Carteret County Seeking Economic Development Director

Performs complex, executive work planning, developing and implementing an economic development program for the County. Utilizes Economic Development financing opportunities, infrastructure and other assets to expand and diversify the Carteret County economy, generate job growth, foster business success and competitiveness, and bolster the county tax base.

Employee is responsible for consulting with local officials and community leaders, along with retail and industry executives for promoting economic growth through expansion and retention of existing industrial and commercial bases and attraction of new business into the County.  Duties include the development of data, statistics and publications that portray the economic potential of the County, identification of prospective industries and maintaining proper records, reports and public information for the program.  Work requires considerable planning and timely execution of work.  Employee must exercise independent judgment and simultaneously consider financial, socio-economic, legal and regulatory variables as they affect the County.  Work performed under the general direction of the County Manager and evaluated through conferences, reports and results.

• Serves as initial contact for potential industries and businesses considering new location or expansion. Shows sites and arranges meetings with local officials; researches land and coordinates contacts for the property; serves as a liaison during plant or facility construction; investigates labor supply, utilities; and works with various groups to ensure the availability of an adequate, well-trained workforce for industrial concerns. Maintains close ties with the existing Industrial and Business community through periodic site visits. Identifies and helps existing business capitalize on expansion opportunities.
• Creates marketing tools for the economic development of the County to include brochures, flyers, booklets, ads, etc.
• Acquires a network of contacts to identify potential parks and sites; promotes and facilitates collaboration between existing industrial and commercial parks and sites; monitors building projects and works with local agencies including education systems, local governments, etc.
• Develops grants and funding sources to support infrastructure improvements; researches, writes and contracts for grant procurement and administration; works on grants to support County Government as directed by the County Manager.
• Maintains contact with state industrial developers, community leaders, and representatives of businesses and industry.
• Prepares long-range plans for the development of the County, specifically involving the location, design, and development of industrial areas, industrial plant facilities, adequate water and sewer facilities, improved transportation resources and all other factors critical to economic development.
• Work with local Community Colleges, Carteret County Schools and NC Works to understand labor supply and define methods to ensure the availability of an adequate, well-trained workforce.
• Keeps current records on sites and buildings, and reports changes to State industrial developers; keeps files and statistics on labor wages, demographics, economic base, maps, profiles, utilities, retail sales, building permits, finances and schools; reports on growth announcements and statistics to various agencies.
• Identifies liabilities potentially hindering development, evaluates means to neutralize or rectify liabilities and develops strategies to encourage economic growth.
• Supports existing industries and assists in problem resolutions, including serving as ombudsman with local and state agencies to obtain available assistance, resolve misunderstandings and negotiate settlements.
• Supervises administrative staff; makes work assignments; provides guidance on workload; monitors and evaluates work; and may initiate disciplinary action; makes recommendations for final selection, salary increases and dismissal to Human Resources. Prepares department budget recommendation; establishes yearly goals and objectives.
• Makes presentations to commissioners on infrastructure expansion to support new or expanding industry; serves on boards that support the County’s mission.
• Coordinates efforts with a wide variety of local, regional and state groups such as regional partnership officials and NC Department of Commerce, NC Rural Center, North Carolina Eastern Region and other economic development organizations.
• Generates private and public support for development programs through individual meetings, participation in Chamber committees and public speaking engagements.
• Makes oral presentations with other County officials before bond underwriters, state agencies and/or other groups, as appropriate, on topics pertaining to County industrial development, transportation priorities, etc. 
• Reports new business, expansions and statistics to various agencies and the public through website announcements, press releases and media interviews. 
• Performs related work as required.

• Thorough knowledge of principles, practices and processes involved in economic development.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of management, business, their organizational procedures and financing.
• Considerable knowledge of economic, social and technological resources available in the economic development field.
• Considerable knowledge of the assets of the community and federal, state and local laws pertaining to economic development and planning.
• Skills in data collection, analysis and establishment of databases related to pertinent County statistics and demographics.
• Ability to plan, organize and effectively develop industrial and commercial leads for the County, including building consensus among diverse groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with industry and business executives and owners or representatives, public officials at the local, state and federal levels, contractors, community leaders and organizations, other department heads, superiors and other employees.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and make correct recommendations for each industrial contact.

Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics or a related field.  Master’s Degree and/or CEcD professional certification preferred.  Minimum 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in the field of economic development. Candidates must have a thorough knowledge of effective principles, practices, methods and techniques of economic development and a good understanding of challenges affecting a coastal community. Sound administrative, budgeting and financial management skills, coupled with strong written and verbal communications skills are required.

Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license upon hire. Carteret County Resident within 6 months of hire.