Community Economic Development Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Kendall County is not simply responding to growth, we are shaping it. As Illinois’ fastest-growing county, Kendall County is building a thoughtful economic future that expands opportunity, strengthens the tax base, supports existing businesses, and preserves the qualities that make our communities distinctive.

Reporting to the County Administrator, the Economic Development Director will serve as the County’s chief economic development professional and trusted advisor to County leadership. This highly visible role will lead countywide strategies for business retention and expansion, investment attraction, redevelopment, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and long-term economic competitiveness.

What You Will Accomplish

• Build a Countywide Growth Strategy: Develop, implement, and measure a comprehensive economic development strategy and annual work plan aligned with County Board priorities.
• Attract and Retain Investment: Lead business retention, expansion, attraction, redevelopment, entrepreneurship, and workforce-development initiatives.
• Turn Partnerships into Progress: Unite municipalities, businesses, developers, utilities, schools, chambers, and regional and state organizations around shared opportunities.
• Maximize Public Resources: Administer incentive, financing, and grant programs while pursuing new funding for infrastructure, innovation, redevelopment, and community investment.
• Elevate Kendall County’s Market Presence: Use data, relationships, and compelling communications to position Kendall County as a premier location for business investment.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, evaluate, and periodically update the County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, annual work plan, policies, priorities, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead business retention, expansion, attraction, redevelopment, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and tax-base diversification efforts.
• Serve as the County’s primary liaison to businesses, prospective employers, developers, brokers, investors, utilities, site selectors, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, municipalities, and regional and state partners.
• Administer County economic development assistance programs, including the Kendall County Revolving Loan Fund, property-tax abatement program, Enterprise Zone participation, and other authorized incentives or financing tools.
• Evaluate proposed development projects and advise County leadership regarding incentives, infrastructure needs, financing, workforce availability, fiscal impact, and alignment with County goals.
• Coordinate responses to business recruitment opportunities from DCEO, IEDA, CMAP, utility providers, and other partners.
• Identify and pursue federal, state, and private grants supporting economic development, infrastructure, workforce, redevelopment, innovation, and community investment.
• Maintain demographic, economic, workforce, commercial real estate, and business intelligence used for recruitment, retention, and strategic planning.
• Develop marketing materials, community profiles, presentations, digital content, and campaigns that promote Kendall County to businesses and investors.
• Prepare and administer the Economic Development budget and present reports, recommendations, and program outcomes to the County Administrator, County Board, and assigned committees.
• Represent Kendall County at governmental meetings, industry events, conferences, trade shows, site visits, and professional organizations.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Preferred fields include business administration, public administration, community development or planning, economics or economic development, real estate, public relations, marketing, business development, or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in business or public administration, community development or planning, economic development, real estate, public relations, marketing, or business development.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing economic development strategies, managing complex projects, and collaborating with elected officials, businesses, developers, and government agencies.
• Current, valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification—or the ability to obtain it within the first year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, urban planning, or a related field.
• Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification.
• Experience administering incentives, revolving loan funds, tax-abatement programs, grants, or other public-sector economic development tools.

Kendall County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), it is the policy of Kendall County to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Kendall County Human Resources Department at Hrdepartment@kendallcountyil.gov