Economic Development & FTZ Coordinator

Port Houston•Houston, TX

25d•Onsite

About The Position

The Economic Development & FTZ Coordinator is responsible for providing program, administrative, and stakeholder support across two core areas that help drive cargo, trade, and investments to the Houston Ship Channel region. ED/FTZ Coordinator supports the administration, compliance, and daily operations of Port Houston’s Foreign-Trade Zone program. The role ensures compliance with federal FTZ regulations, supports FTZ operators, tenants, and coordinates with regulatory agencies, including maintaining accurate records and reporting. Reporting to the Director Economic Development, and providing secondary support to the FTZ Administrator, the ED/FTZ Coordinator will assist in tracking business development efforts, supporting compliance functions, managing outreach logistics, organizing meetings, events, and ensuring effective communication with internal and external partners. This role is key to strengthening Port Houston’s efforts in regional economic competitiveness and trade facilitation and supports initiatives aligned with Port Houston’s Strategic Plan pillars: Maritime Economic Development, Partnerships, and People & Organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business, Public Administration, International Trade, Economic Development, Logistics, Communications, or related field preferred.
Minimum of 2+ years of experience in economic development, foreign trade zone, international trade, logistics, port operations, public affairs, or a related field preferred.
Performs work under general supervision, handles moderately complex issues and problems, and refers more complex issues to higher-level staff.
Possesses solid working knowledge of subject matter.
Strong project coordination and administrative skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior leadership, stakeholders, and government partners.
Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with strong skills in Excel and Word.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of the FTZ program including compliance and best practices a plus.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); experience with CRM systems (e.g. HubSpot) or project management tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide cross-functional administrative and programmatic support for both the Director Economic Development and FTZ Administrator.
Coordinate logistics and preparation for departmental meetings, site visits, business development outreach, FTZ operator roundtables, and stakeholder events.
Maintain and update the department’s CRM, prospect pipeline, contact databases, FTZ operator/user lists, and project tracking systems.
Assist with the intake and response to inquiries from regional economic developers, site selectors, prospective FTZ users and consultants.
Support the production and organization of economic reports, presentations, talking points, and marketing materials.
Compile and maintain FTZ operator data, forms, and compliance documentation in coordination with the FTZ Administrator.
Work closely with the accounting department on tasks related to FTZ annual billing and payments.
Conduct research and gather data to support business attraction efforts, cargo opportunity analysis, and FTZ strategic planning.
Help prepare agendas, take meeting notes, and follow up on action items with internal and external stakeholders.
Coordinate outreach campaigns, promotional items, events, assist with social media and web content updates in partnership with Corporate Communications & Marketing department.
Routinely conduct process improvement audits and make recommendations on improvements.
Monitor relevant trade and economic development industry trends, events, and policy developments to inform team efforts.
Assist department with administrative tasks, including but not limited to budget, sponsorships and service agreements.
Attend and participate in Economic Development & FTZ related events as needed.
Perform other duties and projects assigned to support the department and Port Houston’s strategic initiatives.
Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you)
Perform other duties as assigned