Business and Community Development Manager

Bastrop, Texas (est. population 11,739) is perfectly located in the heart of the Texas Triangle, with just a short 30‑minute drive from downtown Austin, as well as easy access to Houston, San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth's large commercial and labor markets. Families are moving to Bastrop because it costs less to live here than in surrounding metropolitan areas. They also enjoy the live music, shops, pubs, featured in Bastrop's historic downtown with access to the Colorado River just steps away.

The Business and Community Development Manager works under the direction of the Executive Director and alongside the Operations Manager performing complex administrative and managerial functions including planning, organizing, and directing the business retention and expansion programs, entrepreneurial support, workforce training, and other community support programs designed to improve the quality of life for Bastrop residents. Additional goals include providing resources and programming designed to ensure that the Bastrop community thrives.

Specifically, programs will be designed to enhance economic growth through building community capacity and extending Bastrop’s reach through expert discovery and exploration of new and untapped business opportunities and relationships to enhance quality of life. Business attraction and retention has a primary focus of job retention and expansion to give Bastropians access to jobs and other resources.

The ideal manager will possess knowledge of economic development contract management/administration. Works with the Executive Director, Operations Manager, and the board to develop short‑ and long‑term planning, programs, and budgets.

Emphasis is on working in a collaborative setting; dealing with the issues associated with rapid growth and seeking out creative solutions to development related issues.

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications plus benefits. The BEDC participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System at a contribution rate of 7% with a city match of 2:1.

The following list of duties is not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position‑specific duties.

• Workforce Development:
  • Assists the Executive Director and Operations Manager with implementing initiatives designed to germinate new opportunities with businesses for workforce training and employment to Bastrop and achieve the board’s vision.
  • Collaborates with Workforce Partners to identify and implement programs to meet the employment needs of Bastrop’s major industry clusters and small businesses.
• Business Attraction:
  • Assists the Executive Director and Operations Manager with implementing initiatives designed to recruit and help germinate new businesses and employment to Bastrop.
• Business Retention and Expansion:
  • Assists the Executive Director with new ideas and opportunities to capitalize on the revolving loan fund to support existing businesses and provide a platform for success.
  • Using lead forensics and data analytics, research and seek out potential businesses and entrepreneurs that align with the BEDC goals, assets, and strategies.
  • Identifies and manages new lead generation activities and strategies, including creating and implementing a strategy to identify and build relationships with key supply chains of BEDC identified target industries.
  • Researches and identifies new business opportunities - including new markets, growth areas, trends, customers, partnerships, products, and services - or new ways of reaching existing markets.
• Workforce Housing: Works with Planning and Development Services to review proposed code amendments that would negatively impact access to affordable housing and negatively affect the ability of businesses to staff their organization.
• Operational:
  • Develops and maintains a database of existing Bastrop businesses.
  • Designs, coordinates, implements, and oversees…