ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANALYST

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction, performs a full range of professional and technical duties in support of the City’s Economic Development Division’s services, projects, and programs; assists with the analysis, coordination, and/or administration of economic development projects and programs; assists businesses by facilitating project processing and permitting; maintains and analyzes economic trends from City’s business license and business retention and expansion program databases; and serves as a resource to other City staff, outside agencies, and the general public in answering questions, providing information and assistance, and solving problems.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Performs a wide variety of professional level research, administrative, and analytical duties in support of the City’s Economic Development functions, operations, and programs; performs research and studies including economic or financial studies; analyzes and identifies trends.
• Coordinates with City staff to facilitate project processing and permitting; provides information and assistance to those who contact the Economic Development Division for permit assistance.
• Conducts Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis; creates GIS mapping documents for clients, consultants, City staff, and developers; creates mapped data for use with business relocation decisions, staff analysis, and land use decisions; maps data for marketing purposes, sales tax analysis, and other various analyzes.
• Assists in the preparation of staff reports for various groups, committees, commissions, and boards; prepares meeting agendas, summaries, and information packets as needed.
• Conducts site location assistance for business locators; researches, gathers, and provides data on available properties; collects data from brokerage companies on available property; prepares and sends information packages to clients; coordinates and conducts business assistance meetings.
• Maintains the Business and Economic Development web page on the City’s website; gathers current data; writes narratives; organizes changes in web page layout and design; coordinates economic development web page updates and changes with City information systems staff.
• Assists in the operations of the Business Retention and Expansion Program; attends on-site meetings with the Program Administrator; coordinates follow-up meetings regarding expansion and relocation; assists in solving problems and coordinating solutions to business issues.
• Provides support to and participates in various meetings of various community groups including the Downtown Business Association, East Valley Association, and Mercado Group.
• Maintains and analyzes a variety of data including Business Retention and Expansion Program data.
• Performs a variety of general administrative and clerical duties in support of the Economic Development Division; prepares articles for newsletters; provides over-the-counter information to the public; responds to requests involving business development; prepares necessary correspondence; organizes data in spreadsheets; responds to surveys.
• Assists in arranging conferences, seminars, and meetings. Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis, and report preparation.
• Basic economic development concepts and strategies.
• Basic economic incentive and financing methods.
• Basic project management principles and practices.
• Business, market, and economic indicators and trends.
• General planning, zoning, project processing, and permitting processes.
• City organization and functions of the various departments in the City.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and records management.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications.
• Operating characteristics of Geographic Information Systems.
• General marketing concepts and principles.
• Principles and practices of customer service.

Ability to:

• Conduct research and prepare complete and accurate analysis, reports, and recommendations.
• Assist with promoting and implementing the City’s economic development programs and projects.
• Develop and maintain effective interdepartmental coordination.
• Represent the City in a professional manner when working with boards, community groups, and the general public.
• Facilitate permit processes.
• Understand the organization, operation, and services of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Exercise sound judgment and common sense.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Utilize computer applications to perform analysis and prepare reports, charts, graphs, and related materials.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, public administration, business administration, economics, or closely related field.

Experience: One year of professional experience related to economic development or working with small businesses.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting with infrequent travel to meetings and activities outside of City Hall. CONTINUOUS working indoors, dust from paperwork. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Overtime is generally not required but may require attending meetings outside regular work hours. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure. Work is performed indoors in office and in meeting rooms.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. CONTINUOUS sitting and upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity; light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls, and office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils. FREQUENT side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting at waist; moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. OCCASIONAL squatting, kneeling, and reaching above and at shoulder height; moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: April 2003
Johnson & Associates