Current Employment Opportunities

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation
Job Description: Executive Director
JOB SUMMARY: Under direct supervision of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director performs professional management and administrative work of substantial difficulty in the planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and implementing of the economic activities of the Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation (SVEDF). The Executive Director exercises a high degree of independence, initiative, and professional expertise while coordinating efforts with federal, state, and city/county organizations.

DUTIES:
- Develops and implements policies and procedures related to development, administration, and implementation of the economic development programs for the greater City of Sierra Vista.
- Develops strategic and operational plans that lead to long- and short-range economic goals and objectives to not only enhance current economic activity, but to encourage further economic development for the area.
- Prepares and administers the SVEDF’s contract for economic development activities with the City of Sierra Vista and other governmental agencies, as appropriate.
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive inventory of available buildings and sites in the community for economic purposes and tracks business movement in and out of the area.
- Develops and cultivates contacts with existing and prospective area businesses and industry.
- Leads new project development including research of potential projects that fit with the organization’s mission, financial viability and resource development.
-Proactively searches for and, when necessary, prepares, writes and administers grants and other financial incentives that promote economic development, revitalization, and infrastructure development projects.
- Meets with government officials, lenders, Chamber of Commerce representatives, Arizona Department of Commerce representatives, private-sector companies, economic development professionals, and any others to affect changes in local/state policies, to encourage industrial and commercial expansion, as well as new development.
- Acts as liaison to existing industrial business and building owners, developers, marketing firms; financial, transportation, and utility firms; and federal, state, regional and county agencies regarding loans, grants, research data, and educational resources relating to the SVEDF’s economic development programs.
- Meets with outside agencies and the public including developers, members of the business community and citizens’ groups to explain SVEDF’s services, programs, policies, procedures, goals, and objectives related to economic development.
- Assists new and existing firms with expeditious permit processing and capital needs, including packaging of financial resources from federal, state, and local sources.
- Attends Sierra Vista Council meetings and work sessions as necessary to represent the SVEDF on economic development matters.
- Collaborates and advocates for comprehensive workforce development strategies which will assist current and prospective employers with recruiting, training and retaining employees.
- Collaborates and develops partnerships with organizations to include, but not limited to, Cochise College Center for Economic Research, Cochise College Small Business Development Center, University of Arizona South, Arizona Department of Commerce, and Cochise County Workforce Development on economic development related activities and projects.
- Monitors local, state, and federal legislation and regulations relating to economic development and reports findings and trends to the Board.
- Prepares correspondence, presentations, and detailed analytical documents for the Board and provides project status reports in order to communicate program activities.
- Maintains and updates, on a regular basis, the SVEDF website.
- Assigns and reviews the work of subordinates and evaluates performance.
- Performs related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:
- Knowledge of economic development to include, but not limited to, business attraction and recruitment, business retention and expansion, e-commerce, finance programs, marketing and attraction, strategic planning, entrepreneurship and small business development strategies, export/trade development, empowerment zones, incentives, infrastructure, neighborhood economic development, public-private partnerships, quality of life, real estate redevelopment and reuse, rural economic development, site selection, smart growth, sustainable development, technology-led economic development, tourism, transportation, venture capital, data collection and research, and workforce development.
- Knowledge of the functions, laws, rules, regulations and policies of the City, County, State and Federal governments affecting economic development, or the ability to acquire such knowledge within a reasonable period of time.
- Knowledge of City, County and State departments and services, or the ability to acquire such knowledge within a reasonable period of time.
- Knowledge of City and County zoning and building regulations, or the ability to acquire such knowledge within a reasonable period of time.
- Knowledge of local, regional, state and national trends and issues in the field of economic development.
- Knowledge of and skill in supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
- Knowledge of complex real estate transactions, financial transactions and contracts.
- Skill in analyzing complex problems, identifying solutions and demonstrating critical thinking.
- Skill in preparing, monitoring and maintaining budgets.
- Skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with city, county, state, federal, public and private organizations.
- Skill in presenting ideas and concepts orally and in writing.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective and courteous working relationships with city, county, state and federal employees, business owners, residents, members of the general public, co-workers and subordinates.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to identify and solve community and program related problems, including an understanding of system-related approaches.
- Ability to communicate program activities, explain complicated ideas, and recommend alternatives.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality as necessary and discreetly convey information as required.
- Ability to assess needs, target available resources and implement effective programs.
- Ability to perform research and ability to achieve proficiency in the use of computers and programs or word processing, internet navigability research and electronic mail.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, economics or related field; five years experience in economic development; OR any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved. Graduate of Economic Development Institute (EDI) or an acceptable equivalent program and/or designation such as Certified Economic Development (CEcD). (At the discretion of the Board, incumbent may be allowed to obtain EDI or CEcD within a reasonable period of time subsequent to hiring.)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT(S): Must have an acceptable driving record and possess a valid Arizona Driver’s License within 30 days of hire date. Background must be free of criminal convictions and allegations of acts that tend to indicate poor moral or ethical character.

If interested in applying to this position, please send resume, cover letter, job history, and salary requirements to:

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation
P.O. Box 2380, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636