Director of Economic Development

Lucas County•Toledo, OH

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Economic Development is responsible for providing strategic leadership and organizational management for the Department of Economic Development. This includes developing and refining strategic plans, establishing annual goals and performance benchmarks related to economic growth, investment, and community impact. The role involves leading and overseeing the County’s Business Navigation program, serving as an executive-level contact for complex development projects, and ensuring a predictable and transparent permitting experience. The Director will also lead efforts in site development and investment readiness, provide executive oversight for community development programs like CDBG and CHIP, and manage external relations with regional, state, and local partners. A key aspect is representing the County in economic development matters, engaging with various stakeholders, and ensuring data-driven decision-making and accountability through performance tracking and reporting to the Board of County Commissioners.

Requirements

Deep understanding of regulatory environments, permitting, and public sector processes.
Strong knowledge of site development and infrastructure planning.
Demonstrated ability to influence systems, policy, and cross-agency collaboration.
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to translate strategic vision into measurable system improvements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with federal community development programs (CDBG, CHIP) preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and continuously refine the Department’s strategic plan in alignment with County priorities.
Establish annual goals, KPIs, and performance benchmarks tied to economic growth, investment, and community impact.
Provide leadership, supervision, and performance management for department staff.
Oversee departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and financial stewardship.
Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
Lead and oversee the County’s Business Navigation program as a core economic development function.
Serve as the executive-level point of contact for complex, high-impact development projects requiring coordination across jurisdictions.
Ensure the County delivers a best-in-class, predictable, and transparent permitting experience.
Oversee development and implementation of digital permitting platforms and tools.
Lead regulatory advocacy efforts by partnering with industry and government to improve policies, procedures, and permitting efficiency at local, state, and federal levels.
Identify systemic barriers to development and implement process improvements.
Lead strategy to identify gaps between market demand and available sites.
Oversee development of investment-ready sites, including coordination with developers, landowners, and public partners.
Guide site certification efforts and alignment with JobsOhio and regional partners.
Ensure sites are effectively prepared, positioned, and marketed for investment.
Provide executive oversight of CDBG and CHIP programs.
Ensure compliance with all federal and state requirements while maximizing community impact.
Align community development investments with broader economic development goals.
Promote equitable development and strategic deployment of resources across the County.
Serve as the primary representative of the County in economic development matters.
Build and maintain relationships with regional, state, and local partners.
Engage with developers, utilities, infrastructure providers, and regulatory agencies to align systems supporting development.
Represent the County in public forums, policy discussions, and high-level negotiations.
Ensure integration of data and performance tracking into all departmental strategies.
Oversee reporting on KPIs, including navigation timelines, site readiness, and community development outcomes.
Provide regular updates to the Board of County Commissioners and stakeholders.