Economic Development Director

Northport, City of•Northport, AL

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the City Administrator, this position serves as a primary point of contact for the current and potential retail, commercial, tourism, and development communities of the City of Northport. The position supports the City's economic development, business recruitment and retention, community revitalization, tourism and Main Street initiatives. The position assists businesses, developers, tourism-related organizations, and other stakeholders through applicable City processes and commercial development activities. This position also provides administrative oversight and strategic direction for the City's Main Street Alabama program. The position is responsible for providing strategic oversight and direction for Experience Northport, the City's unified brand and marketing initiative designed to promote Northport to visitors, businesses, families, residents, and prospective investors. The position works to promote Northport as a destination for business, tourism, events, shopping, dining, recreation, cultural activities, and investment, while coordinating these efforts with the City's broader economic development and community development goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including significant experience in municipal government
Additional experience in economic development, tourism, business development, community development, marketing, event management, facility or venue management, Main Street, or a related field
Possession of a valid, State of Alabama driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle
Significant experience in the management and administration of programs, initiatives, projects, events, contracts, facilities, or community-based organizations, with demonstrated ability to establish goals, develop work plans, manage resources, monitor performance, and achieve desired results.
Demonstrated experience supervising and managing employees, including assigning work, establishing expectations, providing direction, evaluating performance, addressing performance issues, and fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Demonstrated experience planning, coordinating, and overseeing events, including working with event organizers, vendors, contractors, sponsors, community partners, and the public.
Knowledge of communication and public relations.
Knowledge of City ordinances, policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs).
Skill in planning and organizing work.
Skill in utilizing such office equipment as a computer, calculator, typewriter, facsimile machine, and copier.
Skill in interpersonal relations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the public.
Skill in verbal and written communication.
Skill in the use small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone.
Skill in using computers for data entry, word processing, and/or accounting purposes.
Ability to schedule flexible work periods outside the normal workday.
Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Ability to organize and communicate effectively.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to maintain effective working relationship with elected officials, community groups and organizations, media, other government agencies, other employees and the public.
Must be bondable.

Nice To Haves

Experience overseeing contractors, vendors, or third-party operators responsible for public facilities, event venues, sports facilities, recreational facilities, or similar community assets preferred.
Experience monitoring service contracts, contractor performance, budgets, schedules, and compliance with established standards and City expectations preferred.
Experience in economic development, business recruitment and retention, tourism, hospitality, marketing, community development, downtown revitalization, branding, or Main Street programs preferred.
Experience working with businesses, tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, Main Street organizations, economic development organizations, community organizations, or similar partners preferred.
Experience working in a municipal or public-sector environment preferred.
Experience with a municipal software management system is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as the City's primary contact with the retail, commercial, tourism, and business communities; facilitates effectively among individuals from a variety of backgrounds and the City's various departments.
Coordinates the flow of information between the community and City staff and assists businesses, developers, property owners, tourism-related organizations, and other stakeholders in navigating City processes.
Works with City staff to ensure timely resolution to issues affecting commercial development projects, businesses, tourism activities, and community events.
Assists with the recruitment and retention of businesses, retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and tourism-related businesses that contribute to Northport's economic vitality and quality of life.
Assists in promoting Northport as a destination for visitors, businesses, families, events, recreation, shopping, dining, cultural activities, and other tourism opportunities.
Develops and maintains relationships with local businesses, tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, civic organizations, educational institutions, regional tourism partners, and other community stakeholders.
Assists with the development, coordination, and promotion of tourism initiatives, special events, festivals, attractions, and activities designed to generate visitors and economic activity within the City.
Assists in identifying opportunities to enhance Northport's visitor experience and increase visitor spending, business activity, and community engagement.
Assists in identifying opportunities to leverage Northport's historic, cultural, recreational, educational, and community assets for economic and tourism development.
May attend local, state, and national conferences, trade shows, meetings, and other events to market Northport to prospective retailers, developers, businesses, visitors, and tourism partners.
Assists in the collection and analysis of demographic, economic, retail, tourism, and visitor data.
Tracks retail and commercial development into and out of the City of Northport and investigates factors affecting business recruitment, retention, expansion, relocation, or closure.
Assists in identifying economic and tourism trends and provides recommendations regarding opportunities for Northport.
Serves, when assigned, as the City's representative to the business, tourism, institutional, and community organizations.
Works to develop a culture of partnership and teamwork among City employees, businesses, developers, tourism organizations, and the Northport community.
Attends City Council meetings and other meetings as assigned by the City Administrator.
Creates and updates forms, reports, correspondence, presentations, promotional materials, and other documents associated with the position.
Maintains files and records.
Provides strategic oversight and direction for Experience Northport, the City's unified brand and marketing initiative for promoting Northport to visitors, businesses, families, residents, and prospective investors.
Establishes, in coordination with the City Administrator, the overall goals, priorities, and strategic direction for the Experience Northport brand and marketing initiative.
Ensures that Experience Northport supports and advances the City's broader economic development, tourism, business recruitment and retention, community development, and quality-of-life objectives.
Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with businesses, tourism organizations, community organizations, regional partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen and expand the reach of the Experience Northport brand.
Provides oversight and direction for the development and implementation of marketing, promotional, public relations, and branding strategies associated with Experience Northport.
Ensures consistency in the City's use and presentation of the Experience Northport brand across appropriate City departments, programs, events, businesses, tourism initiatives, and community partnerships.
Identifies opportunities to use the Experience Northport brand to strengthen Northport's identity and reputation as a place to visit, do business, raise a family, invest, and live.
Works with City staff, the Main Street Alabama Coordinator, tourism partners, businesses, and other stakeholders to align appropriate marketing and promotional efforts with the Experience Northport brand.
Evaluates the overall effectiveness and impact of Experience Northport and recommends strategic adjustments and future opportunities to the City Administrator.
Provides periodic updates to the City Administrator and other City leadership regarding the progress, impact, and strategic direction of Experience Northport.
Provides administrative oversight and strategic direction for the City's Main Street Alabama program.
Directly supervises the Main Street Alabama Coordinator and provides direction, guidance, and performance oversight consistent with the City's goals and priorities.
Works with the Main Street Alabama Coordinator to establish annual goals, priorities, work plans, and measurable objectives for downtown revitalization, business development, promotion, design, tourism, and community engagement.
Reviews and monitors the activities, programs, events, and initiatives of the Main Street Alabama Coordinator to ensure alignment with City policies, priorities, and strategic objectives.
Provides guidance and support to the Main Street Alabama Coordinator in coordinating downtown business recruitment and retention, events, marketing, promotions, beautification, placemaking, and community engagement.
Ensures effective communication and coordination between the Main Street Alabama Coordinator, City departments, the City Administrator, elected officials, downtown businesses, property owners, civic organizations, and other community stakeholders.
Works with the Main Street Alabama Coordinator to identify opportunities to strengthen downtown Northport as an economic, cultural, entertainment, and tourism destination.
Coordinates with the Main Street Alabama Coordinator to incorporate appropriate downtown businesses, events, attractions, and initiatives into Experience Northport marketing and branding efforts.
Monitors the effectiveness and impact of Main Street programs and initiatives and provides regular updates, recommendations, and performance information to the City Administrator.
Assists with the development of annual Main Street priorities and budgets and monitors program activities and expenditures to ensure resources are used effectively and in accordance with City policies.
Coordinates Main Street initiatives with the City's broader economic development, tourism, and Experience Northport efforts to maximize business recruitment, visitor activity, community investment, and downtown revitalization.
Supports the Main Street Alabama Coordinator in maintaining appropriate relationships with Main Street Alabama and other downtown revitalization organizations, while allowing the Coordinator to serve as the day-to-day program contact.
Represents the City in Main Street-related meetings and activities as assigned by the City Administrator.
Performs other duties related to Main Street Alabama oversight and downtown revitalization as assigned.
Performs other related duties as assigned.