Senior Business Development Specialist

Frederick County Government•118 North Market Street - Frederick, MD

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Business Development Specialist within the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED), part of the Division of Economic Opportunity, performs professional-level work responsible for driving economic growth in the Advanced Manufacturing sector through business engagement, retention, expansion, and targeted attraction strategies. This position serves as the primary point of contact for existing advanced manufacturing companies. This position develops and executes strategies to recruit new firms and supports policies and initiatives that strengthen the County’s manufacturing ecosystem and competitiveness. The work involves strategic planning, relationship development with businesses, industry groups, government agencies, and educational institutions, and collaboration across internal and external partners to advance economic and workforce development priorities. The position also acts as a subject-matter resource on industry trends, workforce solutions, business attraction, and economic development opportunities, and may provide guidance to staff. Supervision is received from the Department Director of the Office of Economic Development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, economic development, planning or a related field.
5 years of experience in business administration, public administration, or a related field.
Ability to provide own transportation to meetings
Available for varied working hours/days as needed to accommodate meetings and other commitments, including evenings and occasional travel

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree with 3 years experience as described above.
Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) or equivalent industry-recognized certifications
Direct work experience in or with manufacturing businesses

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain relationships with manufacturers, industry organizations and associations, educational institutions, and relevant local, state, and federal agencies
Develop and execute business retention and expansion (BR&E) programs to support the growth and sustainability of local companies in the advanced manufacturing sector
Serve as the primary point of contact for advanced manufacturing companies seeking assistance with expansion, workforce, permitting, incentives, financing and operational challenges
Conduct research and analysis related to labor market trends, demographics, commercial development, workforce needs, economic indicators, and industry activity to support strategic decision-making and client services
Work one-on-one with business to identify needs, connect companies to resources and facilitate problem solving
Prepare custom responses to site selection Requests for Proposals (RFPS) using detailed research, data analysis and target marketing materials this would include helping with permitting, incentives, grants, recruitment support, and strategic partnerships
Coordinate and oversee prospect visits and site tours to companies considering Frederick County locations
As needed, develop incentive packages and assist in negotiating incentive agreements.
Coordinate with the Maryland Department of Commerce and other entities on financial assistance, grants, loans and workforce development packages
Work with developers and the County Department of Planning and Permitting to facilitate commercial development projects; Coordinate fast track permitting status
Recommend commercial/industrial sites or buildings for expansion and attraction projects by analyzing location specifications and business needs
Work with the media to highlight Frederick County’s businesses, manufacturing industry growth, success stories and competitive advantages
Prepare customized proposals, reports, and presentations for business development and research projects
Maintain and utilize databases, customer relationship management systems, websites, software applications, and reporting tools to track projects, client engagement activities, program outcomes, and performance metrics
Represent the County and department at meetings, conferences, networking events, business visits, public outreach activities, and community engagements
Work with the FCOED Marketing team to prepare and implement marketing plans and promotional materials to attract and retain businesses in Frederick County
Work with FCOED Marketing to enhance and promote the Made in Manufacturing website and initiatives including Manufacturing Lunch, Learn and Tour events and working with industry partners to promote events
Prepare reports and assist in managing program budgets; monitor and evaluate program performance, prepare statistical and operational reports, and recommend improvements to support organizational goals and service delivery
Stay informed of emerging industry trends, workforce development practices, regulatory requirements, funding opportunities, and economic conditions affecting businesses and the community
Attend and participate in local, regional, state and national industry events, conferences and committee meetings
Make public presentations to diverse audiences including business leaders, elected officials, community organizations and industry audiences
Provide guidance, training, technical assistance, or project leadership to staff, partners, interns, or stakeholders related to specialized program areas or departmental initiatives
Perform other related duties as required

Benefits

11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays
Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan).
Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan Vesting after 5 years of service
Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
Deferred Compensation Plan
Legal Resources
Supplemental Life Insurance
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan