Job Description

Economic Development Manager

Deadline to Apply:  January 9, 2025

Purpose of the Position

The Economic Development Manager provides professional and analytical expertise to support the City of Wausau’s comprehensive plan and economic development ensuring plans and goals are clearly and consistently communicated to businesses and the community. Key responsibilities include implementing business retention and attraction efforts, promoting the development of infrastructure and public amenities to meet business needs; managing the City’s marketing efforts to attract and retain residents, businesses and workforce talent and advocating for public policies and tools that enhance the economic competitiveness and quality of life.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement components of economic and business development to attract new and expanding industrial, commercial, and housing development to the City.
2. Develop and execute communication strategies to promote the City’s community, business attraction, and economic development initiatives. Support the City’s marketing efforts, including managing websites, social media, and branding such as the City of Wausau Facebook page and Wausome.com. Additional duties include writing news releases, engaging with business representatives, and delivering public presentations.
3. Facilitate the Economic Development Committee policy-making process by taking a lead role in the formation and implementation of the City’s economic development strategy.
4. Provide technical assistance to businesses and community groups to communicate City initiatives, efforts and program tools that increase the City’s economic competitiveness.
5. Exercise discretion in coordinating tailored assistance to businesses and assist in directing resources for short and long-term business expansion goals.
6. Develop drafts and present terms of Development Agreements with new or expanding multi-tiered business developments to the Economic Development Committee, Joint Review Board and City Council.
7. Oversee ongoing development proposals and projects, guiding them through the City’s development review process and coordinating with appropriate City departments as needed.
8. Facilitate and coordinate the preparation, implementation, and amendment of the City’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plans, managing the Joint Review Process with City departments and external stakeholders.
9. Gather, analyze and present economic development trend information clearly and effectively to allow businesses and government officials to easily access the information.
10. Develop and manage the Government and Public Access Television programing and staff.
11. Promote the City of Wausau and actively engage in the expanding economic development field through representation at local, state and regional organizations.
12. Consult with state and national agencies, developers, and commercial brokers.
13. Review and critique large scale development proposals.
14. Assist with the department’s financing programs and federal funding including administering the City’s economic development fund.
15. Assist with preparation of program budgets and staffing.              

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Research and coordinate work between City departments and local firms to resolve problems and respond to inquiries.
• Develop and prepare applications for government and non-government funding of economic development, quality of life, and key infrastructure projects on behalf of the City and/or local businesses.
• Support entrepreneurial programming, incubation and accelerator efforts of the Wausau Business Incubator, the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce and MCDEVCO.
• Provide information to the press, elected officials and the public regarding community and economic development issues.
• Perform various duties and special projects as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Economic Development or a closely related field (including Business, Public Administration, Marketing , Finance, Urban Planning, Political Science, Communications or Public Relations)
• Four (4) or more years of experience working on related and specialized public communication initiatives or development programs

A combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the position may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

A Certified Economic Developer designation from the International Economic Development Council, or an equivalent certification from the National Community Development Association or American Planning Association.

Kno wl ed g e , Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to evaluate data and information using established criteria, to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives.
• Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and/or sort, as well as assemble, copy, record and transcribe data and information.
• Knowledge of the development of business plans and financial statements.
• Knowledge of the use and creation of Tax incremental Financing (TIF) Districts and implementation of successful TIF project plans.
• Ability to decide time, place, and sequence of operations within an organizational framework and oversee execution.
• Ability to provide guidance and interpret laws, policies, procedures and standards related to economic development.
• Ability to utilize consulting and design data and information such as legal briefs, economic analysis, organizational analysis, census reports, survey data, employment reports, official plans, ordinances, resolutions, pending legislations, zoning matters, maps, state statutes and administrative codes and computer software operating manuals.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with land developers, consultants, contractors, business owners, City staff, community organization representatives, state and federal agencies, elected officials, local media and the public.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, decisive action and creativity when evaluating information.
• Knowledge of public relations and promotion techniques.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proficient in intermediate functions of MS Office and Microsoft 365.

Physical and Working Environment

Limited exposure to disagreeable elements such as dirt, temperature fluctuations, and/or limited exposure to weather conditions.  Limited exposure to workplace hazards.  Normal mental and visual attention is required.  Light physical demands to include bending, twisting, turning, and light lifting. Limited travel within the Wausau area and occasional out of town overnight stays.

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