Summary
Description
ABOUT ENGLEWOOD
Englewood is at the heart of the Denver Metropolitan area, located just south of Denver with a population of approximately 35,000 residents with 2,100 businesses that employ 25,000 workers. Englewood is a tight-knit community with a small city atmosphere with all the benefits associated with a larger metropolitan area. The city is served by light rail and bus transit systems linking the community to Downtown Denver and other locations, including Denver International Airport.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
The Community Development Department oversees planning, zoning, building, economic development, redevelopment, and housing in Englewood. It supports four boards and commissions and helps shape the city’s built environment through key policies and programs. The department has 17 full-time staff, including the Economic Development Manager, a member of the management team.
Guided by the vision established by the Economic Development Strategic Plan (englewoodco.gov/econplan), the Economic Development Manager will join the organization at a unique time. Economic development services, programs and polices are in place. The manager will build and implement additional portions of the strategic plan to explore new pathways for professional growth and achievement.
An area of focus of the initial work of the manager will be the cultivation of productive working relationships with business and property owners along Englewood’s South Broadway corridor from US285/Hampden Avenue to Belleview Avenue. The revitalization of this aging commercial district is a high priority for the city represented by an interdepartmental team that is establishing placemaking and wayfinding initiatives and focusing municipal investments within the corridor to transform it into a thriving district for adjacent neighborhoods and the city as a whole.
In addition to the Economic Development Strategic Plan in 2022, the department and city completed a comprehensive update of its land use development code in 2023, is addressing the challenge of affordable housing, and an update of the city’s comprehensive plan will be completed by mid-2025. Each of these significant actions provide the tools and opportunity for the Economic Development Manager to play a central role in partnering with the business community to achieve shared success into the future.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Economic Development Manager provides oversight and acts as the primary staff person in the business development, attraction, and retention efforts of the City. Initiates and administers economic development programs, events and reports. Works directly with business owners, developers, and business groups to promote a healthy economic base in Englewood.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Community Development Director
Direct Reports: None
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The listed examples of work are not intended to be all-inclusive. They may be modified with additions, deletions, or changes as necessary.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Manages Englewood’s business retention and revitalization programs, including loan funds, grant funds, and other business development initiatives. Coordinates the marketing of the economic development program and business development events.
- Acts as primary contact for new and expanding businesses with regulatory issues, financing, processes, program referrals, and small business assistance questions. Identifies and markets to specific businesses and sectors for targeted recruitment.
- Administers economic development projects, coordinates meetings, establishes project schedules and cost estimates. Submits progress and summary reports.
- Analyzes economic development opportunities, researches background material, develops alternative approaches and recommends solutions.
- Researches resources for funding including federal, state, municipal and private sector capital and opportunities for leveraging funds. Submits grant requests and administers programs funded with grant proceeds, including the Enterprise Zone.
- Included as a member of the Community Development Department’s Management team. Serves as city staff liaison to the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce.
- Partners with federal, state and regional agencies to develop programs and events to attract and retain businesses in Englewood. Specific partners include the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Aurora-South Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
- Maintains contacts and networks with real estate brokers, financial institutions, developers, regional and state agencies, elected and appointed officials.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
- Serves as local Manager of the Enterprise Zone.
- Advises director, departments, boards, and City Council on economic/business development issues.
- Develops and monitors business incentive agreements.
- Identifies and implements creative approaches or solutions to development issues and project hurdles.
- Serves on boards and committees of community partner organizations to further Englewood’s economic development goals and monitor the business environment.
- Coordinates and monitors professional service contracts as related to business development.
- Performs other duties as assigned and required.
PREPARATION AND TRAINING
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Business Administration, or related field required.
- Master’s degree is preferred.
Work Experience
- Minimum 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in business attraction, retention and/or economic development projects
Preferred Certifications and/or Licensures
- Economic Development Finance Professional
- Economic Developer
Required Driver’s License
- Valid Colorado driver’s license and a clear or acceptable MVR
An equivalent combination of education, training and relevant job experience may be substituted.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge
Working knowledge of:
- Economic development principals, strategies, and financing methods
- Real Estate development
- Public Sector regulations
- Local, state and federal regulations related to economic development
- Grant administration
- Business Finance and loan underwriting
- Community Marketing
- Business event planning and execution
- Applications software for Windows environment, Microsoft Office preferred
- Basic knowledge of budgeting
Skills and Abilities
- Computer Skills – Strong computer skills needed to prepare and maintain reports, spreadsheets, and databases. Also needed to prepare presentations.
- Strong Internet skills needed for communication, research, and resources.
- Communication – Advanced customer service skills needed to establish and maintain effective working relationships with outside public agencies, consultants, developers, and the business community. Advanced verbal and written communication skills required to prepare reports and deliver presentations.
- Analytical – Strong skills needed to review and analyze loan requests, business plans, and other business financial data.
- Project Management – Strong skills needed to manage and implement new programs.
- General Management – Strong skills needed to administer the financial component of the City’s economic development program.
- Mathematical – Strong skills needed to analyze economic development opportunities.
