Economic Development Programs Administrator

The City of Richmond Department of Economic Development is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Economic Development Programs Administrator . The successful individual will be responsible for administering economic development programs that support business growth, capital investment, and job creation, while ensuring compliance, accountability, and alignment with City priorities. This position operates under the direction of senior leadership and is responsible for implementing and administering programs and initiatives in alignment with established policies and strategic priorities.

• Administering economic development incentive programs, including grants, tax exemptions, and state-local partnership programs (e.g., Enterprise Zone, and related initiatives)
• Monitoring program performance through data analysis, ROI evaluation, and reporting to executive leadership, City Council, and the EDA Board
• Creating and maintaining standard operating procedures for programs and evaluating and implementing new technology solutions to improve efficiency and data quality.
• Conducting policy analysis and providing recommendations to senior leadership regarding program improvements, ordinance updates, and strategic alignment with City priorities
• Serving as a liaison between the City, the Economic Development Authority (EDA), and external partners to support the administration and coordination of financial and programmatic portfolios
• Monitoring program performance through data analysis and reporting, identifying issues for leadership review, and overseeing contracted or third-party services to ensure compliance with City policies and program requirements
• Maintaining records of economic development incentives and financial documentation in accordance with applicable auditing and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements
• Developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with local employers, outside agencies, non-profits, and organizations that provide business development or financial resources
• Supporting the work of the Economic Development Authority
• Collaborating with internal staff to identify and support investment, expansion, and startup opportunities aligned with incentive programs and corridor strategies
• Recording company and program data in the departments CRM system
• Conducting research and analysis on existing and prospective companies and preparing written summary reports
• Preparing reports, analyses, and recommendations for review by senior leadership, the Economic Development Authority (EDA), and City Council

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, urban planning, or a related field
• Five years of journey-level professional economic/community development, real estate, or financial experience
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

• Experience administering economic development or related programs, including incentives and grants,
• Experience conducting policy analysis, program evaluation, and developing recommendations for program or ordinance improvements
• Experience in monitoring compliance for performance-based agreements
• Ability to interpret and implement established policies and program guidelines
• Microsoft Office Suites experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly to diverse audiences
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or data management platforms is a plus

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record and a valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License within 30 days of hire

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge (some combination of the following) :

• Workforce development theories, principles, and practical applications
• State programs pertinent to attraction and retention opportunities
• Economic and community development trends and activities in other cities and towns
• Daily operations of a credit department, including servicing, collections, file maintenance, and monitoring back-office infrastructure
• Business drivers, including workforce development, talent acquisition, and industry knowledge, especially relating to local business sector targets
• Fiscal impact modeling including Return on Investment (ROI) analysis and ROI tools development
• Market and business intelligence and business-targeted strategies
• Policy and program development and implementation
• Product development related to understanding needs of company projects including site and infrastructure needs, zoning, and property requirements

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Negotiation and persuasion
• Project management
• Market and business intelligence
• Critical/Analytical thinking
• Researching
• Business Development
• Outreach marketing/sales
• Oral and written communication
• Presentations/public speaking
• Creativity
• Leadership
• People management
• Budget creation and management

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Develop successful business proposals and Requests For Information (RFI's)
• Collaborate and partner with multiple organizations
• Understand and effectively convey information regarding local business climate and impacts
• Perform business data analysis
• Carry out and conduct research, identify trends and issues, and make recommendations
• Develop business leads
• Apply past experience and knowledge to current projects and situations
• Analyze and organize concepts into goal-oriented activities
• Problem solve

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently reach, stand, walk, finger, and grasp; and occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull, lift, and feel. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.