5.5. SR 06-06-2011~/~
Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION
...r.
Rive
To Item Number
Ci Council 5.5.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Administration June G, 2011 Annie Deckert, Economic
Develo meat Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Authorize Hiring Process for the Assistant Economic Lauren Wi er, HR Re resentative
Development Manager/Director Reviewed by
Action Requested
Authorize hiring process for the Assistant Economic Development Manager/Director.
Background/Discussion
In 2007 following the resignation of the Assistant Director of Economic Development, the position
description, title, and pay grade were reviewed when the position was vacated. A recommendation was
made by staff to maintain the position at the current pay grade with minor changes to the position
description. The Council did not agree with staffs recommendation and took action to lower the
position to an entry level position and revised the position to Economic Development Assistant. The
Personnel Committee reviewed the new entry level Economic Development Assistant position and
recommended it be placed at pay grade seven. The Council ultimately reduced the pay grade to pay grade
six at the February 8, 2008 Council meeting. An Economic Development Assistant was hired in April of
2008.
From 2008 to 2010, the duties and responsibilities of this position are above entry level and do not
appropriately fit the job description; therefore, this position was revised to Marketing and Business
Development Administrator in December 2010. This position is responsible for more marketing and
communication duties, including the branding and marketing strategy process, in addition to liaison to
Northstar Corridor Development Authority Marketing Committee and social media strategy
implementation. Major revisions to the position included the addition of the following:
• Administers and implements City Wide Branding Campaign while utilizing and promoting
City's 2011 adopted Vision and Goals
• Develops and monitors Economic Development Authority marketing and Advertising
budgets and others as assigned.
• Coordinates with the City Clerk to administer and develop marketing plan for social media
sites
• Provides social media training to City staff.
Based on the final action of the title for the Economic Development division manager position, staff
recommends changing the title to Assistant Economic Development Manager, or whatever is consistent
with that action, and proposes few revisions. Notable revisions include:
• Administers and implements City Wide Branding Campaign while utilizing and promoting
the Ciry's vision under the direction of the Economic )Qevelo~rnent Director.
• The omission of: "Assists Ciry Administrator with assigned projects and represents City as
assigned by the City Administrator."
In May of 2011, the Marketing and Business Development Administrator was promoted to Economic
Development Director. In order to maintain momentum with the branding and marketing strategy, and
the 2011 Council-adopted Vision and Goals (both identified by the Ciry Council as priorities), staff is
proposing a revised position description and title.
In addition to assisting the Economic Development Director, the proposed position will fulfill required
duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to: housing programs, foreclosure prevention,
business retention and expansion, economic development marketing (material creation, events, website,
social media, etc.) and the Northstar Commuter Trail liaison.
If the Council agrees with the revised position as stated above, staff is recommending beginning the
hiring process immediately.
Attachments
• Proposed Assistant Economic Development Manager/Director Description and Pay Grade
Action Motion by .Second by Vote
FOIIOW Up
N:/Community Development/Economic Development/Staff/06 O6 11 Req for Action
City of
Elk --
River
City of Elk River
Assistant Economic Development
Manager/Director
Position Description
Department/Division: Immediate Supervisor:
Community Development/Economic Economic Development Manager/Director
Develo ment
Pay Grade: FLSA Status: Last Updated: (date)
8 $54,118 - $63,668) Exem t 6/2011
Positions Supervised:
N/A
Position Summary
The Assistant Economic Development Manager/Director is responsible for City Branding and the
communications and marketing of Economic Development, Energy City, and Housing programs in
addition to assisting in the undertaking of a variety of routine and complex economic development
initiatives in industrial, commercial, housing and redevelopment activities.
Essential Functions
Performs Community Development marketing and communication activities.
A. Prepares and delivers presentations to the City Council, Boards, Commissions, the
public and other external groups to provide information and encourage use of
services.
B. Coordinates Energy Ciry marketing and communications with direction from
Environmental Administrator.
C. Creates, designs, distributes and maintains marketing materials for promotion of
economic development, and available commercial and industrial land.
D. Creates marketing techniques to promote and fill business and industrial parks.
E. Coordinates Economic Development and Energy Ciry event planning for business
development to both local and outside business audiences.
F. Utilizes special writing skills to distribute public information in order to create better
awareness of development opportunities in the City of Elk River.
G. Administers and develops marketing plan for Economic Development social media
sites to encourage and enhance civic engagement in accordance to City's
Communication Policy.
H. Creates content and maintains the Economic Development page of the City's
website.
I. Develops and maintains community contact lists.
2. Assists in ensuring the direction of the city is consistent with the city's vision and that the
vision is successfully communucated to the public.
A. Administers and implements Ciry Wide Branding Campaign while utilizing and
Page 1
promoting the City's vision under the direction of the Economic Development
Director.
B. Develops marketing strategy, including social media, which effectively markets the
Economic Development Department and educates the public in terms of the City's
vision.
G Coordinates with the City Clerk to provide social media training to City staff, assist
in the creation of social media sites, and respond to staff questions.
D. Develops and maintains a strong and productive relationship with both print and
electronic media outlets.
E. Receives and responds to requests for information.
F. Composes documents and reports.
3. Performs business development and financial administration activities.
A. Administers the micro loan fund program.
B. Develops and monitors Economic Development Authority marketing and
advertising budgets and others as assigned.
C. Utilizes the Strategic Plan for Economic Development and the Strategic Industrial
Marketing Plan.
D. Coordinates the business retention and expansion program.
E. Assists in the preparation, updating and implementation of various economic
development plans.
F. Maintains inventory of the properties available for development.
G. Assists in promoting, recruiting, evaluating and facilitating prospective clients
through development process.
H. Accesses applicable federal EDA grants for target marketing campaign for business
development- including grant writing and program implementation.
4. Performs staff liaison activities.
A. Provides staff liaison support to community development organizations including
Economic Development Authority, Housing and Redevelopment Authority,
Noxthstar Corridor Development Authority and local organizations (i.e. Downtown
River's Edge Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
(1) Acts as staff liaison to EDA subcommittees as assigned (i.e.: Finance Committee,
marketing committee, etc.)
B. Develops strategies for working with appropriate commissions and task forces as
needed.
Performs housing and redevelopment activities.
A. Administers, implements and provides education regarding City's foreclosure
initiatives and strategies, including grant programs.
B. Creates, designs and promotes housing programs materials.
C. Maintains City's foreclosure tracking spreadsheet.
D. Assists with activities for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
E. Assists in the updating and implementation of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
F. Assists with the coordination of the redevelopment planning process.
G. Assists in the preparation and updating of the Elk River Housing Study.
H. Assists in the preparation, updating and implementation of various redevelopment
plans.
Page 2
Performs other essential job duties.
A. Regular and timely work attendance.
B. Follows all safety procedures.
C. Participates in safety training.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
^ Knowledge of industrial and commercial development.
^ Knowledge of central business district redevelopment.
^ Knowledge of community marketing, communication and promotion.
^ Knowledge of Tax Increment Financing and Tax Abatement.
^ Knowledge of GAP financing and low interest loan programs.
^ Knowledge of housing programs.
^ Knowledge of growth issues.
^ Knowledge of website administration.
^ Skill in business retention and recruitment.
^ Skill in working within the framework of a strategic plan.
^ Ability to work with various appointed and elected officials and boards.
^ Ability to utilize and administrator various social media sites.
^ Ability to use spreadsheet, word processing, and database software proficiently.
^ Ability to use Microsoft office proficiently.
^ Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
^ Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
^ Ability to comprehend the City of Elk River's Strategic Plan fox Economic Development
and the Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan.
Minimum Qualifications
^ Four-year degree in business administration, community development, public administration,
or related field with extensive course work in economics, marketing, communications, and
finance.
^ Two-year experience applying economic development principles and theories.
^ Two-year experience actively marketing a municipality or business.
^ Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications
^ Certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance
Professional.
^ Additional years of economic development experience.
^ Additional years of marketing and communication experience.
^ Municipal government experience.
This Position Description is not intended to be all-inclusive. It is within the Cinr of Elk River's discretion
to assitm additional duties and responsibilities or remove duties and responsibilities zt anv Time.
This Position Aescription does not constitute a Contract of Employment.
Page 3
~j
Elk
River
City of Elk River
` ' Assistant
' Economic Deveio ment
Director
Position Description
Department/Division: Immediate Supervisor:
Community Development/Economic Economic Development Director
Develo ment
Pay Grade: FLSA Status: Last Updated: (date)
8 54118 - 563 668 Exem t „~ 6 2011
Positions Supervised:
N/A
Position Summary
The , . assistant Economic Development
Director is responsible fox City Branding and the communications and marketing of Economic
Development, Energy City, and Housing programs in addition to assisting in the undertaking of a
variety of routine and complex economic development initiatives in industrial, commercial, housing
and redevelopment activities.
Essential Functions
1. Performs Community Development marketing and communication activities.
A. Prepares and delivers presentations to the City Council, Boards, Commissions, the
public and other external groups to provide information and encourage use of
services.
B. Coordinates Energy City marketing and communications with direction from
Environmental Administrator.
C. Creates, designs, distributes and maintains marketing materials for promotion of
economic development, and available commercial and industrial land.
D. Creates marketing techniques to promote and fill business and industrial parks.
E. Coordinates Economic Development and Energy City event planning for business
development to both local and outside business audiences.
F. Utilizes special writing skills to distribute public information in order to create better
awareness of development opportunities in the City of Elk River.
G. Admuusters and develops marketing plan for Economic Development social media
sites to encourage and enhance civic engagement in accordance to City's
Communication Polity.
H. Creates content and maintains the Economic Development page of the City's
website.
Page 1
I. Develops and maintains community contact lists.
2. Assists in ensuring the direction of the city is consistent with the
city's vision and that the vision is successfully communicated to the public. `'-~: --, _a ~_`~_' ~T
A. Administers and implements City Wide Branding Campaign while utilizing and
promoting the City's vision_undcz, rh,_c~ir~ctpti <~f the._~Econ<~rruc
1>et=~lc~,l~aint Director-
B. Develops marketing strategy, including social media, which effectively markets the
Economic Developrent Deparrrnent(ity and educates the public in terms of the
City's vision.
C. Coordinates with the City Clerk to provide social media training to City staff, assist
in the creation of social media sites, and respond to staff questions.
D. Develops and maintains a strong and productive relationship with both print and
electronic media outlets.
E. Receives and responds to requests for information.
F. Composes documents and reports.
3. Performs business development and financial administration activities.
A. Admiiusters the micro loan fund program.
B. Develops and monitors Economic Development Authority marketing and
advertising budgets and others as assigned.
C. Utilizes the Strategic Plan for Economic Development and the Strategic Industrial
Marketing Plan.
D. Coordinates the business retention and expansion program.
E. Assists in the preparation, updating and implementation of various economic
development plans.
F. Maintains inventory of the properties available for development.
G. Assists in promoting, recruiting, evaluating and facilitating prospective clients
through development process.
H. Accesses applicable federal EDA grants for target marketing campaign for business
development- including grant writing and program implementation.
4. Performs staff liaison activities.
A. Provides staff liaison support to community development organizations including
Economic Development Authority, Housing and Redevelopment Authority,
Northstar Corridor Development Authority and local organizations (i.e. Downtown
River's Edge Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
(1) Acts as staff liaison to EDA subcorxunittees as assigned (i.e.: Finance Committee,
marketing committee, etc.)
B. Develops strategies fox working with appropriate commissions and task forces as
needed.
5. Performs housing and redevelopment activities.
A. Administers, implements and provides education regarding City's foreclosure
initiatives and strategies, including grant programs.
B. Creates, designs and promotes housing programs materials.
C. Maintains City's foreclosure tracking spreadsheet.
Page 2
D. Assists with activities for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
E. Assists in the updating and implementation of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
F. Assists with the coordination of the redevelopment planning process.
G. Assists in the preparation and updating of the Elk River Housing Study.
H. Assists in the preparation, updating and implementation of various redevelopment
plans.
=fi. Performs other essential job duties.
A. Regular and timely work attendance.
B. Follows all safety procedures.
C. Participates in safety training.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
^ Knowledge of industrial and commercial development.
^ Knowledge of central business district redevelopment.
^ Knowledge of community marketing commuxucation and promotion.
^ Knowledge of Tax Increment Financing and Tax Abatement.
^ Knowledge of GAP financing and low interest loan programs.
^ Knowledge of housing programs.
o Knowledge of growth issues.
^ Knowledge of website administration.
o Skill in business retention and recruitment.
^ Skill in working within the framework of a strategic plan.
o Ability to work with various appointed and elected officials and boards.
^ Ability to utilize and administrator various social media sites.
o Ability to use spreadsheet, word processing, and database software proficiently.
^ ,.lhility..to_tise._~4licrc~sc~ft officc_prc~ticicntll-;,
^ Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
^ Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others.
^ Ability to comprehend the City of Elk River's Strategic Plan for Economic Development
and the Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan.
Minimum Qualifications
^ Four-year degree in business administration, community development, public administration,
or related field with extensive course work in economics, marketing, communications. and
finance.
_ _ ~ ----~
Two-year experience applying economic development principles and theories: Formatted: Font: 14 pt
^ Two-year experience actively marketing a n~unie:ipalit;- or business.
^ Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications
1'hn Yr;siti~:u~ llc~crihti~ ni i~ u~>t intended to he add-inclu,ive. I~ is .zitlLi~ the (;iu „Clak Biter's disrrrri<,n
u~ .~„i,~n .ulclirir,~r.~l elurirs ant rc~~~~„nsil~ilii ics uL ccm~~~ ~ duties and res~un<ihilirir> ;ir auv rime.
This Position llescription does not constitute a Cortrict of Employment.
Page 3
^ Certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance
Professional.
o Additional years of economic development experience.
o ~'1dc~litional ~~~ar5~c~f_markeria~and cc~mcnuniczrion_eKperience.
^ Municipal government experience.
This; Pi,siri~m llesa~iption is ar>~ intended to he all-inclusiec. li i~ ~.virh~i~ rho Ciro nC L~ak River's discrcri~ u~
r<, .~5si~n additional duties and responsibilities or remove dW icy :uxl rc,~~~,nsibiliiics ar am~ time.
"Phis Position Description does not constitute a Contract of Employment.
Page 4