Executive Director

General Function

The Executive Director serves as the chief economic development professional and administrative

officer of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, a public agency that serves as the lead

coordinator of economic development activities for the County of Muskingum and City of

Zanesville, Ohio. The Executive Director is appointed by and works under the direction of

the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement economic development plans, policies, projects, and strategies.

2. Plan and implement public infrastructure projects that support economic development plans

and projects.

3. Provide administrative support, reports, and recommendations to the Board of

Directors.

4. Manage the community's enterprise zone tax incentive program and tax incentive review

council process.

5. Assist and advise business clients with accessing financing and development incentive programs.

6. Market and promote Muskingum County as a business location to both prospective new

businesses and existing businesses.

7. Manage the finances of the organization and its projects.

8. Proactively seek out and administer grants and other financial incentives that promote

economic development, revitalization, and infrastructure development projects.

9. Collaborate and advocate for comprehensive workforce development strategies that will

assist current and prospective employers with recruiting, training, and retaining employees.

10. Prepare correspondence, and detailed analytical documents, and conduct presentations for

the Board, and provide project status reports to communicate program activities,

explain ideas, and recommend alternatives.

11. Supervise, direct, and evaluate authority staff; develop internal policies and procedures and

evaluate their effectiveness.

12. Communicate with the Board of County Commissioners, municipalities, townships, citizen

advisory groups, other city and county department heads, and elected officials and their

employees, business owners, developers, and citizens to negotiate agreements,

communicate needs of multiple parties, explain projects, and present reports and

recommendations.

13. Conduct research and analyze data such as demographic and building permit trends,

budget expenditures, and business plans to make recommendations to policymakers.

14. Identify and target businesses and industries for recruitment to the area; promote the

community as a viable option for the location of business

15. Represent the community at meetings, conferences, presentations, and trade shows and

through the development of proposals and promotional materials.

16. Comprehend and make inferences from reports, appraisals, legal opinions, land and

title reports, and build cost estimates to understand project proposals, negotiate

agreements, and make policy recommendations.

17. Develop and maintain positive relationships with developers, consultants, firms and

government officials, and agencies involved in economic development.

18. Develop and maintain positive relationships with local organizations, partners, business

persons, and public officials

19. Serve as the administrator and staff support for the Muskingum County Transportation

Improvement District and its board, by contract between the two agencies.

20. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Qualifications

1. Possession of a Bachelor's degree is desired, preferably in Business or Public

Administration, Marketing, or a closely related area.

2. Ten years of economic development experience or equivalent business or

organizational management experience is desired but not required

3. Thorough knowledge of effective principles, practices, methods, and techniques of local

economic development.

4. Thorough knowledge of business concerns, needs, practices, markets, and relocation

needs and initiatives.

5. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Board of

Directors, local state, and federal officials, employees, committees, governmental

units, civic groups, and the general public.

6. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with private sector

executives and business representatives to complete economic development projects.

7. Knowledge of the techniques and principles of public relations, external community

image building, and marketing.

8. Thorough knowledge of the community's long-range plans and economic needs.

9. Thorough knowledge of private sector financing and development incentive

strategies.

10. Extensive knowledge of state and local government operations, including various

legislative processes.

11. Ability to plan, coordinate, direct, and motivate the work of self and staff.

12. Ability to prepare and present effective oral and written reports and

recommendations.

13. Excellent accountability, judgment, and decision-making ability.

14. Excellent work history and attendance record required.

15. Proven relevant results are required.