Description
Under the direction of the City Manager, assists in the general administration of municipal services and is responsible for establishing and cultivating positive relationships with existing and potential businesses. Responsible for economic and community development activities that attract, expand and retain businesses. Responsible for acting as liaison to all state agencies, economic development organizations and businesses including as representative of City’s Sturgis Electric Department with commercial and industrial customers. Provides administrative support to the City Manager by coordinating projects and implementing programs as assigned. Other administrative responsibilities are focused on customer service issues and implementation of consistent policies and procedures, and public information activities.
Requirements
1. Manages and supervises assigned operations and projects as directed by the City Manager.
2. Provides leadership and direction in the development of short and long range plans; gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinates organizational activities among departments.
3. Acts as the public information officer, responsible for the development and administration of the City’s website, citizen newsletter and other communication efforts.
4. Serves as the City Manager’s representative at events, on various boards, or committees as assigned by the City Manager.
5. Analyzes ongoing program and policy development making recommendations regarding the creation, implementation and revision of administrative procedures.
6. Prepares a variety of studies, reports and related research-oriented information for decision-making purposes. Responsible for providing demographic and related statistical data to interested parties, creating reports regarding job creation, business retention, marketing efforts, workforce characteristics, wage scales, and other demographics.
7. Provides professional support to the City Manager and makes recommendations regarding general organizational development and innovations.
8. Assists with public relations efforts, which include: monitoring and tracking media releases and related publications, coordinating community marketing/advertising activities, as well as analyzing and addressing customer service issues.
9. Assists the City Manager in preparing the annual budget. Conducts research and analysis for budget recommendations. Also provides administrative support for budget presentations.
10. Attends meetings and serves as staff support to the Sturgis Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Assists in implementing their goals regarding industrial and business development.
11. Responsible for keeping abreast of local, state, and national legislation having potential effect on the community. Continually seek professional development opportunities maintaining knowledge of current issues and concerns relevant to economic development.
12. Serves as the Business Development Team (BDT) coordinator – assisting and encouraging business expansion and location in the community and facilitating access to resources/incentives and programs as may be available. As the City’s BDT coordinator, will seek to understand the needs and concerns of existing and potential businesses to assist in finding appropriate resolutions.
13. Develop and implement marketing strategies for business attraction and retention. Responsible for participating in speaking engagements, media interviews and appearances, and keeping the economic development outreach of the City highly visible in local, state and national markets. Explore new technologies and methods of communicating, particularly enhancing Internet communications, to address service needs.
14. Participate in the development of focused public relations efforts in regard to economic development. Create and conduct ongoing public awareness and education programs designed to enhance appreciation of the City’s assets and to foster an understanding of current economic development in the community as well as formulating and recommending business-friendly policies.
15. Represent the community with regional, state and national organizations involved in economic development activities, always mindful of the need to improve state and national economic development policies as they relate to smaller communities. Act as the City’s primary point of contact with the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation and Southwest Michigan First as well as representing the City within the economic development profession and its supporting organizations.
