Summary
Description
Summary
The Director of Economic Development provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and management of the Town’s economic development functions. This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing programs that promote business attraction, retention, and expansion, as well as commercial development and redevelopment in accordance with the Town’s municipal code, policies, and strategic objectives.
The Director collaborates with Town leadership, advisory boards, community partners, and the business community to create and sustain a vibrant local economy. This role may serve as the executive director of the Firestone Urban Renewal Authority (FURA) and the Central Firestone District Downtown Development Authority (CFD), and ensures the effective administration of FURA and CFD, implementing strategic goals, initiatives, and supports the Town’s vision of responsible growth, fiscal stability, and exceptional public service.
Click the links to view the Town of Firestone Employee Benefits Guide and Employee Premium Guide.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The list below is intended to illustrate the responsibilities of the position and is not all-encompassing. The Town reserves the right to modify these duties at any time.
- Leads the development, implementation, and update of the Town’s economic development strategic plans aligned with Firestone’s Comprehensive Master Plan and the Board of Trustees’ Work Plan.
- Serves as a member of the Town’s leadership team; advises Town Manager, Town Board CFD Board, and FURA on strategy and growth opportunities.
- Designs and implements programs to attract high-value businesses, retain and expand local employers, and enhance job opportunities.
- Guides prospective and existing businesses, including site selection, incentive evaluation, market data, and relevant Town codes.
- Collaborates with neighboring jurisdictions, regional economic development entities and state agencies to maximize business development opportunities.
- Provides oversight for Urban Renewal Areas (URAs), Downtown Development Authority (DDA)and the utilization of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) mechanisms under Colorado law.
- Negotiates development agreements, public-private partnerships, and incentive packages that meet Town objectives.
- Administers the FURA, providing support, preparing meeting agendas, and producing required reports. Ensures compliance with bylaws, state statutes, and transparency standards for both the FURA and the CFD.
- Prepares financial and technical analyses, including economic and fiscal impact reports, and other planning, marketing, and real estate studies for consideration by Town staff, the Board of Trustees, FURA , CFD Board, and other stakeholders in evaluating proposed redevelopment projects and public investments.
- Coordinates with developers, property owners, and community stakeholders to facilitate development and redevelopment projects, negotiate agreements, and implement public-private investment initiatives that support Town goals and economic growth.
- Leads outreach, engagement and communication efforts for economic development and redevelopment initiatives: public meetings, advisory groups, presentations to leadership and boards.
- Monitors economic development programs and provides business assistance initiatives consistent with Town policy and strategic objectives.
- Develops and manages the department FURA, and CFD operating budgets and monitors expenditures, incentives and project financials.
- Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, municipal code, land use and zoning regulations, urban renewal statutes, procurement rules and public finance requirements.
- Monitors economic and development trends, local market conditions, tax base and redevelopment indicators; maintains relevant databases and tracking systems for business leads, incentive commitments and project outcomes.
- Uses insight from analytics and benchmarking to refine strategies, improve performance and support the Town’s long-term economic objectives.
- Develops, implements, and monitors policy and programs to support sustainable economic growth.
- Maintains awareness of local, state, and federal programs that can benefit the Town and its business community.
- Establishes clear performance objectives and promotes a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous growth and improvement.
- Tracks and analyzes economic trends, development activity, and program outcomes.
- Collaborates with the Marketing & Communications Department to create marketing materials for economic development efforts, social media content, and web pages.
- Participates in ongoing training for personal and professional development
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required:
- Comprehensive knowledge of economic development, redevelopment, and urban renewal principles and best practices.
- Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Ability to manage budgets, analyze complex financial data, and evaluate project feasibility.
- Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills; ability to work effectively with elected officials, developers, business leaders, community members and regional partners.
- Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management capabilities.
- Proficient in project management, data analytics, performance measurement, and continuous improvement.
- Ability to build effective relationships, collaborate across functions, and drive results in a municipal environment.
- Ability to address a diverse audience and provide effective public presentations
- Ability to interpret Federal, State and local laws, ordinances, and regulations governing development
- Knowledge of statistical and research methods, including use of specialized software applications
- Ability to prepare and analyze economic studies, data, financial statements, marketing studies, plans, specs and bid documents
- Acts in accordance with the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation & IEDC code of ethics
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle confidential issues with tact and discretion
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Economic Development, Urban/Regional Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance or a closely related field.
- Eight (8) years of progressive experience in economic development, redevelopment, or urban renewal, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or management role.
- Proven knowledge of Colorado Urban Renewal Law, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) mechanisms, redevelopment agreements, land use policy and municipal code.
- Demonstrated success in leading complex projects, negotiating public-private development agreements, managing incentives and delivering measurable economic outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a related field.
- CEcD (Certified Economic Developer)
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
Licenses/Certifications:
- Valid Colorado Driver License and satisfactory driving record required
Physical Activities:
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Body Movement:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently required to sit, frequently stand and walk, use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, and rarely stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
On rare occasions, the employee may be required to climb and balance. The employee must occasionally carry, pull, push, or lift up to 20 pounds.
The employee must be physically able to operate various computers and office equipment successfully to fulfill the essential functions of this position.
Vision:
Employees must be able to consistently see with near and far acuity, depth perception, color vision, and field vision.
Hearing:
Employees must have the ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds (e.g., machinery, telephones, doorbell, alarms); communicate clearly and effectively; understand and be understood; be able to consistently engage in ordinary conversations.
At the Town of Firestone, we recognize the contributions each employee makes to assist us in achieving Town-wide goals. Because of this, we are committed to providing our employees with a total compensation package comprised of benefits, financial security, and work/life balance. Our benefit package includes:
- Medical – You may choose from (3) Medical Plans under Cigna’s Open Access Plans (OAP) which includes (2) High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and (1) Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan
- Dental – Employees are eligible for 100% premium -employer-paid dental coverage through Delta Dental
- Vision – Employees are eligible for 100% premium -employer-paid vision coverage through VSP
Employer-paid supplemental benefits include:
- Group Life and AD&D Insurance
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Paid Time Off
- Extended Paid Leave (EPL) accrued up to a maximum of 280 hours
- Thirteen (13) Paid Holidays
- Sixteen (16) hours of Paid Volunteer Leave
- HSA Contribution to Choice Plan HDHP
- Employee Education Assistance/Reimbursement up to $2,000 annually
- Membership to Firestone Anytime Fitness and Carbon Valley Recreation Center
- Training and development for Certification and Licensure programs
- National and/or Statewide Association Affiliation fees
- Professional Retirement Assessment Assistance
- Flu-Shingles-Covid Vaccination Clinics
You are also able to elect supplemental benefits at the employee's cost, which include:
- Accident/Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity Coverages (employee elected/paid)
- Voluntary Life and AD&D Coverage for Employee/Spouse and Dependents (employee elected/paid)
- Cyber Security Coverage through Norton LifeLock (employee elected/paid)
- SPOT Pet Insurance (employee elected/paid)
- Verizon discount program
In compliance with 41 CFR 60-2 The Town of Firestone provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and Town ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
The Town of Firestone expressly prohibits any form of unlawful harassment or discrimination. Any person with questions or concerns about the Town’s practices relative to equal employment opportunities is encouraged to bring these matters to the attention of the Human Resources department.
The Town of Firestone’s Affirmative Action Plan manages and ensures that equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees.
