Economic Development Officer

CITY EQUITY STATEMENT

The City of Westminster welcomes diverse candidates from the broadest base possible. Our goal is to find the best candidate for the job—someone who belongs, not just fits. We value life and professional experiences, recognizing equivalent combinations of knowledge skills and education.

Aligned with our city SPIRIT values, the successful candidate will have a passion and commitment to serving a diverse population of residents and must respect and uphold the principles of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

We encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for this role, even if you believe you have a less traditional background than described we invite you to apply.

POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

Westminster’s purpose is to provide core services and foster economic resilience to give our community the opportunity to thrive. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging.

The Economic Development Officer position is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for the attraction, retention, and expansion of primary employment growth. This position is also responsible for maintaining strong relationships with the business community and real estate community, marketing functions, maintenance of the business database, as well as maintaining other key data, which supports the mission of the Department. This position is responsible for developing professional relationships with key industry leaders both in and outside of the City. This position requires a high level of customer service skills, interacting with internal staff, businesses, residents, developers, and consultants to achieve the essential function of the job.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage, and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIES

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Department of Economic Development, which supports and is responsive to the City Manager's Office, residents, the City's business community, City Council, and the overall City organization. Through leadership by example, Economic Development progressively manages the economic development, housing, and redevelopment functions of the organization, where service and empowerment are governing principles, and effectively communicates with internal and external audiences. The Economic Development Department is the City's ambassador to the business and development community and strives to excel in the provision of service.

Every Employee Is Accountable To

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the City, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences
  
  

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product
  
  

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Establish, prioritize, and implement goals, objectives, policies, and work standards
• Exhibit strong marketing strategy skills
• Work on several projects simultaneously and adapt quickly to changing priorities
• Think creatively and take the initiative in planning and implementing assigned projects
• Provide technical assistance and leadership to City departments, boards and commissions
• Effectively represent the interests of the City in meetings with public agencies, the development community, or others outside the City
• Understand development-related regulations, public administration principles, practices, and methods of administrative and organizational analysis
• Exercise sound, independent judgement within established guidelines
• Prepare clear and concise management-level reports and correspondence
• Make persuasive oral presentations of ideas and recommendations
• Assemble, organize and present in oral or written form the statistical, financial, and factual information derived from a variety of sources
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and others contacted in the course of the work
• Display a professional demeanor at all times
• Work as part of a team as well as independently
• Work collaboratively with internal departments and external partners
• Demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
  
  

Leadership – Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Foster a participatory organizational climate that is open, positive, reinforcing, and supportive
• Encourage employees to be accountable for their work and take ownership in what they do
• Demonstrate leadership and courage by making or supporting decisions that reflect the organizational mission and goals even when the decision may be unpopular to some
• Demonstrate collaboration and conflict resolution skills with other departments and employees
  
  

Job Specific Functions

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

• Supports the Economic Development Division’s attraction, retention, and expansion strategies
• Develops marketing material and supports communication efforts for the business community
• Maintains and develops professional relationships with businesses and real estate professionals
• Prepares financial models to demonstrate the benefit of proposed business development proposals and presents detailed analysis of proposed incentives
• Develops and negotiates complex business development agreements
• Provides a high level of customer service and helps business prospects through the entire development process
• Maintains database of real estate and business prospects
• Supports workforce initiatives which support the greater business community
• Participates in team, division, department, and City staff meetings; works collaboratively with other programs and departments; may support other programs as needed
• Creation and distribution of marketing materials to attract and respond to businesses considering locating to, or expanding in, Westminster
• Researches and manages content development of promotional collateral, such as the community profile and marketing brochures
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance
  
  

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.

Position Requirements/Working Conditions/Pre-employment Requirements

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Planning, Economic Development, Public Administration, or closely related field
• Five (5) or more years of professional experience in local government and/or economic development
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office
  
  

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Planning, Economic Development, Public Administration, or closely related field
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)
• Experience with managing contracts
• Bilingual proficiency English/Spanish or Hmong
  
  

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements

Work is sedentary in nature and requires sufficient physical stamina and strength for:

• Constant sitting to perform daily tasks; occasional walking through a multilevel facility to retrieve information; frequent standing, sometimes for extended periods
• Frequent squatting, reaching above shoulder, and twisting to file documents and lift supplies and material; occasional bending, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching below shoulder to store documents, material, and supplies
• Constant light grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to perform daily duties; occasional firm grasp to safely use equipment
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing and/or pulling of up to ten (10) pounds to move material and supplies; occasional lifting and pushing and/or pulling of up to twenty-five (25) pounds with dollies and carts
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is generally performed indoors and is primarily office work. Must demonstrate the ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including the ability to retrieve information from various locations in the office when needed. Exposure to periods of high activity and stress under demanding conditions. The position requires a great deal of communication with City employees, the public, and outside agencies. Must be able to drive and navigate to a variety of locations in the City, metro area, and region.

Required Materials And Equipment

General office equipment including personal computers, telephone, cellular phone, copy machine and calculator. May operate a motor vehicle to visit project sites.

Pre-employment Requirements

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
• Drug screen
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States
  
  

The City of Westminster, Colorado, is a drug free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity and aims to have its workforce reflect the community.

The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package including:

• Health and Dental
• Flexible Spending
• Pension/Retirement Plans
• Term Life Insurance
• Long-term Disability
• Survivor Benefits
• Wellness Program
• Leave program that provides for vacation, holidays, sick leave, major illness, on the job injury, and administrative reasons
• Career Development Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
  
  

For a more detailed overview of our Exempt and Administrative Officer benefit package:

Benefit Package

The City of Westminster does not participate in the Social Security system. In lieu of Social Security contributions, the city contributes to a 401(a) defined contribution plan on your behalf.

401(a) Contribution Rates

Employee Mandatory Contribution: 11.5% of your base pay. Contributions are pre-tax and fully vested.

Employer Contribution: 12% of your base pay.

Employer Contribution Vesting Schedule

• Less than 3 years - 0%
• 3 to 4 years - 60%
• 4 to 5 years - 80%
• Over 5 years - 100%
• For employees age 55 and older, the employer contributions are 100% vested
  
  

The City of Westminster provides employees with innovative and practical ways to improve their commute through two key features, EcoPass and Commute Benefits powered by Commutrics. EcoPass provides unlimited trips on RTD's core transit services and Commute Rewards allows you to record your trips and get rewards based on your commute mode.

01

Do you have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Economics, Planning, Economic Development, Public Administration, or closely related field?

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

How many years of professional experience in Economic Development do you have?

• None
• Less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) to ten (10) years of experience
• More than ten (10) years of experience
  
  

03

Are you a certified Economic Developer (CEcD) professional?

• Yes (Please list in the "certifications" section of the application)
• No
  
  

04

Are you working to become a CEcD?

• Yes
• No
  
  

05

Please briefly describe your approach to business attraction and retention.

06

Briefly describe why do you think Economic Development is important.

• Required Question