Job Description
Salary: $136,818.00 - $191,545.00 Annually
Location : Walnut Creek, CA
Job Type: Regular At-Will
Job Number: 24-44
Department: General Government
Division: City Manager
Opening Date: 08/29/2024
Closing Date: 9/23/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 300
Position Description The City of Walnut Creek is seeking a full-time Economic Development Manager to join the City Manager's Office. This is an at-will position and serves at the will of the City Manager.
Salary The current salary range is $136,818 to $191,545 annually. Placement in the range will depend on qualifications.
Closing Date The closing date for this recruitment is Monday, September 23, 2024, at 5:00 PM PST.
What's great about this opportunity: - Working in the City Manager's Office and having exposure to the innerworkings of City government;
- Working at a premier Bay Area destination for business;
- City leadership that understands and supports business needs;
- Flexible work schedule options are available; and
- Paid professional development training and certifications.
About the City Spanning 19.5 square miles, the City's sprawling landscapes, warm weather, diverse dining options, and thriving shopping district make Walnut Creek a suburban oasis. With a rare blend of 2,800 acres of open space, a vibrant downtown, a business park, premier healthcare facilities and a performing arts center, Walnut Creek offers something for everyone!
Walnut Creek is a regional shopping and entertainment destination, as well as employment center. The downtown area boasts approximately 4 million square feet of office space, and 2.5 million square feet of retail. Residential is provided in a mix of multi-family and single-family homes. Walkable access to BART and a free shuttle system complement transportation options for residents, workers, and visitors. Walnut Creek's downtown office market has historically been a strong draw for financial, insurance, real estate, design, and legal businesses.
Medical is a major industry throughout Walnut Creek. A new 155,000 square foot UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Center recently opened, adding important services to existing Bass Medical Group's Cancer Center, two regional hospitals, and specialty services from major medical groups such as Stanford and UCSF Benioff.
The Shadelands area of the city is home to Del Monte Foods headquarters and a growing medical hub with satellite Kaiser, John Muir and UCSF offices, and many independent medical practitioners. In addition, Shadelands has popular retail offerings and has become a haven for sports activities featuring training facilities for serious athletes and the renowned COPA Soccer Training Center and the Ultimate Field House. With the recent development and introduction of a dynamic new Economic Development Action Plan, Walnut Creek presents an ideal environment for exciting economic growth for a wide range of industries.
The City of Walnut Creek is committed to values of respect, integrity, excellence, teamwork, and creativity. CARE, the City's robust award-winning employee engagement initiative, focuses on three key areas: providing career development opportunities; promoting connections among employees; and supporting employee health and wellness.
About the Department The City Manager's Office oversees the activities of City departments, implements policies set by the City Council, and ensures that City services are efficiently delivered.
The four divisions in the City Manager's Office include Economic Development, the City Clerk's Office, Communications & Community Outreach, and a division comprised of Risk Management, Sustainability and Climate Action, and Emergency Preparedness.
The City Manager's Office strives to continually enhance the quality of life of all residents, supports the policy objectives of the City Council, and provides leadership and support to all City departments.
About the Position This position is part of the Economic Development Division within the City Manager's Office. Economic development has been recognized by the City Council as a top priority. This is a great opportunity for the ideal candidate to use their economic development background and contacts to help strengthen Walnut Creek's economic base. The Economic Development Manager supervises a team of two staff members.
Here at Walnut Creek, we are passionate about business growth/development and encouraging innovation. Building on our continued success, as the
Economic Development Manager , you will lead our current programs and champion new opportunities in areas such as business attraction, retention, and expansion strategies.
Working with a wide array of staff across City departments, as well as business groups, you will serve as a connector of community and business. You will work closely with groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association, and the Shadelands PBID Board. Using your independent judgement and professionalism, you will identify necessary resources to perform economic development and redevelopment analysis.
The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is a dynamic, energetic, and creative professional who is able to quickly gain credibility through effective skilled communication. They are an effective people manager with strong leadership skills. Most importantly, the Economic Development Manager will see the big picture and understand the City Council's focus while ensuring quality economic development for the City of Walnut Creek.
Representative Duties - Direct and indirect supervision of subordinate management, professional, and support staff.
- Oversee programs relating to business assistance, downtown development, business financing, and other areas.
- Assist in the development of City policies related to the local economy.
- Analyze and interpret market information regarding a variety of complex data such as sales tax revenues, employment trends, and venture capital trends.
- Develop partnerships with outside agencies and business/property owners, lead strategic planning, and work effectively with the community.
- Track, estimate, and promote development opportunities.
- Serve as the first point of contact for businesses unfamiliar with the City of Walnut Creek.
- Respond to inquiries regarding economic data, trends, resources, and industrial and commercial development opportunities.
- Develop and coordinate marketing, outreach, and promotional programs to highlight Walnut Creek's exciting economic opportunities.
- Provide professional planning and development advice to the City Manager, City Council, and other officials as directed.
- Make private and public presentations to City Council, boards, commissions, civic groups, and the general public.
- Assure that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget; perform cost control activities; monitor revenues and expenditures in assigned area to ensure sound fiscal control; prepare annual budget requests; assure effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time.
- Develop and implement work programs and techniques to be followed for the attraction and retention of business to and within the community.
- Work with relevant economic groups, and organizations at the local, regional, state, and national levels.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of economic development, including business recruitment and retention methods; economic incentives; business and industrial development; real estate and land development processes; business, economic and market forces and indicators; and financing techniques for real estate, business, and industrial development.
- Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive economic development program, including a proactive outreach and communication program which projects the image of the community.
- Ability to work effectively in a highly visible position, with business leaders, financial institutions, citizen groups, and City staff in interdepartmental and diverse team environments.
- Ability to independently develop and coordinate effective systems, programs, and procedures; recognize needs, analyze problems, develop and evaluate options, make sound recommendations and initiate actions in order to improve effectiveness, resolve problems within established guidelines, and/or comply with regulatory and/or policy changes as appropriate.
- Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff; plan and direct the work of others.
Qualifications Guidelines Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Education A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in business administration, economics, public administration, planning, or a related field. A Master's degree in a related field is highly desirable.
Experience Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience performing professional level economic or community development, research, business administration, or redevelopment program work, which includes at least two (2) years in a supervisory capacity.
Special Requirements Possession of, or ability to obtain prior to employment, a valid Class C California Driver's License and a good driving record.
The incumbent may be required to perform work outside of normal office hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Supplemental Information The deadline to apply for this position is Monday, September 23, 2024, before 5:00 PM PST. Applicants possessing the MOST DESIRABLE qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which will include an oral interview
tentatively scheduled for the week of October 7, 2024. All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process.
Applicants considered for appointment to this position will be subject to California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprinting and a thorough background and criminal check and a credit check.
If special accommodations are necessary at any stage of the recruitment process, please provide the Human Resources Department with advance notice and every attempt will be made to consider your request.
As required by law, all public employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers. As such, all City of Walnut Creek employees may be called upon to assist in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or man-made disasters.
Please see the class specification here for a complete description of this classification's representative duties; knowledge, skills and abilities; qualifications; working conditions; physical requirements; and for other details about this position.
The City of Walnut Creek provides a generous benefit package to employees in the General Management Unit. A summary of key benefits is listed below. More information can be found on the benefit page of the City's website and in the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Walnut Creek and the General Management Unit.
Full-Time Employees: Health Benefits - Choice of Kaiser or Blue Shield HMO or HDHP health insurance plans with generous City contribution.
Dental and Vision Plans - Family coverage fully paid by the City.
Life Insurance and Disability - Individual coverage fully paid by the City.
Retirement Program - CalPERS 2% at 60 retirement plan
OR for new employees hired after 1/1/2013 the benefit formula applicable under AB340 California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA).
Employee PERS contribution: 7% or contributions required under AB340 California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA).
401(a) Money Purchase Plan -City contribution of $2,800 annually and a mandatory employee contribution of $3,600 annually.
457 Deferred Compensation plan - Voluntary employee contributions
The City participates in the Medicare Program but does not participate in Social Security or the State Disability program.
Paid Leave and Holidays - General Leave accrues at the rate of 20 days the first year and progresses to 32 days at twenty-five years of service. There are twelve paid holidays per year and one floating DEIB holiday per year. Employees may be granted up to 96 hours per year in Professional/Management Leave.
Dependent Care and Medical Spending Accounts - Available to eligible employees on a voluntary basis.
Additional Benefits - Career Development Allowance, Tuition Reimbursement Program, Employee Assistance Plan, Retirement Health Savings Account, Wellness Program, Commute Alternative Program, Vehicle Allowance (applicable only to certain managers) and others.
Part-Time Employees: Health Benefits - Choice of Kaiser HMO or Blue Shield HMO health insurance plans with a generous City contribution (prorated for part-time employees).
Retirement Program - CalPERS 2% at 60 retirement plan OR for new employees hired after 1/1/2013 the benefit formula applicable under AB340 California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). Employee contribution: 7%*.
* or contributions required under AB340 California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA)
401(a) Money Purchase Plan with prorated City contribution. Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan is available. The City participates in the Medicare Program but does not participate in Social Security or the State Disability program.
Paid Leave and Holidays - Prorated for part-time employees.
Dependent Care and Medical Spending Accounts - Available to eligible employees on a voluntary basis.
Additional Benefits - Career Development Allowance, Employee Assistance Plan, Wellness Program, Commute Alternative Program and others.
01
Please check your highest level of academic achievement.
- Some High School
- High School Graduate or Equivalent
- Some College
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or Higher
02
Please indicate your coursework and/or degree relevant to this position. If this question does not apply, please write, "N/A."
03
How many years of progressively responsible experience performing professional level economic or community development, research, business administration, or redevelopment program work do you have? Please check your number of years of experience in these areas.
- None
- Up to 2 years
- 2 - 4 years
- 5 - 6 years
- 7 - 10 years
- 11 + years
04
Regarding question #3, please indicate when, where, and in what capacity you obtained this experience.
05
Working at least two (2) years in a supervisory capacity is a requirement for this position. How many years of supervisory experience do you have?
- None
- up to 2 years
- 2 - 4 years
- 5 + years
06
Please describe your experience and background that makes you the most qualified candidate for the position of Economic Development Manager. Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs.
07
Please describe your experience implementing, fostering, and/or supporting partnerships with chambers of commerce, business associations, nonprofits, and other parties in support of a collaborative approach to economic development. Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs.
08
In your view, what is a supervisor's role in supervising an employee? Please limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs.
09
Please read carefully: The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. If selected, the information that you have provided will be verified. If the information is inconsistent, you may be disqualified from this recruitment process. I understand the above-mentioned statement.
Required Question
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Part time, Local area, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,