Economic Development Director

The City of Bowie is seeking an experienced professional, with a demonstrable record of success, to become it’s next Economic Development Director. This individual will have a proven ability to organize, direct, and evaluate programs and initiatives intended to strengthen and diversify the City’s economic and non-residential tax base, while promoting Bowie as an attractive and viable location for business, investment, shopping, employment, and visitor activity.

Reporting directly to the City Manager and providing leadership, management, and oversight of the City’s Economic Development Team, the incumbent will be expected to serve as an effective catalyst for the retention and expansion of business in the City, while attracting new business and investment. The ideal candidate is a strong leader, preferably with some experience in a municipal or government environment, and the ability to clearly communicate often complex and voluminous information to the City Council, other key stakeholders, and the citizenry.

• Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship.
• Promoting redevelopment and revitalization.
• Facilitating business development and permitting.
• Balancing economic objectives with resident expectations regarding quality of life, community character, traffic, infrastructure and development impacts.
• Implementing the City’s Economic Development Program in accordance with City Council policies, adopted plans and strategies.
• Advising the City Manager, City Council, and other key internal stakeholders on economic development opportunities, business and commercial market conditions, development issues, economic trends, and long-term policy considerations.
• Identifying established commercial areas or properties experiencing vacancies, disinvestment, changing market conditions, or redevelopment opportunities and recommending strategies to encourage reinvestment and economic activity.
• Engaging residents, businesses, property owners, developers, elected officials, and other stakeholders on significant economic development and redevelopment initiatives.
• Overseeing and coordinating small business and entrepreneurship assistance programs and partnerships, including business counseling, technical assistance, training, procurement assistance, incubation and acceleration, financing resources, and other business support services.
• Maintaining current knowledge of available commercial properties, development and redevelopment sites, major development projects, business activity, commercial vacancy, employment trends, demographic conditions, and other factors affecting the City’s economy.
• Researching economic development best practices, emerging market trends, technologies, financing approaches, business practices, and changes in the economic development profession; recommend and implement improvements that enhance program effectiveness, customer service, accountability, and economic competitiveness
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Prince George’s County, the State of Maryland, Federal and regional agencies, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, business associations, educational institutions, workforce organizations, financial institutions, utilities, and other public and private partners.
• Serving as staff liaison to the City Council-appointed Economic Development Committee and provide professional and administrative support for the Committee’s advisory responsibilities.
• Preparing, prioritizing, administering, and monitoring the Economic Development operating budget, contracts, professional services, advertising expenditures, economic development programs, and other division resources.