JOB HERE

The City of Louisville is actively recruiting for an Economic Development / Vitality Manager. This is a new position that will report to the Community Development Director in our Economic Vitality Division. 

This is an exciting time to join the City of Louisville! The Economic Vitality Manager will provide expertise concerning the work and goals of the City in building a strong local and resilient economy.  We are an award-winning small city, and offer an exceptional overall staff experience, with outstanding benefits and a City Council and leadership team focused on remaining an "employer of choice" in our region. The City of Louisville is committed to providing a healthy culture with strong values.  

The Economic Vitality Manager serves as the lead role in economic vitality and development for the City. This role is responsible for the administration, coordination, and management of all economic development activities across all City departments. The Economic Vitality Manager must exercise a high degree of trust, integrity, and confidence in all situations. Responsibilities require constant attention and commitment to the City’s strategic goals and philosophies. This position requires a high level of problem solving skills, self-initiative, and the ability and willingness to work a majority of the time without direct supervision.  This position will supervise the Economic Vitality Specialist and occasionally oversee contracted consulting professionals.

The position requires the ability to manage multiple high-level projects and activities; a high level of organizational and interpersonal skills; excellent analytical abilities; strong technical skills in redevelopment and real estate development, and the ability to identify creative solutions to move projects forward. The Economic Vitality Manager interacts with local property owners, developers, and investors; City, State, and regional staff members; and commercial real estate organizations. The environment in which this position operates is complex, highly political, fast-moving and always evolving, requiring independence of action and judgement to a high degree.

Hiring Range: $89,772.80 to $105,497.60
Salary Range: $89,772.80 to $121,201.60

Essential Job Duties:

• Develop and implement short- and long-term plans, strategies, and activities to retain existing businesses, attract targeted businesses to the City—especially the urban renewal area—and enhance the “sense of place” that makes Louisville so special
• Direct and administer activities and operations including business development, business retention, economic analysis, redevelopment projects, and business assistance and advocacy services; develop and implement rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Maintain knowledge of state and local statutes, ordinances, procedures, and trends; strategically assess economic development needs and plans for the future
• Coordinate the development, implementation and modification of the economic development strategic plans
• Develop marketing plans to attract and retain businesses in the City of Louisville
• Direct and manage development projects in coordination with the Community Development Director and ensures that all efforts of the department are well-coordinated to move projects forward and are consistent with the City’s mission and goals
• Act as City liaison with outside agencies, developers, contractors and citizen groups regarding economic development issues
• Serves as the Economic Vitality staff liaison for the Louisville Revitalization Commission (LRC) and assists the City Manager (who serves as the Director of the LRC under the Cooperation Agreement between the City and the LRC) to ensure that the LRC’s urban renewal activities are effectively coordinated with the City’s other community development activities; prepare materials, facilitate discussion, and staff monthly LRC meetings
• Assist the LRC in strategic planning efforts and development of programs; oversee the processing of LRC assistance applications
• Serve as the staff liaison for the Economic Vitality Committee (EVC) and help develop and implement the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan; prepare materials, facilitate discussion and staffs monthly EVC meetings
• Manage and develop the Division budget and LRC budgets in coordination with the Community Development Director, Finance Director, and City Manager’s Office
• Prepare and present reports; promote and coordinate activities; resolve economic development issues and concerns; serve as economic development ombudsman and advocate for development projects and issues; meet with property owners, developers and real estate brokers and represents the City on economic development issues
• Oversee demographic and statistical databases; manage development and maintenance of property inventory
• Advise and assist in the development of City land use plans, ordinances, procedures, and policies that impact the business community and economic development goals 
• Develop economic development financing programs including incentive agreements in coordination with the Finance Director and City Manager
• Evaluate information and make recommendations to City Council, the Planning Commission, and other City boards and commissions
• Advise consultants, developers and others regarding City standards and regulations.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Housing Authority

Other Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors, other employees, City officials, representatives of the development community, and the public 
• This position must work well independently and with teams while demonstrating excellent, respectful customer service and human relations skills which support the City of Louisville's mission and values
• Attend trainings, workshops, conferences, and meetings to keep abreast of the current trends in the field
• Handle highly sensitive and confidential information with care
• Monitor development-related operations and customer service
• Keep the City Manager, City Council, and the City’s management team apprised of business and community issues
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned