Director of Economic Development bei Goochland County, VA

About the Department

Position Duties

• Coordinates County Economic Development efforts to compliment and connect with County strategic goals and objectives.
• Promotes development through personal contact with business and community leaders.
• Markets Goochland County within and outside Virginia to encourage new businesses and industries to locate within Goochland County.
• Leads and mentors professional staff in the planning and implementation of business retention and expansion programs.
• Prepares and analyzes economic development proposals on behalf of the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors.
• Implements marketing program for business investment and coordinates ongoing prospect development programs.
• Develops and presents tailored prospect packages. Including providing timely and effective responses to prospect inquiries to include RFP's, RFI's and providing site/building recommendations.
• Assists developers with the project review and approval process, and coordinates development activities with other County departments; including economic incentives, and other tools as needed.
• Monitors business vacancy rates by type of business to determine strategies to expand the County's supply of commercial and industrial sites and buildings.
• Directs the County’s tourism initiatives.
• Represents Goochland County on a regional, state and national level for economic development projects.
• Serves as a liaison to County school systems to match business needs and educational offerings.
• Represents Goochland County on regional committees, boards and commissions.
• Serves as a liaison to the Goochland Chamber of Commerce.
• Serves as Secretary to the Goochland County Economic Development Authority.
• Maintains accurate and current demographic and business information.
• Responsible for general administration of the department including budgeting, staffing and delegation of responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of traditional and emerging marketing channels. 
• Knowledge of economic development. 
• Skill in effective communication, both verbally and in writing.
• Skill in the use of computers and software applications related to the essential functions of the job.
• Skill in working with department specific technology and systems including VEDP’s VA-SCAN, CoStar, JobsEQ, and SharePoint. 
• Skill in website maintenance and industry-standard software used in website design, development and social media. 
• Skill in providing customer service.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to think creatively and innovatively.
• Ability to manage time effectively to achieve specific project objectives in a deadline-driven environment. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects in various stages. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental staff, County staff, external clients, the commercial real estate and development community and department vendors.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other personnel and the public.

Other Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, Marketing, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or related field.
• Ten (10) years of related experience in marketing, economic development, building development process, real estate, and/or community planning, or equivalent training, education, and/or experience.
• Valid State of Virginia Driver’s License with a driving record that meets HR Policy requirements.
• Criminal background check and drug screen required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:Work is light work, which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Tasks may require the ability to walk or stand for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, the following physical abilities may be required: bending, reaching, handling, and grasping. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:      Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment.