Economic and Community Development Director - City of Bessemer
About The Position
The City of Bessemer is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Economic and Community Development Director to lead the strategic planning, management, and administration of the City’s economic and community development initiatives. This executive-level position is responsible for evaluating, recommending, and implementing programs that promote sustainable growth, economic vitality, and community enrichment. The Director will conduct research and assess the feasibility, impact, and long-term effectiveness of various development programs, ensuring alignment with the City's goals and priorities. The role requires a results-driven leader capable of fostering collaborative relationships across departments, external agencies, and stakeholders. This position reports directly to the Mayor and provides leadership and oversight to departmental and program staff, ensuring objectives are met and outcomes are achieved efficiently and effectively.
Requirements
- Experience maintaining an annual operating budget of a government or private organization of at least $300,000.
- Experience recruiting and attracting businesses, offices, and/or retail locations to an urban area.
- Experience obtaining, allocating, and managing federal funds (i.e., HUD, CDGB, and revolving loans).
- Experience writing grant proposals (i.e., submitting plans, searching for data and resources, writing and packaging a proposal, submitting a proposal).
- Experience conducting negotiations with businesses and/or government officials.
- Experience overseeing community-wide housing development and rehabilitation projects (e.g., demolition, reconstruction, refurbishment of existing houses, buildings, or neighborhoods).
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree in a field related to economic and/or community development (e.g., economics, urban planning, business).
- Certification related to economic and/or community development (e.g., IEDC, CEcD, etc.).
Responsibilities
- Prepares, monitors, and administers departmental or organizational budget by reviewing spending trends and expenditure reports, analyzing financial data and ensuring expenditures are within annual budgetary limits.
- Enhances the quality of life for residents within the jurisdiction by recruiting businesses to the area, creating more jobs for residents, and improving homes so more job choices are available and residents have access to better quality homes.
- Establishes and maintains working relationships with other agencies by attending meetings, speaking with community groups, and collaborating with social service agencies in order to better serve the needs of the community.
- Implements various programs in the City by analyzing community needs, assessing program feasibility, identifying public facilities projects, and conducting field investigations to facilitate planning and identification of the long-term effects of various programs on community and economic development.
- Assists homeowners and potential homebuyers in obtaining loans and other funding for home renovations and/or purchases by assisting first time homebuyers, offering low interest loans for repairs, and determining the eligibility of participants applying for CDBG funding, so those in need of housing or home improvements can obtain the necessary funding.
- Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.
- Supervises staff by assigning and distributing work, directing staff in their job duties, monitoring progress of work, providing feedback and/or training.
- Reviews and monitors budget reports and expenditure information in order to maintain expenses within the established budget.
- Makes recommendations to city officials regarding economic and/or community programs and initiatives so leaders are equipped to make sound decisions.
- Recruits for-profit businesses to relocate to the city in order to contribute to the economy.
- Determines credit and homeownership counseling requirements for all applicants to reduce the number of future foreclosures.
- Analyzes community needs in order to determine program directions and goals.
Benefits
- medical and dental insurance
- employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension)
- generous paid holidays
- sick and vacation leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Number of Employees
1-10 employees
