Manager of Economic Development

About the City of Welland...At the City of Welland, we’re continuously rewriting our story. Not because we don’t know where we’re going, but because we are constantly reaching for new heights, engaging in new approaches, and pursuing what many believe to be unattainable or too ambitious. At the City of Welland, we’re not satisfied with the status quo. And we’re certainly not satisfied with doing things simply because that’s how they were done in the past.
We expect our population to increase to over 80,000 in the next 20 years, and serving a diverse, growing community requires strategic thinkers, norm breakers, and passionate civil servants. In Niagara, Welland’s growth leads every other municipality, and the City is becoming the region’s heartbeat. So, we invite you to author your chapter and contribute to the overall body of work the City of Welland is creating.

At the City of Welland, your ideas are nurtured, your input is invited, a healthy work‑life balance is available, and most importantly, your voice will make a difference. So, if that sounds like something you want to be a part of, we want to hear from you. We’re ready when you are.

The Manager of Economic Development is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing new business opportunities in alignment with the organization’s strategic goals. Reporting directly to the Director of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives, the Manager will play a critical role in driving the growth and success of the city.

• -Conduct market research and analysis to identify potential customers, industry trends, and competitive landscape.
• -Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, industry partners, and potential clients.
• -Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to develop tailored solutions that meet the needs of clients and drive business growth.
• -Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to inform business development strategies.
• -Identify and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, such as local businesses, industry leaders, and government agencies, to promote economic development initiatives.
• -Implement strategic business development plans to attract new businesses to the city and support existing businesses in their growth and expansion efforts.
• -Work closely with economic development partners to create a supportive business environment that facilitates growth, innovation, and job creation.
• -Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to promote the city as a competitive and attractive destination for businesses.
• -Represent the organization at business conferences, networking events, and other industry gatherings to promote economic development opportunities within the region.
• -Forster trust with businesses, identify potential issues and when necessary, elevate them to senior management for early risk mitigation.
• -Seek out, apply for, and manage grants and sponsor ships to help fund economic development initiatives.
• -Respond to enquiries and provide status reports on current leads; share and coordinate with Planning and Building divisions.
• -Maintain a current inventory of available land and space. Identify, track and project demands, trends and issues related to supply of available industrial and commercial supply and work interdepartmentally to identify ways of delivering the required supply in the appropriate configurations/locations.
• -Encourage business growth and job creation, by actively promoting the full range of support, information, and advice available to businesses in the municipality.
• -Participate in team Niagara meetings, task forces and round tables. Maintain strong relationships with…