EDC Business Resources Specialist at City of Frisco, TX

About the Department

Under the general supervision of the Director of Business Retention & Expansion (“BRE”), the Business Resources Specialist is responsible for helping to establish and strengthen relationships with primary and major employers, contacting existing Frisco businesses and facilitating solutions regarding their needs and concerns, providing administrative and research support functions related to the BRE program, facilitating business retention/expansion, managing business databases for existing businesses, assisting on as needed basis in business attraction and technology-innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystem opportunities. This position is also responsible for supporting the Director of BRE who oversees implementation of an effective business retention/expansion program.

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbent(s) in this position. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties in this description and incumbent(s) may be required to perform position-related tasks other than those specifically listed in this description.

Position Duties

Essential Job Functions:

• Assists the Director of BRE in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the BRE goals and objectives.
• Coordinates with the Director of BRE to develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures to facilitate existing business retention/expansion to meet BRE goals and objectives.
• Communicates business opportunities and issues with appropriate entities for assistance.
• Assists Director of BRE to execute on the following processes and procedures for the BRE functional area:
• Conducts business evaluations/surveys as part of an effective business visitation program.
• Meets with new and existing business representatives on a regular basis; builds regular communications channel with businesses and is responsive to business interests providing assistance as needed.
• Creates awareness of local and state incentive programs and assisting in the preparation of incentive packages including due diligence and evaluation for business retention-expansion opportunities.
• Communicates to businesses local/state/federal programs information on workforce development, industry needs/trends, changes to existing programs, and new programs that become available to employers.
• Assists businesses with issues of concern; address and troubleshoot issues which may arise that could hinder doing or expanding business in Frisco.
• Tracks businesses feedback, needs, opportunities and responses to develop and refine BRE strategies, programs, and tools.
• Identifies at-risk, high-impact, and high growth businesses; generates new leads for business retention/expansion and relocation opportunities. Coordinates with pertinent City Departments to establish and maintain citywide business database.
• Assists clients and commercial real estate brokers with searches for available or suitable facilities and/or sites for new development and all related information available.
• Works closely with strategic alliance partners to support & promote the City of Frisco and Frisco EDC to various business clients and prospects.
• Serves as an FEDC liaison to community committees, organizations, or groups concerning economic development and workforce issues; assists with presentations to these groups as assigned.
• Facilitates planning and conducting special projects. 
• Plans and manages BRE events, networks, and programs including agendas, meeting materials, presentations, lists, invitations, registrations, logistics, and follow up.
• Coordinates with the BRE Director on prospects, prospect data management, screening of qualified projects and drafting of Economic Incentive Proposals and Agreements.
• Coordinates research, assembly and development of target presentations, reports, information, and responses to Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposals (RFP) for BRE functional area.
• Develops and maintains prospect data, tracking database and periodic reports with assistance of Senior Assistant and Research Specialist.
• Assists the BRE Director to curate content and messaging for sharing information with/about employers, workforce, and local business assets. 
• Provides primary administrative, meeting coordination, project support for the Director of BRE and the BRE functional area.
• Coordinates with BRE Director on recognitions and other outreach initiatives.
• Assists as needed with research, business attraction and technology-innovation/entrepreneurship activities.
• Assists as needed with administrative support and front office coverage
• Coordinates activities with Research Specialist, and Tech-Innovation Manager as needed:
• Acts as a backup as needed for Administration/registrations/travel logistics for BRE functional area.
• BRE research and analysis requirements.
• Assist with entertainment suites management.
• Special events planning, logistics, and follow up for other Business Development Team events.
• Assists with other projects and activities as directed.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with vendors, customers, other agencies, and EDC team.
  
  
  
• Other Important Duties:
  • May be required to attend and represent the FEDC at certain events, functions, meetings, and conferences.
  • May be required to attend FEDC and City events on evenings and weekends.
  • Travels to attend meetings, conferences, and training.
  • May be required to work extended hours, evenings, and weekends.
  • Regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work hours is essential.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated success working with established corporates and emerging employers.
• Knowledge of principles, procedures, and strategies of economic development in a government environment, with preference to Texas Type A Corporation. 
• Knowledge of business administration and advanced contact management, project management and meeting/event planning practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of public relations and customer service practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of computers and related equipment, hardware, and software applicable to area of assignment; specially requires skill in the use of Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook; knowledge of Salesforce or similar CRM is desirable.
• Knowledge of research, analysis, interpretation, and report development of complex administrative issues including legal and financial; ability to identify demographic, economic, and industry trends.
• Knowledge of labor data platforms and reporting formats.
• Knowledge of City and EDC management policies and procedures.
• Skill in effective, professional, and courteous oral and written communications.
• Skill in organizing, prioritizing, tracking, and managing multiple projects, assignments, and duties.
• Ability to work under deadlines and stressful situations.
• Ability to provide professional customer service practices and procedures.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to resolve problems quickly and effectively.
• Ability to properly handle and communicate sensitive and confidential business and client information while maintaining its confidentiality.
• Ability to be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of job-related contacts from high level executives to professional staff and administrative support team.
• Ability in the willingness to be a team member with ability to be a team leader when required.
• Ability to think critically and analytically in a professional environment.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Relations, Political Science, Economics, Urban Planning, or related field and three (3) years progressively responsible experience in economic development or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preference may be given to graduates of Basic Economic Development Course, Economic Development Institute, Business Retention Expansion Institute, or substantially similar program(s). 
• Experience supporting government initiatives requiring collaboration between multiple entities.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, criminal background check and motor vehicle records check.
• Must possess a valid State of Texas Driver’s License.

Other Qualifications

• Work is performed in an office setting with occasional travel to conduct business visits, conferences or other relevant meetings and events.  
• May be subject to exposure to irate or angry individuals.
• May be subject to extended periods of mental concentration, research, and analysis.
• Crouching – bending body forward by bending leg, spine.
• Fingering – picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
• Handling – picking, holding, or working with whole hand.
• Hearing 1 – perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information.
• Kneeling – bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
• Lifting – raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back.
• Mental Acuity – ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.
• Reaching – extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion – substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.
• Speaking – expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.
• Stooping – bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back.
• Talking 1- expressing ideas by spoken word.
• Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.

• Work performed is primarily light work, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.

• Equipment utilized includes personal computer, tablets/mobile devices, calculator, cellular telephone, multi-line telephone, smart board, and other technology or office equipment. 
• Software tools and websites including contact relationship management (“CRM”) systems, survey, and email distribution, visit tracking, project management, and labor data platforms.