Business Policy Advisor

Position Description

The Office of Economic Development’s (OED) purpose is to shape the future of Seattle’s economy and make it more equitable, prosperous, and competitive. We do this work by leading projects and making investments that open up access to economic opportunities, reduce the racial wealth gap, and encourage innovation and growth.

Are you a ground-breaking strategist with a passion for driving economic growth and fostering innovation? We are seeking a savvy and forward-thinking Business Policy Advisor to address Seattle’s most pressing economic development challenges. In this role, you’ll combine strategic problem-solving, partner collaboration, and policy analysis to craft impactful solutions that impacts Seattle's economic landscape. From addressing systemic barriers to championing sustainable business growth, you’ll play a pivotal role in advancing economic development and creating a thriving environment for businesses across the region!

If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you!

Job Responsibilities

Here is more about the role:

Policy Development:

• Identify, research, and address policy barriers that impact small businesses, with a focus on equity and inclusion, creating efficiencies, streamlining processes, and improving business conditions.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to address key economic development challenges, such as licensing, enforcement, operations, fines, fees, etc.
• Create actionable recommendations informed by data, community feedback loops, and practices from other jurisdictions.

Program and Strategy Leadership:

• Design and lead data-driven strategies that enhance the city’s economic ecosystem, ensuring measurable impacts and scalability.
• Track and analyze performance outcomes to assess the effectiveness of policies and programs, fostering continuous improvement.
• Promote and develop an optimum business climate by proactively promoting and generating solutions towards a City climate that retains small businesses in the city and encourages growth and expansion.

Engagement and Partnership Management:

• Build and maintain partnerships with business alliances, trade organizations, chambers of commerce, and community groups to address multidimensional challenges.
• Act as a liaison between business stakeholders and city departments, ensuring effective communication and resolution of recurring hurdles.
• Facilitate collaboration to develop innovative, cross-sector solutions to regional economic challenges.

Operational Excellence:

• Respond professionally to high-pressure situations and urgent business issues raised by community partners.
• Distill complex information into clear, actionable insights for decision-makers and collaborators.
• Produce compelling reports, presentations, and updates to communicate opportunities and challenges to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

In addition to performing the tasks described above, you’ll be prepared to successfully take on this role with a combination of the following:

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills In:

• Successfully developing scalable, sustainable solutions to complex issues in economic development, with a key focus on advancing opportunities for underserved and underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Women, and individuals with different abilities.
• Synthesizing economic data, researching trends, and incorporating feedback into actionable policies and strategies that drive economic development and long-term business growth.
• Experience in government relations, resource development, or a related field is beneficial.
• Outreach, communication, and collaboration with various partners to build community contacts and cultivate working partnerships.
• Knowledge of government structures, policies, and procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to actively engage diverse groups and lead by influence.
• Familiarity with current happenings from different jurisdictions related to policy development, capital investments, and support for business operators.

The Ability To:

• Foster relationships with community groups, particularly business or trade groups, partner organizations, and WMBEs.
• Procure and analyze relevant, up-to-date information to make sound decisions and recommendations.
• Track issues, contacts, and key metrics to identify hurdles and opportunities for improvement.
• Synthesize program outcome data to create insightful reports for briefings and external communications.
• Approach problems and implement programs using innovative thinking informed by data.
• Distill information, data, and community feedback into policies and programs.
• Build partnerships and navigate cross-departmental challenges with innovation and diplomacy.

A Passion For:

• Advancing OED's guiding principle of an inclusive economy, which aligns with the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative.
• Direct and respectful communication: giving and receiving feedback, sharing relevant information and situational intelligence, and extending grace to others.

• Improving the business environment and fostering economic development.
• Exploring innovative ways and best practices to support businesses.
• Advancing opportunities for groups historically and currently marginalized.
• Communicating insights and strategies clearly to diverse audiences.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

Additional Information

This full-time, over-time exempt position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, General Government–L17. This Civil Service (Download PDF reader) position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Seattle and PROTEC17 – Professionals Unit. The full salary range for this position is $50.08 - $75.12 per hour. After a pay equity and budget analysis, the salary for this role has been identified as $56.32/hour.

Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package includes vacation, holiday, and sick leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Why Work at the City of Seattle? We recognize that every employee plays a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture results from our behavior, personal commitments, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Hybrid Work: This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule, with arrangements based on an agreement between the employee and management. Moderate local travel and regional travel may be required, along with occasional evening and weekend in-person meetings.

Application Process: Here is a resource for Application and Interviewing tips (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader) with the City of Seattle.

Submit applications at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/promotionaljobs no later than 4:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, February 18, 2024. To be considered for this position, please attach:

• A cover letter explaining your interest and capability to perform this job.
• A PDF resume illustrating related skills and abilities.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all applicants who demonstrate alignment with the above qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The City encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Hiring Timeline: We expect to conduct first-round interviews during the first week of March, followed by second-round interviews and assessments the following week.

Accommodations: Individuals with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact Nicolette.Hornbeck@seattle.gov to request accommodation.

Questions: Please contact Nicolette.Hornbeck@seattle.gov

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.