Economic and Community Development Director
The City of Hawarden is looking for the right individual to join our community as the Economic and Community Development Director.
The Economic and Community Development Director is self-motivated through curiosity with a passion driven by an unquenchable desire to grow a community. Changing environments, varying levels of responsibilities and challenging objectives allow this person's true strengths to show. The keen ability to manage the demands of multiple projects through organizational prowess and an individual's strong ability to properly prioritize and communicate effectively to successfully navigate through the most demanding opportunities.
-This is a city position, therefore the employee works at the pleasure of the Hawarden City Council and reports to the City Administrator.
-Plans, develops and executes programs and activities to foster new development initiatives for the city of Hawarden.
-Collaborates with the economic development board.
-Undertakes diverse projects and initiatives to market and promote the Hawarden area so as to achievesuccess in industrial, commercial, economic and community development. These efforts shall be accomplished through coordinating the combined resources of the City of Hawarden, local committees and non-profits and county, regional and state development organizations and agencies.
-Assists existing businesses and industries in the Hawarden area through implementation of an ongoing retention and expansion program that includes regular personal visits with business enterprises. Cooperation with regional economic development partners and organizations in this effort is imperative.
-Encourages and fosters entrepreneurial enterprises in the community, making referrals to appropriate resource providers when called for.
-Actively recruits business prospects and leads, which would be suitable for relocation or expansion to Hawarden.
-Prepares proposals in response to leads generated locally and when requested by regional and state entities.
-Undertakes downtown revitalization activities, with a focus on preservation and growth in available properties.
-Provides administrative support for the Hawarden Economic Development committee.
-Prepares the annual economic development budget, management of the expenditures and create, in coordination with the Hawarden Economic Development committee chair, agendas for the ED committee meetings.
-Develop short- and long-term goals and strategies to guide the community economic development activities.
-Coordinates the maintenance and administration of the community website.
-Seeks out grant opportunities and prepares grant applications for a variety of community development projects on behalf of the City.
-Attends trade shows, conferences, seminars and other activities in order to network, market and gain information which will be valuable to Hawarden’s community development goals.
-Serves as key liaison with the Chamber of Commerce working alongside the Chamber Board and committees to collaborate when possible.
-Works to develop new housing initiatives with key stakeholders for improving or revitalizing housing within the city.
-Acts as the liaison between local, state, federal and private sector organizations involved in community and economic development activities.
-Seeks opportunities to partner with community groups to expand the quality of life available in Hawarden regarding areas such as housing, healthcare, education, tourism and recreation.
-Other duties as directed by the City Administrator.
Experience in the management of community and economic development programs. Related training in the area of economic and community development. Experience with supervision of employees or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the essential knowledge, skills and abilities. Knowledge of economic development finance, business credit analysis and real estate finance. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees, government officials and the general public. Ability to manage a multitude of tasks simultaneously.