Economic Development Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

JOB OVERVIEW:

Under the direction of the Economic Development and Government Affairs Division Director, the Economic Development and Government Affairs Specialist coordinates and implements Weber County's business recruitment, retention, and expansion activities and provides operational support for the County's government affairs program. The Specialist serves as the primary staff contact for day-to-day coordination with local and state economic development partners; manages prospect and project information; coordinates Requests for Information (RFIs), site-selection responses, business outreach, and familiarization tours; maintains commercial and industrial property inventory; and supports legislative tracking, policy research, government affairs scheduling, briefing materials, correspondence, reporting, and records management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Program and Partnership Coordination

         Implement economic development and government affairs programs, work plans, and assigned projects under the direction of the Division Director.

         Serve as the primary staff liaison for day-to-day coordination with Utah Inland Port Authority, EDCUtah, the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), chambers of commerce, municipalities, utilities, brokers, property owners, and other economic development partners.

         Track project schedules, legislative priorities, funding opportunities, deliverables, milestones, deadlines, and follow-up items; prepare status reports, briefing materials, and performance summaries.

         Coordinate meetings, hearings, site visits, partner engagements, consultant and vendor documentation, invoices, and other economic development and government affairs administration.

Business Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion

         Coordinate and execute business recruitment, retention, and expansion activities in partnership with local and State economic development organizations, including prospect outreach, business visits, referrals, follow-up, and issue resolution.

         Coordinate prospect meetings, familiarization tours, site visits, and presentations; provide responsive assistance to businesses and site selectors seeking information about available sites, infrastructure, workforce, permitting, incentives, and community resources.

         Maintain the business prospect and project pipeline, including contacts, activity records, confidentiality requirements, project status, next steps, performance measures, and outcome reporting.

         Maintain and share an accurate inventory of available commercial, industrial, and redevelopment properties, including ownership, zoning, acreage or square footage, infrastructure, utilities, transportation access, and other site-selection information. Coordinate updates with brokers, property owners, municipalities, and partner agencies.

Research, RFIs, and Reporting

         Manage economic development RFIs and site-selection requests by gathering, verifying, organizing, and submitting timely responses in coordination with County departments, property representatives, utilities, municipalities, and other partners.

         Compile, analyze, and maintain economic, demographic, workforce, industry, infrastructure, and real estate data to support business development, strategic planning, and decision-making.

         Prepare reports, dashboards, spreadsheets, maps, presentations, and project summaries for County leadership, elected officials, businesses, site selectors, and partner organizations.

Economic Development Incentive and Government Affairs Support

         Support administration of economic development incentives and financing programs by coordinating applications, agreements, required documentation, compliance tracking, and performance reporting under the direction of the Division Director.

         Provide operational support for government affairs and legislative activities, including maintaining legislative calendars and tracking systems; monitoring hearings, meetings, bills, appropriations, policy proposals, and deadlines; and coordinating schedules, agendas, minutes, records, and follow-up items.

         Research legislation, regulations, public policy issues, and state and federal funding opportunities. Prepare bill summaries, briefing materials, talking points, correspondence, presentations, and status reports, and coordinate information and follow-up with County departments, elected officials, government agencies, associations, consultants, and other partners as directed by the Division Director.

Marketing, Outreach, and Events

         Coordinate targeted business outreach and economic development marketing materials, including website content, presentations, property and industry profiles, newsletters, social media content, and other promotional resources, in coordination with the County Public Relations Manager and partner organizations.

         Plan and execute business visits, familiarization tours, industry forums, networking events, workshops, groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, public meetings, and other economic development events.

         Prepare and deliver presentations and informational materials for businesses, site selectors, public officials, community organizations, and other stakeholders.

Administrative and Operational Support

         Maintain accurate division records, databases, files, contracts, correspondence, and documentation in accordance with County policies and applicable confidentiality requirements.

         Track contracts, invoices, budgets, expenses, legislative and project deadlines, required postings, reports, and other documentation for assigned economic development and government affairs activities.

         Coordinate calendars, meetings, hearings, travel, and other logistical needs for economic development and government affairs programs and activities.

         Provide professional, responsive service to businesses, residents, partner agencies, and the public and coordinate inquiries with the appropriate County staff or external partner.

         Other duties as assigned.

Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. College coursework or a degree in business administration, economics, public administration, political science, planning, marketing, real estate, or a related field is preferred.

Experience: One (1) to three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, government affairs, legislative support, business services, commercial real estate, planning, marketing, research, project coordination, public administration, or a related field. Experience coordinating business prospects, RFIs, property information, legislative tracking, policy research, databases, or partner organizations is preferred.

An acceptable combination of education and experience may be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA):

Knowledge of: Economic development principles and practices, including business recruitment, retention, and expansion; site selection and commercial and industrial property information; RFIs and prospect management; government affairs, legislative processes, intergovernmental relations, public policy, appropriations, and government funding opportunities; demographic, workforce, industry, infrastructure, and real estate research; incentive and compliance documentation; marketing, outreach, event coordination, records management, and public-sector operations; and word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, mapping, legislative-tracking, and project-tracking applications.

Skills and Abilities to: Coordinate business prospects, government affairs activities, partner relationships, RFIs, property inventory, outreach activities, and multiple projects with accuracy, discretion, and appropriate confidentiality. Track legislation, hearings, deadlines, and policy developments; research, verify, organize, analyze, and clearly present complex information; and prepare concise bill summaries, reports, presentations, correspondence, talking points, and marketing materials. Communicate professionally in writing and verbally and speak before groups of varying sizes. Establish productive working relationships with businesses, site selectors, brokers, property owners, elected officials, legislative staff, County departments, municipalities, utilities, government agencies, consultants, partner organizations, and the public. Exercise sound judgment, initiative, attention to detail, and effective time management; work independently within established direction; follow through on commitments; and manage competing priorities and deadlines.

YOUR SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment background check prior to starting the position.

Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain a good driving record.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 65 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.