Economic Development Research Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Economic Development & Tourism Offices, VA
Job Type: Full Time Non Exempt Salary
Job Number: 1002532
Department: Economic Development
Division: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Opening Date: 07/07/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Provide advanced administrative operational, and compliance-focused support for the Office of Economic Development and Tourism (OEDT); The Senior Secretary serves as the department's primary coordination and intake point for internal and external inquiries and provides direct administrative support to the Director and other members of the OEDT; The role is responsible for preparing, editing, and quality-controlling departmental correspondence and records; coordinating meetings and calendars; supporting payroll, personnel, procurement, and fiscal documentation; and maintaining systems to ensure continuity of operations, policy compliance, and audit readiness; The position is differentiated from the Secretary by the performance of more complex clerical duties, the provision of support directly to the director, and/or the independence of action and responsibility for one or more administrative processes of the department.
Starting Salary Range is $36,353.50 - $43,500.00 depending on qualifications and experience.
The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Administrative Support. Provides advanced administrative and operational support for the OEDT by serving as the primary front-line contact for visitors, callers, and external inquiries; exercising discretion to triage, route, respond to, or escalate time-sensitive and confidential matters; and ensuring professional, accurate, and timely communication. Maintains official departmental records and filing systems in accordance with City and State record retention requirements; prepares, edits, and quality-control correspondence, reports, agendas, and meeting materials; identifies and safeguards confidential information; and maintains shared department calendars and resource schedules. Manages departmental and leadership calendars, with primary responsibility for the Director's schedule; coordinates meetings, appointments, and related logistics; tracks deadlines, approvals, and follow-up actions; and independently prioritizes administrative workflows to ensure continuity of operations, including during leadership absences. Utilizes word-processing, spreadsheet, database, collaboration, and document management systems to produce accurate and professional materials; develops and maintains tracking tools to support budgets, procurement, renewals, records management, and recurring operational processes; and communicates effectively with City staff, elected officials, boards, authorities, regional partners, prospects, and the public.

• Travel Coordination. Coordinates travel arrangements for staff and authorized external guests; reviews travel documentation for policy compliance; submits required forms and supporting materials to Finance; maintains travel records; and tracks reimbursement submissions and supporting documentation.
• Personnel and Financial Record Management. Processes and maintains confidential personnel documentation, including personnel action forms and payroll records; collects, reviews, verifies, and submits departmental payroll information in accordance withFinanceand HR requirements; tracks deadlines and follow-up actions to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing; and serves as a key institutional resource regarding applicable HR and City policies. Provides administrative fiscal support by monitoring budget balances and expenditures; reviewing invoices for accuracy and proper coding; coordinating invoice, procurement, and purchase order documentation; reconciling City-issued credit cards in accordance with policy; maintaining complete, organized, and audit-ready financial records; and supporting budget preparation and tracking as requested.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Performs research and completes special projects as assigned, including grant and compliance documentation, development and maintenance of procedures and training materials, onboarding and training support for interns or temporary staff, coordination of recurring meetings, and administrative support to boards or authorities as assigned.
• Coordinates communication with the Director on issues that need immediate attention when Director is out of the office or on official leave.
• Attend meetings and training sessions as required.
• Attends meetings, training sessions, and professional development activities as required. Performs additional duties to supportdepartmental operational requirements as assigned.

Education and Experience
Associate degree, or equivalent from a college, vocational, business or technical school, and at least three to five years of experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.
Certifications/Licenses
Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record according to City criteria.
Job Knowledge
Intermediate knowledge to perform most work in normal situations. Comprehension of standard situations and includes knowledge of most of the significant aspects of the subject.
Reading
Advanced: Ability to read literature, books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents.
Writing
Advanced: Ability to write editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, or critiques.
Math
Intermediate - Ability to deal with system of real numbers; practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.
Communication Skills
Decisions regarding interpretation of policies may be made. Contact may involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact, and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas.
Independence and Decision-Making
Normally performs the job by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance reviewed periodically.
Technical Skills
Work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization.
Fiscal Responsibilities
No budgetary/fiscal responsibility.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBLITIES
No responsibility for the direction or supervision of others.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sedentary physical effort, exerting up to 10 lbs. occasionally or negligible weights frequently; sitting most of the time.
• Constant sitting, reaching, handling, fine dexterity; adequate vision, hearing, talking to use computer, telephone and communicate effectively with others.
• Occasional standing, walking, crouching, twisting.
• Rare lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, kneeling, bending, climbing, balancing.

NON-PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and predictable attendance is expected.
• Frequently experiences time pressure, emergency situations, frequent change of tasks, performing multiple tasks simultaneously, working closely with others as part of a team, tedious or exacting work, noisy/distracting environment.
• May rarely experience irregular work schedule/overtime.

MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This work is performed in an office environment where there may be rare exposure to communicable diseases. The employee must wear appropriate protective equipment as apparent and assigned, if any.
Accident Insurance
The City provides optional off the job accident insurance through Allstate. This insurance provides reimbursement for treatments associated with a wide array of accidents and injuries, and is available for immediate family members. Premiums are paid entirely by the employee through payroll deduction.
Annual Leave
Employees accrue annual leave hours based on the length of time they work for the City and their duty cycle. Hours are accrued on a semi monthly pay cycle. Employees are not eligible to use annual leave hours during their first six months of employment.
Critical Illness
The City provides optional critical illness insurance through Allstate. This insurance provides a lump sum benefit payment if an employee is diagnosed with a covered illness. Examples include heart attack, stroke, coronary atery by-pass surgery, and so on. Premiums are based on age and tobacco use. Premiums are paid entirely by the employee through payroll deduction.
Cancer Benefit
The City provides optional cancer insurance through Allstate. This insurance provides a benefit payment if an employee is diagnosed with cancer and provides a benefit during cancer treatments. Premiums are paid entirely by the employee through payroll deduction.
Deferred Compensation
The City of Danville offers a 457 plan to employees, which provides an opportunity to set aside a portion of your salary for retirement. Income taxes are not paid on the money your defer until you retire and start using it or leave the City. Enrollment in this plan is optional.
Dental Insurance
Employees have the opportunity to enroll in dental insurance through Delta Dental.There is an option of a Low PPO plan or a High PPO plan, and coverage is available for immediate family members. Employees pay the entire premium for this insurance through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees have the option of having their paycheck directly deposited into your financial checking and/or savings account each pay period. Employees may select up to three accounts at the same or different financial institutions for direct deposit.
Disability Insurance
Employees are given the option of selecting Short-term and/or Long-term disability insurance programs through The Standard for protection in the event that they become disabled through a non-work related injury. Premiums are paid entirely by the employee through payroll deduction.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees and their dependent family members are eligible to use the City of Danville's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Sentara Health. The EAP offers free and confidential counseling services to help employees and their dependants deal with serious problems in their lives such as family or marital disputes, problems with alcohol and/or drug abuse, emotional illness, financial or legal worries, or difficulties with stress on the job. In addition to counseling services, the EAP also provides free legal, financial, and Identity Theft guidance.
Employee Health and Wellness Center
Employees and eligible dependents have access to the CareTeam Health and Wellness Center, which offers high-quality convenient medical care for an extremely low cost- sometimes it is free! City employees have dedicated nurse practitioners that provides primary care, lab services, chronic disease management, health and wellness coaching, and a variety of other things.
Flexible Spending Account
Employees have the option of participating in the flexible spending account (FSA). The FSA allows employees to select a set amount of money to be withheld from their paychecks each pay period for a year to cover certain medical and child care expenses. This money is deducted before taxes are calculated. Money put into the FSA is accessible to the employee through a debit card or through reimbursement.
Health Insurance
The City of Danville is self-insured and offers medical and prescription drug coverage through Gateway Health. This coverage is offered to employees and their dependents. The City pays a portion of the health insurance premiums and the employee pays a portion. Employees have the choice between a traditional PPO plan and two high deductible plans (HDHP). HDHP have an option to enroll in a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Holidays
The City of Danville offers the following paid holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, 1/2 day Day before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, Easter Monday, George Washington Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, and Your Birthday
Retirement System
After five years of employment with the City of Danville, employees are vested in the City's Employees' Retirement System (ERS). ERS is a defined benefit retirement plan with the purpose of providing retirement, disability, and death-in-service benefits. Contributions by employee are mandatory.
Sick Leave
Sick leave is a privilege granted to all full-time employees. Sick leave is accrued on a semi monthly basis.
Term Life Insurance
The City of Danville offers optional group term life insurance benefits to employees through The Standard. The amount of death benefit is the employee's annual salary doubled and rounded to the next highest $1,000 up to a maximum of $200,000. Double indemnity (twice the death benefit) is provided for death by accident. The cost of this benefit is divided equally between th