POSITION AVAILABLE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
**Do you have the strategic economic development skills to help Northwest BC reach its economic potential? **Are you innovative and energetic; willing to accept challenges and pursue potential opportunities?
If so, tell us why this should be your career:
The Economic Development Officer will bring vision and leadership to Terrace Economic Development Authority (TEDA), the lead economic development organization in Terrace. Working with the volunteer Board of Directors and key City and Community Groups, the EDO’s key responsibility will be to promote the development and diversification opportunities in the community.
This position requires a broad general knowledge of business and government coupled with an ability to handle a variety of projects and tasks that must be completed within time deadlines. The incumbent will have a proven ability to work with business owners and executives, government officials, labour leaders, and the public. The incumbent is required to attend meetings and be available outside the ordinary business hours of work, including evenings and weekends. The EDO will be guided by TEDA’s Economic Development Strategy goals and objectives.
With innovation and energy, the individual who accepts this challenge, has
an opportunity to help create a new future for Terrace and the northwest.
Terrace has many exciting opportunities on the horizon and is the strategic commercial service and supply hub in northwest British Columbia
Please respond in confidence by June 25, 2010, to
TEDA Board of Directors,
3224 Kalum Street, Terrace, B. C. V8G 2N1
email: info@teda.ca
fax: 250-635-4152
JOB DESCRIPTION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
General Outline, Scope and Purpose:
The Economic Development Officer (EDO) is an integral member of the team. The EDO will take the lead role in working with Mayor and Council, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), community groups, industry and staff to identify and promote development and diversification opportunities in the community. The EDO will be guided by the Economic Development Strategy goals and objectives, and will be responsible for the efficient operation of the department’s clerical duties, including record management.
This position requires a broad general knowledge of business and government coupled with an ability to handle a variety of projects and tasks that must be completed within time deadlines. The incumbent will have a proven ability to work with business owners and executives, government officials, labour leaders, and the public. The incumbent is required to attend meetings and be available outside the ordinary business hours of work, including evenings and weekends.
Reporting Structure:
The EDO reports to the Terrace Economic Development Authority Board.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Community economic development assessment and planning through:
•Working with the Mayor, Council, CAO and Terrace Economic Development Authority Board to establish short term and long term strategy initiatives, and preparation of a detailed calendar work plan;
•Obtaining input from current plans, business community and investors, government organizations and the public in order to assist the community in the development of a strategic plan;
•Providing advocacy, support and synergy to new business owners/investors, industry, community services, and organizations; and liaising with regional, provincial and federal government bodies as well as colleagues throughout the province to share information, access resources and streamline delivery of service to the community.
•Assessment of ‘investment readiness’ and the development of investment readiness products and profiles.
2. Support economic initiatives and business development by:
•Providing economic and business development information to interest groups, local government, other levels of government and business development proponents;
•Supporting the efforts of the community in its lobbying for economic and community development;
•Identifying and assessing information that could have significant economic impact on the community;
•Identify economic development funding opportunities that will be available or partnership (i.e., Federal Government, Provincial Government, Western Economic Diversification, Community Futures, Northern Development, Service Canada, private sector, Vancouver Foundation, Real Estate Foundation, et al).
•Identify grants and funding opportunities available to further the economic development goals/initiatives of the community;
•Research and prepare grant proposals;
•Liaise with government departments to keep up to date on governmental progress and/or changes to policy affecting businesses (i.e., Ministry of Forests, Service Canada, Agriculture, Revenue Canada, et al);
•Maintaining good working relations and open communication with existing industries (encouraging expansion) as well as new service businesses that can support existing industry;
•Implementing systems required for effective collection and manipulation of data; and,
•Developing and maintaining an inventory of business community contacts.
3. Develop and implement relevant marketing and communication strategies by;
•Becoming familiar with the community’s social/economic goals and objectives by establishing and maintaining a good working relationship between the community and other public bodies;
•Identifying and implementing marketing strategies that are aligned with the goals of the community;
•Developing resources required to support marketing and community relations campaigns;
•Providing consultation, reports and interpretations of social, economic, demographic, and community data that will assist in promoting the community to business and industry; and,
•Preparing applications on behalf of the community for business or industry awards which can promote the community or enhance its status.
4. Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE
Reporting to the Economic Development Authority Board, the Economic Development Officer is responsible for community economic development. The incumbent should have a degree in Business and/or Public Administration, or two to five years experience in the economic development field or related knowledge and experience in a parallel field.
Criteria:
•Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically in a political and community service environment.
•Evidence of building effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders including industry and government officials and community leaders.
•Proven track record of developing, implementing and managing programs and policies to attract and stimulate business opportunities and economic activity in the community.
•Demonstrate measurable results and personal performance in the community development field
Skills/Abilities:
•Excellent communication, computer and interpersonal skills are required;
•Work independently, within a team framework in a variety of social settings;
•Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships and lead complex projects;
•Understand government funding mechanisms that assist community development;
•Working knowledge and experience with computer publishing and presentation software programs to produce publishable reports and documents in hard copy and PowerPoint type formats;
•The incumbent must hold and maintain a valid BC Driver’s License.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
An innovative, strategic thinker, the incumbent will have well-developed interpersonal, communication and presentation skills along with a strong client-centered focus. Key strengths will include:
•Excellent analytical, problem solving and organizational skills;
•The ability to work independently, diplomacy and good negotiation skills; and
•The ability to maintain harmonious working relationships is mandatory.
