Job Description: Community and Economic Development Director

Community and Economic Development Director

 

Application Deadline: Friday, July 30, 2021, 5:00 p.m. 

 

Apply Online: www.moline.il.us 

 

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Most Tuesday evenings for City Council meetings

 

Salary: $108,290 – $151,605

 

Characteristics of the Job

Under the direction of the City Administrator, administers, oversees and coordinates all land use planning and zoning, zoning enforcement, economic development, community development, property management, building and neighborhood improvement inspections and grant application efforts in support of policies, objectives and goals established by the City Administrator and City Council by performing the following duties. This position entails considerable initiative and independent judgment and the ability to work with others to accomplish departmental and City goals and objectives.

 

Examples of Duties  Other duties may be assigned.

 

Assist the City Administrator and City Council in the formulation of the economic development component of the annual strategic plan.

 

Coordinate, supervise and monitor all priority economic development projects and programs, as identified by the City Administrator, and provide regular reports to the City Administrator.

 

Work cooperatively with the City Administrator and City Council to formulate mutually agreed upon annual goals and measurable expectations as they relate to economic development initiatives and successes.

 

Develop and implement a strategy to obtain competitive and entitlement grant funds to further the implementation of the strategic comprehensive plan, capital improvements and economic development plans for the City.

 

Oversee inspections and code enforcement duties of the Building Division.

 

Work cooperatively with other City departments and divisions, Renew Moline, Chambers of Commerce, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Moline Community Development Corporation, other governmental agencies outside the City of Moline, contractors, developers, engineering firms, business owners and other interested parties to provide uniform and superior customer service. 

 

Hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, direct, evaluate, reward and discipline employees; adjust employee grievances; or recommend any of these actions.

 

Seek and act upon methods, programs, partnerships and other opportunities to promote the implementation of the strategic economic development plan.

 

Formulate and implement comprehensive economic development strategies and programs.

 

Supervise, monitor and report on all economic development programs (e.g., Revolving Loan Fund, Tax Increment Financing Districts, Enterprise Zone, Façade Improvement Program, etc.).

 

Prepare, implement and report on operating and capital improvement budgets for Tax Increment Financing Districts. 

 

Prioritize business retention, expansion and growth by building relationships with existing business owners and leaders.

 

Conduct negotiations on behalf of City with developers, property owners, business owners, local, state and federal agencies and others as necessary to promote the growth and development of the City consistent with established plans, policies and programs.

 

Collect and analyze economic, demographic and other pertinent data to determine past, present and future trends affecting growth and development in Moline and report findings and recommendations to the City Administrator and City Council.

 

Oversee development and implementation plans, programs and policies for the general growth and development of the City (e.g., comprehensive plan, neighborhood/area/corridor plans, zoning and development codes, etc.) within the Community Development Department.

 

Serve as project manager for all public infrastructure improvement projects funded in part or in whole with proceeds from Tax Increment Financing Districts and coordinate staff response/direction to construction related decisions to public and private economic development projects.

 

Ensure that the responsibilities, authorities and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood and that discipline is maintained.

 

Required Training and Experience

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university and seven (7) years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in public administration, business administration, economic development, urban planning or related field; and/or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and ability.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent knowledge of acceptable practices and standards of economic development; thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations that impact the work performed and supervised.

 

Exceptional interpersonal and public relations skills with an ability to negotiate development assistance agreements with private developers; in customer service and in maintaining effective working relationships with city officials, employees, contractors, architects, business and property owners and the public; resolving conflict; dealing with the public tactfully and courteously and working harmoniously with other employees; excellent skill in directing the operations of a multi-functional department; developing and enforcing departmental policies and procedures; and in effectively supervising and leading employees; skill in making public presentations to a variety of audiences; written and oral communications; contract administration; and operating Microsoft Office software programs.

 

Ability to manage all aspects of the city economic development, community development and city planning activities; to maintain absolute confidentiality of the situations, information and materials encountered on the job; to respond effectively to inquiries or complaints or requests for service from elected and appointed officials, developers, engineers, government agencies and the general public; to identify problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and deal with a variety of abstract variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to present complex issues in an understandable format to a wide variety of audiences; to effect and implement economic development strategies and plans, and to facilitate new private investment into the community.  

 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid Illinois driver’s license or equivalent. 

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification or CEcD (Certified Economic Developer) or EDFP (Economic Development Finance Professional) certification preferred.

 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

 

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