Job Summary
The Director of Strategic and Economic Development drives strategic initiatives, leads transformational strategies that create jobs, attracts high-impact investment, accelerates innovation, and ensures long-term economic competitiveness and broad-based prosperity for the MSD member (Members) entities. Responsible for coordinating municipal and regional planning, real‑estate finance and transactions, urban policy and planning, community reinvestment agencies and redevelopment agencies, while balancing politically competing clients; celebrating the uniqueness of each of our Members’ and their needs. This position collaborates with various providers and MSD departments to ensure alignment toward forward-thinking optimal economic success. This position will play a key role in driving Kearns Olympic economic development.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, finance, economic development, real estate development, urban planning, or a related field, plus 15 years of increasingly responsible experience in local or regional economic development, municipal development, and implementation including experience with redevelopment and revitalization programs, and ten years of supervisory experience. Executive leadership experience is preferred. A master’s degree is strongly preferred. An acceptable combination of education and related experience may be considered. Preference may be given for related work experience in public administration, economic development, real estate, finance, urban planning, and marketing.
Special Requirements
Must possess a valid and unencumbered Utah driver license. New employees with an out-of-state license must obtain a valid Utah driver license within sixty (60) days of hire date (exceptions for military personnel and their dependents).
Essential Functions
- Serves as the MSD's senior strategic planner and cross‑functional integrator.
- Represents MSD and members' interests in all strategies and service initiatives.
- Helps MSD member communities develop and implement unique comprehensive strategic plans to facilitate community growth and meet city objectives, including market analysis, financial modeling, competitive analysis, strategic positioning and evaluation of potential impacts on the member's financial health and sustainability.
- Negotiates and manages strategic partnerships and relationships with neighboring jurisdictions, external organizations, vendors, and stakeholders to support strategic and economic objectives.
- Advises senior management, board members, mayors and council members on strategic and economic planning decisions and long‑term direction, presenting findings and recommendations in a clear and compelling manner.
- Works closely with regional elected officials, state representatives, academic leaders and community stakeholders to align around shared economic priorities.
- Secures and manages funding for economic development projects through grants and other resources.
- Advocates for policies and legislation that support economic growth, long‑term resilience and global relevance.
- Advises Members on Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and Tax Increment Funding (TIF) activities.
- Aligns the MSD's operations within our communities' interests while ensuring the MSD's strategic direction.
- Coordinates complex and challenging real estate transactions.
- Ensures compliance in all aspects of this position.
- Drives strategic plans through execution to completion in accordance with established timelines.
- Leads a team of long‑range planning and economic development professionals, providing professional development tailored to each team member's needs and developing an internal succession plan.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Executive leadership principles and managerial practices and techniques to successfully supervise, develop, and empower staff.
- Economic development principles and methods.
- Marketing principles, public relations techniques and destination marketing organizations and their role in the community.
- Federal, Utah-specific, and city laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to gathering and disseminating public information.
- CRA, RDA and TIF management and funding.
- Budgeting and finance principles and practices.
- Project management principles and practices.
- Customer service principles and practices.
- Real estate development, negotiations and their applicable local and federal laws.
Skills and Abilities
- Develops and manages highly complex long‑term plans while deconflicting competing interests.
- Collaborates to engage regional stakeholders and develop coalitions that help the organization evaluate goals, initiatives, and drive results.
- Fosters a culture of excellence, accountability, innovation, staff development, leadership, and communication.
- Directs, develops, manages, identifies, communicates, and carries out the objectives of the department.
- Interprets and applies complex principles, methods and practices related to economic development and problem solving.
- Interprets and applies applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations.
- Establishes and maintains cohesive working relationships with public and private sector representatives, elected officials, department heads, employees, media representatives, professional groups, and the general public.
- Conducts research and surveys.
- Exerts considerable judgment and discretion.
- Works independently and in teams.
- Develops professionally targeted promotional material such as brochures, presentations and materials utilizing computer software such as Word, Excel and CityWorks.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
This position requires work in a wide variety of conditions, from a typical office setting to fieldwork. The employee may be exposed to high‑stress situations caused by human behavior. Tasks require sitting, walking, moving, talking and hearing. Employees use hands to handle objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. Employees may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to adjust focus unless otherwise required by management.
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