JOB SUMMARY

Under general direction, manage and develop effective strategic planning to assist with business recruitment, retention, and expansion to promote the local business community on a regional, national, and global scale.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DECISION MAKING

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Serve as the City’s agent, in conjunction with Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP), to administer the City’s Economic Development Policy through the attraction of new business, retention and growth of existing businesses, economic diversification, workforce development and entrepreneurship support. 
2. Implement a multi-faceted incentive policy that seeks best projects that meet City economic development goals and community values.
3. Conduct research on company background, financial cost benefit analysis and return on investment for candidate projects.
4. Facilitate contract/agreement negotiations and development entitlement process coordinating with City staff from various departments 
5. Focus on target industries; Aerospace, Aviation, Security and Defense, Business Services and Support, Material Science, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Regional Distribution, Destination Attractions, and other priority areas determined by the City Council.
6. Partner with GSMP on the Five (5) Year Economic Development Strategy that includes marketing and promotion, workforce development, quality jobs and quality of place.
7. Work with a Chapter 380 incentive tool by using a written agreement that rebates sales tax or property tax back to businesses based on a level of investment or a schedule of additional payroll/jobs from the City. 
8. Work with Opportunity Zones incentive tools established by Congress to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communicates nationwide, and which provide a tax incentive for investors to reinvest their unrealized capital gains into dedicated Opportunity Funds.

Responsibilities for Business Development, Business Retention, Workforce Development, and Clearinghouse:

1. Support local established existing businesses to be successful in our community.
2. Administer new programs that would focus around long-standing or local legacy businesses. 
3. Augment GSMP business retention efforts to coordinate with available partners around employee recruitment, training, entrepreneurship, and other needs.
4. Serve as City Liaison and clearing house for new startups wanting to establish their business in San Marcos and support them through the process.
5. Work with GSMP, stakeholders, citizens, and community on Workforce Development issues and planning.
6. Assist with the City’s Strategic Initiatives and other planning efforts regarding Workforce Development and work with partners and businesses to develop an action plan.
7. Work with GSMP to help connect small businesses to resources, organize events toward entrepreneurship and recognition for their service to our community.

Plan, coordinate and deliver assistance, information and services to assigned leads and prospects. Involves: 

1. Services and information include, but are not limited to, the following: marketing and community information, custom proposals, sites and facilities, special incentives, permitting, workforce development, briefings/orientation, site visits, VIP introductions, regional ally support/referral, press releases, ground breaking/open houses, and other assistance necessary to recruit and retain companies.
2. Coordination with other departments and external organization as appropriate. Identify actions necessary to cultivate an industry cluster and diversified economic base for San Marcos.

Develop considerable knowledge in City policies, programs, and objectives as needed. Involves: 

1. Foster relationships with internal partners; know the subject matter experts in our organization to include staff in the Planning and Development Services and Engineering Departments. 
2. Develop considerable knowledge in policies and programs regarding the planning, permit and inspection process, and the fast-track program in place. Continue to enhance the economic development toolbox with available resources.
3.  Identify opportunities for improvement and recommend improvement systems and standard operating procedures to enhance operations and service delivery.

Represent the department: 

1. Represent the department at meetings and discussions concerning the role of the City in economic development initiatives. 
2. Cultivate and maintain an effective working relationship with key external partners, agencies, real estate professionals, other Economic Development stakeholders, and others as required. 
3. Create a program to communicate the City's business retention and expansion initiatives and work in conjunction with other regional stakeholders to coordinate regional scale business community events. 
4. Respond to requests for information from Economic Development stakeholders with respect to Economic Development programs. 
5. Attend seminars and programs related to business retention and expansion efforts; prepare and give presentations to business organizations on local economic development efforts; participate in a variety of projects in support of the city and the department.
6. Serve as a strong ambassador for our community. A problem solver/protector, use creative or innovative techniques in economic development recruitment, rotation or expansion.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Salary is dependent upon qualifications)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Business, Public Administration, Economics or Finance. 
• Five (5) years of experience in economic or business development program administration or creation.  
• Prefer Economic Development Certification or ability to obtain within three (3) years of hire.
• Licenses and Certificates: Texas Class "C" Driver's License or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.