate efforts to implement and administer grants if awarded, working with all applicable government agencies.

5. Review monthly progress of CDBG’s, grants, and projects including assisting in submission of reports to funding agency.

6. Assist departments and directors in preparation of quarterly monitoring

7. Provide administrative oversight for community-wide base funding opportunities for residential improvement and city-wide beautification projects.

8. Increase community participation by assisting the City Manager in promoting Town Hall meetings, creating bulletins board updates at local business sites, schools, and churches

9. Create opportunities to promote tourism and increase visitation to the City of Pahokee

10. Provide opportunities for residents to engage city services and programs by monitoring city advertisements, websites, and other Social Media sites.

11. Engage public / private stakeholders to increase the community’s social status as it refers to affordable housing initiatives, social status of residents, and investment in community revitalization strategies.

12. Provide demographics and data to other departments or entities to assist in the creation of a sustainability plan and three-years economic development models

13. Tracks the data of residents serviced from special funded initiatives and programs

EDUCATION AND SKILLS :

Minimum Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, rural and urban planning, business or public administration or related field.
• 4-5 years in successful attainment of state and federal grants

Preferred :

Ability To : Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow up on work assignments with a minimum of supervision; establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff; exercise tact and diplomacy in interpersonal dealings which are difficult, highly sensitive and confidential.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS : May be seated for long periods of time; may type for long periods at a time; Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites within and away from the City; strength to lift and carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds; vision to read printed materials and on a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the phone.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES : Certified Economic Developer (CED) status by the International Economic Development Council is preferred.