The city is seeking a highly motivated, innovative, and results-driven professional who is goal-oriented and self-motivated, possessing the skills and abilities to build strategic collaboration and partnerships that achieve success. This senior-level executive will oversee the industrial/commercial development of hundreds of acres of land sitting at the crossroads of two major highways linking together the San Joaquin Valley. The successful candidate will also lead the downtown renovation program and focus on a growing housing demand in the city. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative professional who can provide strong support for public-private partnerships.
Under the administrative direction of the City Administrator, the Community and Economic Development Director will plan, organize, direct and coordinate the City’s community and economic development program and will represent the city in matters of economic development; and performs related work as required.
This is a department head position who will coordinate the City’s efforts in promoting community and economic development. The incumbent will serve as Executive Director of the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. The incumbent serves as liaison with local, state and federal economic development agencies, and brings various program activities together into a City-wide coordinated and planned economic development strategy. The Community and Economic Development Director acts with a high degree of independence of action in the assigned area of responsibility to attain objectives according to policy guidelines. The incumbent is expected to develop methods and procedures and solve problems encountered. Except where a deviation in policy is involved, most work is not reviewed directly by supervisor and when work is reviewed, the review is directed toward final outcomes and results
The Director will direct and coordinate the City's economic development efforts that may include financing, site selection, supplemental outreach recruitment and existing business expansion and development entitlement assistance. Prepares and recommends the City's economic development policy goals and implementation plans. Serves as a liaison with local, state and federal agencies responsible for economic development activities. Manages developer selection process and negotiates developmental agreements for commercial and industrial projects. Manages permit processing, planning, building plan checking and inspections, code enforcement, historic preservation and development engineering. Directs research and preparation of various reports, proposals, and studies. Chairs committees comprised of key employees from other city departments in order to respond in a coordinate manner to the development needs of applicants. Represents the City at various meetings. Performs related work as required.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The essential responsibilities of the director are to have knowledge of principles and practices of economic development efforts that may include financing, site selection, business outreach and recruitment, existing business expansion, and development entitlement assistance methods and techniques of permit processing, building inspection and code enforcement; laws, ordinances and regulations governing the operation of municipal government; management theory and practice; spelling, grammar and punctuation; appropriate safety precautions and procedures.
Have the ability to plan, organize and administer comprehensive economic development programs; coordinate a task force designed to respond to developmental needs of applicants; prepare comprehensive reports, make effective oral presentation and maintain effective public relations; exercise good judgement in the handling of municipal affairs; formulate and administer budget; operate a vehicle observing legal and defensive driving practices; establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work; deal with a wide variety of planning, building and code/zone customers and reaching a satisfactory resolution to difficult and complex problems; maintain confidentiality and determine what information can be dispensed; coordinate with various departments for plans and permits review; manage the performance of others in the department with regards to scheduling inspections, computerized data entry, permit issuance, public relations, complaint, planning and community and economic development conditions and monetary follow-up.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORKING CONDITIONS: Strength, light work-lifting, carrying and/or pushing 25 pounds maximum; incumbents are required to attend periodic evening meetings; and required to travel within and out of City to attend meetings.
PREREQUISITES: This position requires equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, urban planning, economics or a closely related field.
A master’s degree in one of these fields is desirable.
A minimum of three years of increasingly responsible experience in managerial-level work in economic/business development and municipal services.
Possession of a valid California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
The application deadline is Friday, September 5, 2025. Please apply on CalOpps and include a cover letter, comprehensive resume and five professional references.
