Join our Team: Director of Business Retention and Expansion
Summary: Under general supervision of the EDC Senior Vice-President, the EDC Director of Business Retention and Expansion is responsible for implementing an effective business retention and expansion program. Incumbent may be required to perform position-related tasks other than those specifically listed in this description.
The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbent(s) in this position. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties in this description and incumbent(s) may be required to perform position-related tasks other than those specifically listed in this description.
Essential Job Functions & Other Important Duties
Essential Job Functions:
Develops and implements programs that promote existing business retention and expansion.
Identifies and visits businesses at-risk and potential businesses for retention and expansion assistance.
Collects data, screen and qualify retention and expansion projects for drafting Proposals and Agreements.
Tracks existing business news, feedback and responses.
Communicates business issues and opportunities with appropriate entities for assistance.
Provides assistance when appropriate to existing businesses.
Assists in monitoring Performance Agreement compliance with existing businesses.
Assists businesses with expansion plans and issues of concern.
Assists business recruitment activities, partnering internally as a part of the Business Development Team and Marketing and Communications Team to support and deliver lead generation initiatives, including supporting and attending recruitment missions.
Collaborates with local and regional agencies to implement welcome program for new corporations, talent attraction initiatives, and execute on partnership agreements.
Prepares and implements special projects as assigned.
Develops and maintains positive working relationships with vendors, customers, other agencies and EDC staff.
Other Important Duties:
Attends and represents the FEDC at certain events, functions, meetings and conferences.
Attends City events on evenings and weekends.
Travels to attend meetings, conferences and training.
May be required to work extended hours, evenings and weekends.
Regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work hours is essential.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Principles and practices of public relations, including methods of research, development and implementation.
Principles and practices of economic development.
City and department management policies and procedures.
Professional customer service practices and procedures.
Proficient use of computers and related equipment, hardware and software applicable to area of assignment.
Strong and effective oral and written communications.
Appropriate handling of politically sensitive and confidential information.
Organize, prioritize, track and manage multiple assignments and tasks.
Identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
Complete assignments with limited direction and supervision.
Work well within a team and with group problem solving situations; use reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Exhibit sound, accurate judgment and explain reasoning for decisions; include appropriate people in decision making process.
Effectively negotiate.
Define problems and generate creative solutions
Attention to detail.
Work under deadlines and stressful situations.
Resolve problems quickly and effectively.
Education, Experience, and Certifications/Licenses:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Public Administration or related field, and minimum of ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in economic development or marketing/communications or equivalent combination of education and experience.
May be required to have specialized certification depending on area of assignment.
Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, criminal background check and MVR check.
Must possess valid State of Texas Driver’s License.
Environmental Factors & Conditions/Physical Requirements
Environmental Factors and Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting.
May be subject to exposure to irate or angry individuals.
Physical Demands:
This work typically requires the following physical activities to be performed.A complete description of the activities below is available upon request from Human Resources.
Balancing – maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.
Crouching – bending body forward by bending leg, spine.
Fingering – picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
Hearing 1 – perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information.
Kneeling – bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
Mental Acuity – ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.
Pushing – use upper extremities to press against objects with force, or thrust forward, downward, outward.
Reaching – extending hands or arms in any direction.
Repetitive Motion – substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.
Speaking – expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.
Talking 1 – expressing ideas by spoken word.
Visual Acuity 1 – prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.
Visual Acuity 3 – determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures.
Work Environment:
Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.