What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Economic Development position at CHARLES COUNTY GOVERNMENT?
Summary
This is a continuous posting with a best consideration date of May 8, 2025.
The hiring salary range for this position is $126,208.10 - $204,456.92 commensurate with experience.
Charles County Government is seeking an experienced Director of Economic Development to provide economic development strategies, technical elements, work plans and services on behalf of Charles County as the Economic Development official to retain and expand the County’s primary employment and investment base. The Director will oversee and manage the County Economic Development Department’s activities, programs, partnerships, and client relationships, and serve as the primary advisor to the County Administrator and Charles County Board of Commissioners for economic development.
Essential Job Functions
- Oversees and coordinates assigned program areas.
- Ensures collaboration occurs with sister economic development organizations and entities on their related programs and collaborative efforts.
- Meets and coordinates with regional leadership, organizations and entities on their related programs and efforts.
- Meets with Charles County department heads on coordinated Economic Development programs and collaborates internally and effectively across department lines on regulatory, land use, utility and development matters affecting specific businesses, projects, and proposals.
- Comments internally on economic development components and elements of major land use plans and potential impacts thereof.
- Advises Commissioners on recommended economic development programs, projects, and their impacts.
- Assumes a lead or supporting role in advancing long term revitalization, transit, and other major economic development related commissioner priorities.
- Meets with corporate and business clients on location, relocation, expansion, or recapture.
- Represent Charles County and participate in local and regional economic development initiatives and events.
- Prepares and oversees the Economic Development Department budget and assist with Bond presentation before creditors. Analyzes economic development-related grant requests from outside organizations and makes recommendations thereon.
- Negotiates, drafts, coordinates as appropriate, and recommends letters of intent, development and P3 agreements having major economic development implications.
- Coordinates with State Department of Business and Economic Development Leadership on State economic development-related legislation, initiatives, potential prospects, and incentives.
- Prepares work plan and Implements Commissioner Economic Development Goals and Objectives.
- Identifies and recommends business incentives for adoption and applied on a case-by-case basis.
- Develops, recommends, and oversees outsourcing opportunities consistent with budgetary approvals.
- Develops and recommends appropriate metrics by which to measure the success of the economic development function.
- Utilizes and sets agendas for any economic development advisory boards appointed by County commissioners.
- Performs other related job duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Marketing, Urban Planning, Economic Development, Real Estate, Law, or a related field. Ten (10) years of experience with business, planning, real estate, government economic development or considerable experience in commercial or industrial real estate site acquisition and development or in business and industrial financing, zoning, commercial real estate, and business marketing; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
Licenses or Certifications:
Must possess a valid driver's license.
Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and related training toward CEcD certification are preferred.
Special Requirements/Qualifications:
Subject to work beyond the normal scheduled hours of work to include frequent evening meetings.
Some travel outside of the area for meetings or conferences may be required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of basic economic development principals, programs, tools, and best practices.
- Knowledge of economy and economic potential of Charles County and of the County's development goals and standards.
- Knowledge of funding sources and their interests and limitations, and of real property resources and values.
- Knowledge of locational and other requirements of business firms operating in the County as well as of possible expansion needs.
- Knowledge of media and other avenues of approach to business firms that may be potential candidates for introduction into or expansion within the County.
- Knowledge of conversant with land use planning, zoning, development and regulatory principles and process.
- Ability to evaluate locational and other needs of business firms.
- Ability to expedite governmental processes and funding source consideration in support of new or expanded business ventures.
- Ability to represent the County's program effectively, orally and in writing.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective work relations with entrepreneurs, financing sources, and County and other public agencies.
- Ability to effectively brand and market Charles County to a regional, national, and international audience.
- Ability to regularly attend evening meetings, locally and regionally.
Additional Information
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work is sedentary with frequent periods of physical activity and is performed in office surroundings. Typical positions require workers to walk to stand for long periods; lift and carry up to 20 pounds; climb stairs, bend, reach, hold, grasp, and turn objects; and use fingers to operate computer or typewriter keyboards; and requires the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Principal duties of this job are performed in a general office environment.
Department: Economic Development
Pay Grade: 123
FLSA Status: Exempt
Telework Eligible: Yes
Reports to: County Administrator
Supervises: Deputy Director, Chief of Business Development, Chief of Development, Economic Development Specialist
Charles County Government
BENEFITS SUMMARY
www.GovernmentJobs.com/Careers/CharlesCountyMD
BENEFITS SUMMARY
www.GovernmentJobs.com/Careers/CharlesCountyMD
Health Insurance
Charles County Government PAYS 70% of cost: Blue Choice Advantage and HMO Open Access plans, including prescription and vision coverage. CareFirst and Delta for dental coverage.
Flexible Spending Account
Provides medical and dependent care options.
Supplemental Income Products
Accident Policy, Critical Illness Policy, and Hospital Indemnity Policy.
Long Term Disability Insurance
No charge to employee. The benefit pays 60% of salary at date of disability, up to $5,000/month. Retiree Health Insurance New hires who elect health insurance coverage with County Government are enrolled in a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Account (VEBA). This coverage allows employees to pay health insurance premiums and other medical expenses following retirement or separation from employment.
Life Insurance
No charge to employees (valued at 1.5x the annual salary, not to exceed $250,000). Supplemental insurance and dependent life insurance are available for an additional cost. Term and whole life policies available.
Pension Plan (Defined Benefit Retirement Plan) 401(a) Plan — Must work minimum 37.5 hrs/week. Participation is mandatory.
Deferred Compensation Plan
457(b) Governmental Plan — Available to all employees, regardless of hours worked.
Employee Leave
Transfer of Sick Leave
New hires may be eligible to receive credit for up to 400 hours of sick leave from their previous employer when they begin employment.
Work Schedules
Additional Fringe Benefits
Charles County Government PAYS 70% of cost: Blue Choice Advantage and HMO Open Access plans, including prescription and vision coverage. CareFirst and Delta for dental coverage.
Flexible Spending Account
Provides medical and dependent care options.
Supplemental Income Products
Accident Policy, Critical Illness Policy, and Hospital Indemnity Policy.
Long Term Disability Insurance
No charge to employee. The benefit pays 60% of salary at date of disability, up to $5,000/month. Retiree Health Insurance New hires who elect health insurance coverage with County Government are enrolled in a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Account (VEBA). This coverage allows employees to pay health insurance premiums and other medical expenses following retirement or separation from employment.
Life Insurance
No charge to employees (valued at 1.5x the annual salary, not to exceed $250,000). Supplemental insurance and dependent life insurance are available for an additional cost. Term and whole life policies available.
Pension Plan (Defined Benefit Retirement Plan) 401(a) Plan — Must work minimum 37.5 hrs/week. Participation is mandatory.
Deferred Compensation Plan
457(b) Governmental Plan — Available to all employees, regardless of hours worked.
Employee Leave
- Charles County Government full-time employees earn annual, sick, and paid time off (PTO).
- The County currently recognizes 20 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.
- Away from work programs like paid parental leave and FMLA are available to employees.
Transfer of Sick Leave
New hires may be eligible to receive credit for up to 400 hours of sick leave from their previous employer when they begin employment.
Work Schedules
- Most work weeks are 37.5 hrs, and some positions may offer the opportunity for flexible work schedules or allow telework.
Additional Fringe Benefits
- Tuition Reimbursement for full-time employees upon completion of probation period
- Discounted, Onsite Childcare at a County Government facility.
- House Keys 4 Employee Program offers assistance to full time employees who are first-time homebuyers.
- Free, Employee Wellness Programs
- Legal Resources (prepaid benefit)
- Employee Assistance Program (free, short-term counseling)
Benefits eligibility is for employees who work 30 hours or more per week unless otherwise noted. Effective: March 1, 2025
