Economic Development Director

Overview

Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) assists cities and towns in planning for present and future needs, while utilizing our local knowledge, technical expertise, and regional collaboration. We serve seventeen communities in southeastern MA as their regional planning agency and provide staff to the Old Colony Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Additionally, OCPC is a federally designated Economic Development District (EDD) under the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and is eligible to receive grant funding for economic development planning, technical assistance, project development, grant preparation and administration. Our vision is that communities in the Old Colony region are resilient, sustainable, equitable, connected, collaborative, and responsive.

Massachusetts State Benefits (GIC), mileage reimbursement, education benefits, flexible hybrid in‑person/remote work schedule, Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML), and generous paid time off (PTO).

Reports to the Executive Director and works with relevant members of OCPC’s various departments in providing leadership on budgeting, staffing, work program, contracts, and the region’s overall economic development strategy. The Director also recommends priority projects and other initiatives aligned with the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and other district priorities for economic development.

• The Director of Economic Development (“Director”) is a management and oversight role to secure, manage, and report on financial support from external sources, supervise and direct preparation of grant funding applications for both regional and local projects.
• Develop economic development plans and projects, manage projects, conduct public outreach, prepare related reporting, maintain website data, and create marketing materials.
• Serve as an advisor to the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and the Council on regional economic development goals, objectives, plans, and strategies.
• Represent OCPC as the point‑of‑contact on economic development issues when interacting with federal, state, local, and other organizations and agencies.
• Engage with municipal representatives, business owners, and real estate developers to understand issues, needs, priorities, long‑term goals, and planned initiatives, identifying opportunities aligned with regional economic priorities and vision.
• Oversee management of the Regional Economic Development Committee, including staffing, committee membership, meeting schedule, and agenda related to the work program and implementation of the CEDS under the EDA Partnership Planning Grant Program.
• Advocate for and implement programs and projects that encourage long‑term regional economic growth within the OCPC EDD, consistent with the CEDS and other local and regional economic development plans.
• Oversee all economic development initiatives, including identification and research of funding opportunities, grant applications, and projects such as economic development planning and strategies, downtown revitalization, feasibility studies, brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, design and engineering, construction, and assigned deliverables to staff.

Partial description; click MORE INFORMATION for full description.