An Economic Development Project Manager plans, organizes, monitors, manages, and evaluates economic development project activities.  Responsibilities include:  coordinating, directing, and implementing programs and projects that support commercial, office, and industrial development; workforce development; the attraction of and assistance to domestic and international businesses; development of public facilities and infrastructure; small business development initiatives; and/or other economic development, redevelopment, or capital improvement programs or projects.

Work requires considerable independent judgment and initiative in combining a broad scope of professional planning and economic development knowledge and sophisticated, analytical judgments in order to solve a variety of complex, technical problems.  Responsible for overall management of economic development project activities.  This class may functionally supervise Economic Development Specialist(s) and/or office support staff.  This class is supervised by a department director or deputy director who reviews work through conferences, meetings, reports, and results achieved.  This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.

City Manager’s Office (Downtown Transformation) Assignment:

Work includes: performing economic development ombudsman duties with City departments on behalf of private developers locating or located within downtown; developing management plans including current and critical path schedules for public improvement and private revitalization projects; meeting and working with citizen committees, special interest groups, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups concerning
downtown economic development and redevelopment; partnering with the Downtown Mesa Association in downtown marketing, business assistance, business attraction, business retention, and parking management; and developing and managing projects and programs that support downtown revitalization, such as façade improvement and sign grants. Duties also include: evaluating projects on a cost/benefit basis; evaluating and processing rezoning, design review, and use permit requests for projects within the downtown area; preparing developer solicitations for redevelopment of city-owned land; soliciting development proposals from private development companies; and negotiating development agreements and contracts with private developers. Work is either oriented towards short-term or multi-year projects. This class performs related duties as required.

Falcon Field Airport Assignment:

Work includes: proactively performing economic development duties to attract and retain aviation businesses and private developers to the airport to increase jobs and the airport’s economic benefit to the City and region; researches and identifies aviation business prospects; attends aviation trade shows; utilizes various printed and electronic marketing formats to promote available airport properties; works cooperatively with local, state, regional, national, and international economic development organizations to attract aviation businesses to the airport; meets with site selectors and real estate agents; negotiates long-term ground leases with prospective aviation businesses and developers; assists with the preparation of documents to help ensure that development projects meet applicable local, state, and federal requirements; meets with existing airport businesses and their representatives to help facilitate their continued growth and expansion; represents the airport at economic development and aviation meetings; assists Airport Director with various projects, as requested.

Office of Economic Development Assignment:

Work includes: performing economic development ombudsman duties with City departments on behalf of private developers locating or located within the City; assisting in representing the City on economic development boards and committees, and other issues as assigned; developing management plans including current and critical path schedules for public improvement and private revitalization projects; meeting and working with citizen committees, special interest groups, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups concerning economic development issues and problems; facility and event management; and developing business assistance, business retention, and financing plans. Duties also include: evaluating projects on a cost/benefit basis; preparing reports on economic development activities for administrative, advisory boards, and City Council decision-making; soliciting development proposals from private development companies; negotiating and managing agreements, contracts and leases with partners, vendors, providers, and customers; engaging partners to bring training; coordinating access to professional assistance, education, and events to support businesses; programming development and implementation; and RFP development and evaluation. Work is either oriented towards short-term or multi-year projects. Employees in this class may be required to work evenings and/or weekends for special events or programming coverage (by assignment). This class performs related duties as required.

Qualifications & Requirements