Manager of Economic Development

Position Details

• Job Title: Manager of Economic Development
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Engagement Type: Temporary
• Location: Thorold
• Department: Economic Development
• Work Location: On-Site

Primary Function

Under the general direction of the Chief Administrative Officer, this role is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on strategic economic initiatives that are aligned with long-range economic development; business development and expedited services, trade and investment and/or strategic economic initiatives. Promote tourism initiatives for the City and engage in government relations. Undertakes activities and fosters partnerships that support the development of Thorold as location of choice for investment/ trade, enterprise and growth.

Duties and Responsibilities

Economic Development – Strategy and Planning

• Participates in business planning, strategic planning, research initiatives and performance management for specific initiatives in support of economic development.
• Participates in the development of economic development strategies, objectives and long-range plans for a unified economic development attraction program.
• Assist in the development of strategic plans by researching facilitating, coordinating, implementing and evaluating major policy and program initiatives which align with long term economic development strategies.
• Monitors and examines market conditions and emerging trends which may impact existing and potential economic development and recommend appropriate action(s).
• Evaluates and reports on the impact of government (all tiers) legislative, policy and program changes. Revises strategies, programs and initiatives accordingly.

Economic Development – Programs / Initiatives and Implementation

• Leads a range of programs, services, initiatives and activities including (but not limited to): business outreach, tourism initiatives, local economic development, business improvement area (BIA) management, project facilitation, community economic development social enterprise development, workforce development and special projects.
• Act as a primary contact and expeditor for business attraction.
• Research and target recruitment prospects – generates and manages a portfolio of direct corporate business leads and prospects and maintains record of lead/generation activities.
• Develop customer reports for potential new or expanding businesses that show what Thorold/Niagara has to offer.
• Collect and provide information necessary to satisfy each prospect’s request for facts and information in the form of standard marketing materials and/or customer reports.
• Solicit development proposals from private development companies, businesses and industrial organizations and analyzes the feasibility of these projects.
• Provide service to the development community regarding expedited services to include overseeing the permitting process for the designation of economic development projects.
• Coordinate domestic and international trade / sales missions to promote the region and develop investment / export opportunities.
• Evaluate programs which would couple the immediately available resources of the area with potential business and industrial development.
• Assist private enterprise and community agencies to resolve community needs that have a direct bearing on economic development attraction.
• Negotiate and/or assist with negotiating economic development contracts with private developers, businesses and industry.
• Prepare Council reports, business cases, terms of reference documents for tender, requests for proposals and other documents as required.
• Interact on a regular basis with Regional / Municipal departments concerning land use amendments and infrastructure plans.
• Submit funding applications to high levels of government.
• Collaboration for the purposes of information collection, data analysis and policy formulation regarding land development patterns supportive of economic development.
• Make recommendations to Senior staff on land use and zoning policies affecting economic development and attraction.
• Coordinates and attends recruitment events, trade shows and familiarization tours as Thorold representative, marketing and prospecting business opportunities.
• Make presentations before citizens’ and advisory groups / committees.
• Promote initiatives in the City, including operation of Tourism centre at Lock 7, identify opportunities for tourism development.

Internal / External Relations

• Participates in the development and implementation of region-wide strategies, structures, systems and policies as a member of the Economic Development Team(s), Regional, Local Area Municipalities, Provincial and Federal Ministries.
• Develops and manages relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring divisional strategies are managed and economic development performance expectations are fulfilled.
• Collaborates and partners with local area counties and municipalities, industry stakeholders, (e.g. Chambers of Commerce, Industrial Associations and Homebuilder Associations), academic institutions (e.g. Brock University, Niagara College and Niagara District School Boards) and Provincial / Federal governments to develop and support joint economic development action plans and initiatives.
• Positions the City within the larger political arena as a strong player, earning credibility and recognition as an influential advocate on the organization.