Organization: City of Eustis
Annual Salary: $72,326 – $108,540 (DOQ)
Apply To: personnel@ci.eustis.fl.us
Position Summary(Major Job Duties): The City of Eustis, Florida, is accepting applications for its first Economic Development Director. The Economic Development Director is a key position reporting directly to the City Manager and the City is seeking an energetic individual with successful experience. This director must be an astute strategist who can establish relationships, build networks, and generate resources to meet the needs of local business. This highly responsible, self-directed position will have the unique and exciting opportunity to create and maintain a premier place to live, work and play in Central Florida.
Duties and Responsibilities(Which are not in any hierarchical order):
- Directs the City’s economic development planning and implementation.
- Provides a high level of customer service using a proactive approach towards solving problems and expediting development, as well as assisting developers, businesses and property owners to work out problems with the City and other agencies.
- Develops and maintains professional relationships with the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Economic Development, Metro Orlando EDC, Enterprise Florida, Inc. and other local organizations associated with area economic development.
- Develops targeted markets for business development.
- Provides local industry support by developing relationships with local businesses to monitor the vitality of the local economy and to provide information and resources to assist in their business growth.
- Evaluates local resources, needs, goals, and opportunities in the area.
- Leverages finances from the public and private sectors to attract new businesses, facilitate enterprise development, and assist existing businesses with expansion and troubleshooting.
- Facilitates business partnerships.
- Markets City-owned buildings and land.
- Attends public meetings to provide information regarding the activities associated with economic development.
- Develops citizen goodwill and positive public relations.
- Writes reports and makes presentations.
- Provides accurate, up-to-date demographic information and monitors and assesses the economy and local business climate in order to be proactive and perform effectively.
- Tracks vacant industrial sites and facilities inventory.
- Provides business familiarization tours for potential new businesses.
- Networks existing businesses and conducts regular visitation.
- Administers and manages incentive and loan programs.
- Attends professional workshops and conferences.
- Promotes the City and its activities
- Assists the City in the preparation for and aftermath of a major emergency such as a hurricane or other storm or disaster, as needed; works on-call, as needed, during emergency situations such as hurricanes, severe weather, etc.;
- Performs other related duties as required.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills
- Extensive knowledge of and successful previous experience in economic and/or community development
- Extensive knowledge of real estate marketing and land development
- Extensive knowledge of business principles
- Thorough knowledge of municipal and business finance
- Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others
- Ability to solve problems and engage others
- Good professional judgment and ethics
- Excellent communication skills – oral, written, and social media