Job Description
Salary: $100,000.00 - $112,611.00 Annually
Location : City Hall; 1707 St Johns Ave.; Highland Park, IL
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2025-03
Department: City Manager's Office
Division: Business Development
Opening Date: 12/31/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Description of Primary Purpose Primary Purpose: The Economic & Business Development Manager is the main point of contact for the local business community and acts as the City's liaison to local and regional business development organizations. Their primary responsibilities include implementing activities, policies, and procedures related to the City's Business and Economic Development Strategic Plan. This involves creating business development and marketing strategies to attract, retain, and expand private sector investment in the City. The Manager also advocates for economic growth and focuses on broadening the sales tax base to maintain a balanced and healthy business climate. Additionally, the Manager provides advice and staff support to the Business & Economic Development Advisory Group, which aims to develop initiatives and policies to enhance the City's commercial establishments. The Manager also oversees Business Registration, Outdoor Dining and Display, Vacant Storefronts, and the City's economic incentive programs and Special Service Areas.
Supervision Received: The Economic & Business Development Manager reports to the Assistant City Manager.
Supervision Exercised: This position directly supervises the part-time Business Development Assistant and full-time Business Development Specialist.
IMRF pension eligible position.
Salary Grade 12
Expected Hiring Range: $100,000.00 annual +/- dependent of qualifications
Essential Duties and Responsibilities - Responsible for working with City officials and staff to develop and update the City's dynamic Business and Economic Development Strategic Plan and implement activities, policies, and procedures related to this plan. The Manager's duties include proactive business attraction, retention, and expansion of existing businesses to maintain the City's vibrancy, ensuring a diverse yet complementary business mix, and promoting a more robust economic base. Coordinates with City departments, ensuring that businesses' needs are met. Manages the City's Special Service Areas, including budget oversite. Builds relationships with owners, operators, commercial property owners and brokers and business stakeholders. The Manager also markets and administers business incentive programs and provides information to support business success and attraction, including demographics, traffic counts, utilities, transportation, City services, financing tools, and incentives for new and existing businesses, property owners, real estate professionals, and partners in economic development.
- Facilitates stakeholder communication, builds bridges between the public and private sectors, and helps understand each group's mission and resources. Works with business groups to develop and implement short-term and long-term economic development objectives and programs, including public/private partnerships. Establishes ties with various local, state, and regional agencies and coordinates projects as necessary.
- Conducts and oversees business and economic development research and prepares and reviews reports and recommendations for City officials and staff.
- Develops and oversees the City's promotional and informational materials and content related to economic development. Manages the economic development content on the City's website, Enjoy Highland Park, and business and marketing newsletters and social media to ensure a strong marketing presence and up-to-date content. Also develops marketing strategies to promote Highland Park in collaboration with the Marketing Coordinator and Communications Manager.
- Oversees the work of the Business Development Specialist and Business Development Assistant.
- Provides staff support to the Business and Economic Development Advisory Group.
- Prepares and manages the City's Business Development budget.
- Performs other related duties as requested.
Education and Experience Required Minimum Qualifications: The requirements below represent knowledge, skills, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Education: A bachelor's degree in business, marketing, public administration, urban planning, public relations, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in local government, commercial real estate or a related field is preferred with focus on economic development functions preferred.
Certification or License: A valid driver's license is required.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Proficiencies: This position requires excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively present ideas orally and in writing. It also requires the ability to plan, organize, supervise, and carry out complex research projects effectively and present reports and recommendations following such research and analysis. Knowledge of effective principles, practices, and techniques of economic development, business concerns, needs, practices, markets, relocation needs, initiatives, economic incentive tools, special services areas, tax increment financing districts, City Code, and various building and zoning regulations is necessary. Understanding planning and development decisions' short-term and long-term socioeconomic, fiscal, and political implications. Additionally, knowledge of external community image building and marketing, computer literacy, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously is required. The position also calls for skill in exercising good judgment, maintaining confidentiality, and making responsible decisions per established policies and procedures, as well as the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with City and Chamber officials, public agencies, other professionals, property owners, attorneys, fellow employees, and the general public.
Full-time employees are entitled to a host of wide-ranging benefits including:
- Health and Dental Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Pension Programs
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Program
- Employee Wellness Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Longevity Pay
- Paid Vacation Time (80.00 hr year one accrual rate)
- Paid Personal Time (40.00 hr annual, prorated in year one)
- Paid Sick Time (96.00 hr year one accrual rate)
City of Highland Park, IL
Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Local area, Relocation, Outdoor, Flexible hours,