JOB DESCRIPTION

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is an experienced and forward-thinking professional with a strong background in economic development, real estate development, and housing programs who can effectively lead complex projects that support business retention, business attraction, and community revitalization. This individual excels at building strong relationships with developers, businesses, community stakeholders, and internal departments, and is skilled in conducting economic analysis, negotiating development agreements, and preparing high-quality reports and presentations. The ideal candidate is a confident communicator, a strategic problem-solver, and a collaborative leader who can navigate sensitive issues with sound judgment while managing multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment to advance the City of Bell's long-term economic and housing goals.

DEFINITION
The Economic Development and Housing Manager will oversee the implementation and administration of all Economic Development and Housing programs, projects, initiatives and activities designed to retain and expand existing businesses and to attract new businesses to the City of Bell that generate revenue, job creation and the production, preservation and development of existing and new Housing units for the improvement of the quality-of-life for the City residents. Assumes significant responsibilities in a functional area such as redevelopment project development and implementation, property acquisition and relocation, and special redevelopment projects as assigned and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direction from the City Manager or designee and coordinate with all other city departments. This position will exercise functional supervision over technical staff, management analyst, administrative and clerical staff.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This position is an at-will, management level position responsible for the management and administration of all City Economic Development and Housing related activities.
Incumbents at the Senior level perform the most complex work assigned to the series; because assignments for positions at the Senior level typically involve issues which have City-wide or community-wide impact.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Monitor the Local Economy: Understand the local economy and real estate market by analyzing the local retail base, sales tax, and vacancies to target a broad array of retail tenants; generating and maintaining economic and demographic data to determine market conditions and trends; and compiling and updating a comprehensive database of vacant parcels as well as unoccupied retail, office, commercial and industrial sites.
• Support Existing Businesses: Assist existing businesses by creating a publicity campaign to highlight key businesses and local success stories;  maintain and enhance programs to foster business-to-business purchasing; serving as the City's liaison to the businesses community; identifying grant opportunities and financing tools to foster business investment; facilitating local businesses’ use of City services; and developing and maintain  Business Retention Visitation program to address specific issues raised by local businesses.
• Attract New Businesses: Assist in business attraction efforts by identifying missing and underrepresented businesses and categories of businesses; promote economic development activities to increase City's visibility as a desirable business location; developing marketing materials for specific sites; helping to  identify and recommend incentives for brokers to secure key tenants and zoning incentives to attract businesses; creating an inventory of available properties for sale, lease and development; targeting emerging growth industries for business attraction; researching neighboring cities’ “cost of doing business” to maximize Bell’s competitiveness in attracting businesses; mapping vacant and underutilized properties; participate in economic development education workshops real estate and local economy forecast workshops; and coordinating the production & use of social media, promotional materials, and electronic media.
• Perform compliance reporting and analysis regarding contract requirements as part of Local, State, or Federal Grant or Economic Development Loan programs.
• Assist in purchase and sale of city-owned land and private party acquisition.
• Participate in evaluation of economics, community needs, and land use in developing recommendations for development appropriate for a project area.
• Analyzes the economic feasibility of proposed real property transactions and makes recommendations.
• Tracking and preparing revenue and expenditure reports for City leaseholds.
• Preparation and Soliciting proposals from outside vendors and coordinating contract approvals.
• Develop weekly and monthly reports for department heads, City management, as well as City Council requests for data.
• Attend and present the City's Economic Development Strategic Plan at conferences, community meetings, City Council, or City Commission meetings.
• Prepare and maintain statistical reports and proactively evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, and methods related to Community Development, Economic Development and Housing activities.
• Develop and make formal presentations to City Manager's or designee, vendors, boards, committees, regarding various economic development opportunities.
• Develop outreach and marketing programs to local businesses to assist in business retention and attraction of new business.
• Conduct research and prepare analysis on special projects assigned and present the results in a professional format.
• Coordinate activities related to outreach efforts with City staff, vendors, various industry Chambers and Trade Organizations to further opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned businesses.
• Manage and Oversee the Bell Homeless Shelter Bed program with Salvation Army
• Performs related duties and fulfills responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES
To qualify for this position, an individual must possess a combination of experience, education, and/or training that would likely produce the knowledge and abilities required to perform the work. A desirable combination of qualifications is described as follows:

EDUCATION:
A bachelor's degree in business administration, planning, public administration, economics, finance, urban planning or studies, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required. 

Experience:
A minimum of five (5) years of experience in real estate development, economic development, community development and planning, and/or housing development or program related activities.

LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:
A valid California Class C driver's license. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Duties may include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Performs housing program technical support duties including, but not limited to, rent collection, maintenance and repair assessment and residential property management tasks
• Prepares and manages BCHA Funds and other Housing related funds

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, planning, public administration, economics, finance, urban studies, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in real estate development, economic development, community development and planning, and/or housing development or program related activities and understanding of property management requirements/regulations/laws.