Urban Economic Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

Job Summary

The Economic Development and Urban Renewal Manager performs advanced professional work focused on economic development, redevelopment, business growth, community investment, and strategic partnership initiatives within the City. This position develops, implements, and coordinates programs and projects designed to promote business attraction, retention, expansion, redevelopment, investment, and long-term economic vitality. The position serves as a primary liaison to businesses, developers, governmental agencies, community organizations, military partners, and other stakeholders while providing administrative support and executive leadership to assigned boards, commissions, authorities, and economic development organizations. The Economic Development Manager coordinates redevelopment and funding initiatives, supports grant and incentive programs, and provides research, analysis, recommendations, and strategic guidance to City leadership, boards, commissions, and City Council to advance the City's economic development and redevelopment objectives.

Pay Range:  $71,466.69 to $95,288.93 per year Depending on Experience

Duties and Responsibilities

• Complies with all City policies and procedures, as well as applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and requirements related to the performance of assigned duties.
• Demonstrates a respectful, collaborative, and team-oriented approach to work and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, external partners, and the public.
• Develops, implements, and coordinates economic development programs, initiatives, and strategies designed to encourage business attraction, retention, expansion, redevelopment, investment, and job creation within the City.
• Cultivates relationships with existing businesses, prospective businesses, developers, site selectors, commercial property owners, brokers, investors, educational institutions, military organizations, and other stakeholders to support economic growth and development opportunities.
• Coordinates and collaborates with local, regional, state, federal, military, educational, and private-sector partners to advance economic development objectives, redevelopment initiatives, and strategic community goals.
• Serves as Executive Director or staff liaison for boards, commissions, authorities, and organizations assigned by the City, including but not limited to Urban Renewal, Economic Development, Business Improvement District, and Main Street programs.
• Coordinates meetings, agendas, reports, projects, strategic planning initiatives, and administrative activities for assigned boards, commissions, authorities, and economic development organizations.
• Coordinates redevelopment, revitalization, and economic development activities with the Fountain Urban Renewal Authority, business organizations, community groups, developers, and other development partners.
• Identifies, researches, coordinates, and assists with grant opportunities, incentive programs, public-private partnerships, and other funding mechanisms that support economic development, redevelopment, infrastructure, and community investment projects.
• Monitors grant requirements, reporting obligations, performance measures, funding deadlines, and renewal opportunities to support ongoing compliance, program effectiveness, and funding continuity.
• Assists in the development, administration, monitoring, and reporting of budgets, special project funds, grants, incentive programs, and other funding sources associated with economic development and urban renewal activities.
• Works collaboratively with City departments, governmental agencies, utility providers, transportation agencies, and community partners to identify and address infrastructure, transportation, development, and regulatory issues affecting economic growth, redevelopment, and investment.
• Assists in the development, evaluation, negotiation, implementation, and administration of economic development incentives, redevelopment agreements, intergovernmental agreements, and related economic development tools.
• Participates in the evaluation, coordination, and administration of redevelopment financing tools, tax increment financing programs, public-private partnerships, bond-funded projects, and other economic development funding mechanisms.
• Coordinates with legal counsel, financial advisors, developers, property owners, and stakeholders regarding redevelopment projects, real estate transactions, redevelopment agreements, leases, easements, covenants, and other property-related matters associated with economic development and urban renewal initiatives.
• Assists with the development of Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), project solicitations, consultant selection processes, contract administration, and related project management activities associated with economic development and redevelopment initiatives.
• Conducts research and analysis regarding market trends, economic conditions, demographics, workforce characteristics, business development opportunities, redevelopment opportunities, community investment initiatives, and economic indicators affecting the City.
• Develops, tracks, and reports performance measures, economic indicators, project outcomes, and program results related to economic development, redevelopment, and community investment initiatives.
• Promotes the City's economic, business, workforce, infrastructure, and quality-of-life advantages through presentations, marketing materials, community outreach, stakeholder engagement, business recruitment activities, and economic development initiatives.
• Participates in community visioning, branding, marketing, placemaking, downtown revitalization, redevelopment, and economic development initiatives intended to strengthen community identity, business investment, and economic vitality.
• Participates in the development and implementation of economic development goals, policies, strategies, plans, and initiatives that support long-term community prosperity, economic sustainability, redevelopment objectives, and business growth.
• Prepares and presents reports, recommendations, agreements, funding proposals, economic analyses, redevelopment plans, and project updates to boards, commissions, City leadership, community organizations, and City Council as required.
• Represents the City on committees, task forces, professional organizations, economic development groups, regional partnerships, military partnerships, and intergovernmental initiatives as assigned.
• Assists in evaluating and improving economic development programs, redevelopment initiatives, incentive programs, business support services, and organizational processes to enhance effectiveness and service delivery.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Supervisor Duties

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities but may coordinate projects, programs, boards, commissions, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders in the performance of assigned duties.

Work Environment

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

This position primarily operates in a professional office environment and routinely utilizes computers, office equipment, communication systems, financial and project management software, online meeting platforms, and other technology necessary to support economic development, redevelopment, grant administration, and organizational operations. The position frequently involves interaction with business owners, developers, property owners, elected and appointed officials, community organizations, military representatives, governmental agencies, consultants, contractors, and the public, requiring regular communication, presentations, negotiations, collaboration, and relationship management.

Work is generally performed in a moderately quiet office setting; however, the environment may periodically become fast-paced and deadline-driven due to development projects, grant requirements, board and commission activities, public meetings, redevelopment initiatives, funding opportunities, and economic development priorities. The position may occasionally require attendance at public meetings, board and commission meetings, project sites, business locations, conferences, training events, community events, or other City facilities. Local and regional travel may be required in the performance of assigned duties.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Community Development, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Communications, or a closely related field. Equivalent combinations of education, certifications, training, and experience may be considered.
• Requires six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, community development, urban renewal, redevelopment, business development, municipal administration, public administration, planning, or a closely related field.
• Requires a valid Colorado Driver's License or ability to obtain within ninety (90) days after employment.
• Must obtain FEMA ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700, and ICS-800 certifications within twelve (12) months after employment.
• AICP, CEcD (Certified Economic Developer), EDFP, or similar professional certifications are desirable.
• Knowledge of economic development concepts, strategies, tools, and best practices.
• Knowledge of urban renewal, redevelopment, tax increment financing, incentive programs, grants, and public-private partnerships.
• Knowledge of business attraction, retention, and expansion methodologies.
• Knowledge of local government operations, public administration, and economic development programs.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies affecting economic development, redevelopment, and urban renewal activities.
• Ability to research, analyze, and present complex economic, financial, demographic, redevelopment, and policy information.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with businesses, developers, elected officials, community organizations, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Effective verbal, written, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, online meeting platforms, research tools, marketing platforms, and related business technologies.
• Experience with GIS, redevelopment financing tools, grant administration, or economic development software is desirable.

Required Capabilities

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• To perform the essential job functions and to ensure the safety of themselves, their coworkers, and the public, employees must have the ability to regulate attention; to plan; to understand, remember, and apply information; to effectively interact with others; to concentrate and maintain pace; and to adapt or regulate one's behavior.
• Ability to proficiently read, speak, and understand English. Proficiency in non-English languages is highly valued.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills, analytical skills, statistical and mathematical abilities and interpersonal skills. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write complex reports and distill information for many audiences.
• This position requires the ability to effectively read, review, prepare, and interpret documents, maps, plans, computer screens, reports, and other materials related to assigned duties.
• This position requires the ability to effectively communicate and exchange information with others and to receive, interpret, and respond to verbal, written, electronic, and other communications necessary to perform assigned duties.
• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, move about the work environment, and utilize hands and fingers to operate computers, equipment, tools, controls, and other resources necessary to perform assigned duties. The position may occasionally require reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or similar physical movements.
• Must be able to lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds as needed and frequently lift up to ten (10) pounds.  
• This position requires effective proficiency in the use of computer software, business applications, office equipment, and professional communication practices. This position may frequently require multitasking while utilizing computers, phones, office technology, equipment, and related systems while performing assigned duties and interacting with others.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

  ** This job is open from 06/18/2026 until filled. **