Director Community Economic Development

Director of Community & Economic Development

FLSA Classification:
Exempt

Reports To:

Executive Director

Status:
Full-Time

Position Summary

The Director of Community & Economic Development is a key member of the Green River Area Development District (GRADD) leadership team and is responsible for advancing community and economic development throughout GRADD’s seven-county service area. The Director serves as a trusted resource and strategic partner to local governments, elected officials, businesses, community organizations, regional partners, and state and federal agencies.

This position connects communities with expertise, partnerships, and funding; helps local leaders turn ideas into workable projects; and supports efforts that strengthen economic opportunity, infrastructure, services, quality of life, and long-term regional resilience. The successful candidate will be an experienced, practical, relationship-oriented professional who is comfortable taking initiative, solving problems, working with a wide range of people, and seeing projects through from concept to implementation.

• Lead and support regional economic and community development initiatives that strengthen business growth, investment, entrepreneurship, workforce opportunities, community vitality, and long-term economic resilience.
• Work with local governments, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, businesses and industries, utilities, educational institutions, workforce partners, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders to identify and advance opportunities.
• Assist communities with business and industry recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts, as appropriate.
• Provide technical assistance and strategic guidance to local governments and community partners as they address development challenges and pursue priority projects.
• Assist communities in planning and implementing projects involving infrastructure, housing, public facilities, services, quality of life, and economic opportunity.
• Help communities develop strategic plans, needs assessments, feasibility studies, community development strategies, and other planning documents.
• Facilitate collaboration among public, private, nonprofit, educational, and community partners and help move shared priorities toward action.
• Monitor regional, state, and national trends and identify emerging opportunities, challenges, and potential responses.

• Identify and evaluate federal, state, foundation, and other funding opportunities that align with GRADD and regional priorities.
• Lead or assist with grant applications, funding proposals, and related project development.
• Work with communities and partners to identify appropriate funding sources and develop competitive applications.
• Assist with project scopes, budgets, timelines, performance measures, supporting documentation, and other requirements associated with funding applications.
• Monitor grant-funded projects for compliance with applicable requirements and funding conditions.
• Stay current on relevant funding programs and communicate timely opportunities, requirements, and changes to GRADD leadership and regional partners.

• Identify regional needs and opportunities and help translate them into practical strategies, projects, and initiatives.
• Support the development and implementation of GRADD’s regional goals, objectives, programs, and strategic priorities.
• Lead or participate in regional studies, planning initiatives, task forces, committees, and special projects.
• Research, collect, and interpret demographic, economic, community, and other relevant information to support sound decision-making.
• Evaluate initiatives and recommend improvements based on results, changing conditions, and stakeholder needs.
• Prepare reports, presentations, briefing materials, project summaries, and recommendations for GRADD leadership, boards, local governments, and community partners.

• Serve as a visible and credible representative of GRADD and build strong, productive relationships throughout the…