Business Development Manager/Business Attraction

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Manage business recruitment by researching companies and industries, developing strategic and marketing plans, identifying and generating business leads, representing the City at trade shows, preparing presentations and proposals, and negotiating agreements on behalf of the City.
• Create and maintain relationships with executives, site selectors, brokerage firms, developers, and landowners.
• Assist interested businesses and industries in locating sites, securing City approvals, securing financing, or resolving issues related to relocation or expansion.
• Research and seek out potential targeted businesses that align with the City’s goals, assets, and strategies.
• Serve as the initial contact from project inception to completion for selecting projects considering Avondale for site location.
• Direct City response to requests for information from potential businesses, developers, and consultant groups.
• Evaluate types of business for which an Avondale location could be attractive and their potential for employment and tax base enhancement.
• Participate in long-range planning, development of marketing strategies, and goal setting for business attraction, retention, and assistance efforts.
• Develop and maintain prospect pipeline targets, manage leads and activity in the CRM system.
• Execute national and international trade shows and sales missions aligned with strategic plans.
• Represent the City at functions such as civic and business association meetings, community events, and industry functions to establish goodwill.
• Develop and support agreements with stakeholders, lead RFP processes, sales and development agreements, and contracts.
• Coordinate with various city departments to evaluate and recommend policy enhancements and develop proposals to attract businesses.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies for industry sectors, including collaborating on announcements, marketing materials, and website updates.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economic Development, Public Administration, Finance, or a similar field.
• Three (3) years of experience in economic development, urban planning, commercial real estate, or business development.
• Valid Arizona Operator's Driver's License.
• Ability to read complex legal documents, development agreements, contracts, and strategic plans.
• Ability to perform general math calculations including algebra and statistics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact with executive management, City Council, and business professionals.
• Experience in managing work performance, evaluating program effectiveness, and realigning work and staffing as needed.
• Ability to develop departmental budgets and present them to relevant departments and management.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines with a sense of urgency.
• Ability to communicate extensively with internal and external stakeholders, including government officials, developers, and regional personnel.

Nice to Have

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification.
• Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification.
• Experience working with federal and state agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Three years of relevant experience.
• Valid Arizona Driver's License.

Benefits & Perks

• Not specified in the description.