Industrial Business Development Officer

City of Edmonton•Edmonton, AB

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Edmonton is seeking a strategic and results-driven Industrial Business Development Officer to join our Industrial Growth Hub team. Edmonton is positioned as a global leader in energy transition, a top-tier hub for Artificial Intelligence and a rising centre for Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing. We are looking for a professional who can translate this competitive advantage into tangible industrial investment. In this role, you will serve as the bridge between the City’s strategic objectives and the global investment community. You will work to attract high-value industries, from AI driven automation firms to food processing facilities, by working in conjunction with industrial developers, regional partners and provincial and federal governments. As a key lead within a specialized team, you will drive the development and implementation of industrial investment attraction strategies, co-created with City team members and industry partners to ensure Edmonton remains the premier destination for large-scale capital investment. This position will serve as one of the City’s foremost experts in industrial site selection, industrial incentives, industrial business development and industrial investment relationship management. Individuals with a passion for economic development, a strong drive for customer service and collaboration and a desire to positively influence Edmonton's future are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Economics, Urban Planning, Business Administration or a related field
Minimum of 4 years of progressive experience within a municipal and/or private setting leading economic development, investment attraction, industrial land use planning and development, and marketing
Strong economic development knowledge covering a broad variety of topics including industrial sectors, municipal industrial growth, competitive pressures, and economic forecasts
A proven track record of managing a sales pipeline from lead generation to "deal closed"
Detailed knowledge of policy development and the potential impact on land use, land development, and allocation of capital infrastructure investment
Understanding of relevant municipal, provincial, and federal economic and environmental policies that impact industrial investment attraction
Advanced skills in building and maintaining strong relationships with industry partners, economic development organisations, and other levels of government
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills
Strong project management skills including change management, performance measurement, business case development, and strategic planning
Strong political acuity with the ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects effectively
Proven leadership ability with the capacity to initiate and oversee initiatives
Strong focus on achieving results and delivering measurable outcomes
Instrumental understanding of the City’s role in contributing to long-term economic prosperity
Significant skill and ability with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc.)
Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s Licence (or provincial equivalent)
The successful candidate will be required to provide their own vehicle for City use (reimbursed according to City policy); this may require obtaining auto business use insurance

Nice To Haves

Membership or eligibility for membership in a related professional accreditation

Responsibilities

As a lead contact for industrial investment inquiries, you will be responsible for managing the City’s response to investment opportunities and guiding proponents through our internal ecosystem
Lead Sector Attraction: Take the lead in identifying, pursuing and securing investors within Edmonton’s high-growth target sectors: Energy and Clean Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence and Technology, Food Processing, Health and Life Sciences and Transportation and Logistics
Strategic Investment Facilitation: Offer a dedicated point of contact for domestic and international industrial investors, overseeing the entire investment lifecycle - from initial market entry to final site selection and providing advice through construction. Guide industrial investors through the investment process, coordinating site visits and facilitating meetings with relevant internal and external partners
Proposal Development: Create and deliver data-driven formal proposals and executive business cases that leverage Edmonton’s unique competitive advantages across each of Edmonton’s industrial target sectors
Process Navigation: Provide guidance and support where needed to industrial investors in understanding and navigating complex policies and processes both in the City and across Edmonton economic ecosystem to facilitate smooth investment experience
Represent Edmonton's industrial sector at trade shows, conferences, speaking engagements, professional networks and business missions to network with potential investors, partners, and customers
Conduct rigorous due diligence and feasibility assessments for each industrial investment opportunity and evaluate the financial viability, economic impact, risk factors and alignment with the City’s strategic objectives
Provide regular reporting and analytics on industrial investment opportunities
Contribute to and develop management briefings, reports and presentations on industrial economic metrics for various audiences
Work closely with the Industrial Growth Hub team members by providing information, insights and guidance and leveraging their expertise to support marketing and industrial investment attraction activities
Interact with internal and external partners to advance Industrial Growth Hub and Industrial Investment Action Plan actions and projects. These internal and external partners may include the private sector, public sector, administration and industry organizations
Maintain strategic relationships with domestic and international investors, corporate decision-makers, business associations and industry leaders
Stay abreast of emerging economic trends, potential investment opportunities and best practices in the field of industrial economic development
Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the federal, provincial, and municipal investment attraction ecosystem
Work in collaboration with economic development organizations through direct requests or through formal proposals, and provide and obtain feedback in an effort to increase industrial investment in Edmonton