Director of Economic Development

General Statement of Duties: Performing difficult professional and administrative work in planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and supervising the City's economic development efforts; performs Economic Development activities with the County of Washington County and other related work as required.

Distinguishing Features of the Class:  The work of this class involves planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the economic development activities of the City.  The work is performed under the general direction of the City Manager, and is reviewed for results obtained and consistency with City policies through reports and conferences.  Supervision is exercised over the economic development staff.

All economic development efforts in this position will center on the City’s Strategic four areas of focus:

• Economic Vitality
• Quality of Place
• Future Ready Infrastructure
• Excellence in City Government

Essential Functions:

• Perform highly responsible managerial and administrative work in the coordination, organization, and direction of City Economic Development programs and services.
• Implement targeted plans and programs that integrate multiple platforms to influence and build relationships with prospects, consultants, company decision makers, and media information sources.
• Proactively identify and address community business climate issues. 
• Provide research and information, and/or technology support needed to execute the approved plans and programs.
• Align efforts by working with local, regional, state, and federal economic development agencies and other groups to coordinate efforts for supporting current businesses and identify opportunities to develop new businesses in the City, while avoiding duplication of services.
• By working with Communications and Marketing and Development Services: 
  • Create and provide relevant information to existing and potential businesses while establishing and strengthening relationships with local businesses.
  • Support current and future efforts of the City’s Development Services department 
  • Provide information and outreach to existing businesses regarding the availability of assistance including project management assistance, supporting grant efforts and financing programs.
  • Create and provide detailed and targeted responses to business leads 
  • Utilize GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping and a variety of other resources  related to developing, writing, producing, updating, and designing marketing and promotional materials for attracting new business as well as encouraging current business retention and expansion.
  • Identify service or location deficiencies which hinder economic development; and develop strategies to eliminate or mitigate those deficiencies.
• Serve as liaison to other governmental agencies, university entities, neighborhoods, and community/non-profit economic development groups. 
• Must foster innovation, critical thinking, and creativity in developing new approaches and solutions to meet the demands of a growing and vibrant City. 
• Participate with departments and community partners in the growth and development plans of the City to ensure current/future availability of appropriate resources to meet growth demands and to ensure provision of optimum services.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, municipal officials and the public.

Acceptable Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field with a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible Economic Development experience or equivalent education and experience as determined. 

About Johnson City:

Johnson City, the largest city in the Northeast Tennessee region, is a growing municipality with a diverse base of residential and business communities.  The City has approximately 71,000 residents, employs over 1,000 full- and part-time staff and has a total FY 2021-2022 budget of approximately $300 million.  Johnson City is a full service municipality providing public works, public safety, parks and recreation, planning, transit/school transportation, water, wastewater, and solid waste services.  Johnson City is the home of East Tennessee State University, which has a current enrollment of approximately 15,000 students.  The City operates under the Commission-Manager form of government with a City Manager appointed by a five-member City Commission.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements:  Task involves some physical effort, i.e. some standing and walking, or frequent light lifting (5-10 pounds); or minimal dexterity in the use of fingers, limbs, or body in the operation of shop or office equipment. Task may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard.

Environmental Requirements:  Task is regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions (e.g., dirt, cold, rain, fumes).

Sensory Requirements: Task requires color perception and discrimination.  Task requires sound perception and discrimination. Task requires depth perception and discrimination.  Task requires visual perception and discrimination.  Task requires oral communications ability.

Reasonable Accommodation(s):Reasonable accommodation(s) if needed will be provided for the employee to perform the required job with adequate strength, dexterity, coordination and visual acuity and in a manner that does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the employee or others in the workplace.

EEO Statement:

The City of Johnson City provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Statement of Affirmative Action:

It is the policy of the City of Johnson City to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, the use of all facilities, and participation in all company-sponsored employee activities. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity or age limitations will be adhered to by the company where appropriate. 

As part of the company’s equal employment opportunity policy, the City of Johnson City will also take affirmative action as called for by applicable laws and Executive Orders to ensure that minority group individuals, females, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and qualified disabled persons are introduced into our workforce and considered for promotional opportunities.

Employees and applicants shall not be subjected to harassment, intimidation or any type of retaliation because they have (1) filed a complaint; (2) assisted or participated in an investigation, compliance review, hearing or any other activity related to the administration of any federal, state or local law requiring equal employment opportunity; (3) opposed any act or practice made unlawful by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; or (4) exercised any other legal right protected by federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity.

The above-mentioned policies shall be periodically brought to the attention of supervisors and shall be appropriately administered. It is the responsibility of each supervisor of the company to ensure affirmative implementation of these policies to avoid any discrimination in employment. All employees are expected to recognize these policies and cooperate with their implementation. Violation of these policies is a disciplinary offense.

The Affirmative Action Officer has been assigned to direct the establishment and monitor the implementation of personnel procedures to guide our affirmative action program throughout the City of Johnson City.  A notice explaining the company’s policy will remain posted.