The Town of Chapel Hill seeks a flexible and resilient economic development professional to serve as its next Economic Development Director (EDD). This position has the unique opportunity to creatively and strategically assist the Town in navigating significant development opportunities for its downtown and surrounding areas. The ideal candidate has municipal experience in inclusive, sustainable economic development within a College/Research University community.

The EDD will first and foremost be committed to upholding Chapel Hill’s Complete Community Vision. This strategic, collaborative, organization-wide initiative clarifies where and how to build new development and housing to be an inclusive, sustainable, and economically competitive community.

The next Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development Director has an entrepreneurial spirit and:
• thrives in building relationships with others – connecting diverse stakeholders and uniting a community with differing opinions and perspectives around a shared vision;
• strategically navigates the local environment across various stakeholders (elected officials, Town staff, community, business owners, developers);
• is a highly effective project manager who has a successful system for managing multiple high-end projects with excellence and ease;
• has a history of successfully assessing economic impact, a demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the Town’s DEI values, and uses economic development best practices from around the country;
• is adept in policy development and can understand and quickly learn local policies from multiple entities (Town/University/County/State);
• advocates confidently and proactively and conducts thorough research to advocate for the best solutions even when resistance is present;
• proactively seeks opportunities for desirable development, can forecast needs, and uses metrics to communicate with stakeholders;
• is a visionary, strategic, big-picture thinker who trains, equips, and delegates successfully to team members;
• has development-related finance experience and expertise, including analysis of proformas; and,
• has demonstrated experience working with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve community priorities through the municipal planning process.

About the Organization:
The Town operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with the Town Manager reporting to the Mayor and eight at-large Council members. The Town has an approved $150 million budget for FY 23 – 24 with 715 benefitted full-time positions and 200 non-benefited positions.

The Town’s mission is Learning, Serving, and Working Together to Build a Community Where People Thrive. The Town’s RESPECT values (Responsibility, Equity, Safety, Professionalism, Ethics, Communication, and Teamwork) are a compass for accomplishing that mission.

The Town’s strategic focus areas include Environmental Stewardship, Economic and Financial Stewardship, Affordable Housing, Connected Community, Healthy and Inclusive Community, Safe Community, and Employee Recruitment and Retention. Find more information about the Town here.

About the Economic Development Department and Position:
Chapel Hill’s Economic Development Department is united around a shared vision to maintain Chapel Hill's place on the map as a world-class center for research and development. The department’s staff is dedicated to supporting opportunities to put Chapel Hill’s people to work and create economic prosperity for all, now and in the future.

Reporting to the Town Manager, this position manages a highly skilled staff team of 3 employees. The EDD will work strategically and collaboratively to attract new businesses and the Director will work collaboratively with staff to implement creative solutions, best practices, and strategies.

Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree (master’s degree preferred) in Public Administration, Business Administration, Planning, Engineering, or Economic Development supplemented with five (5) years of responsible management experience in a public agency is required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Salary and Benefits: The hiring range for this position is $126,267 to $164,331. Compensation is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. View the Town’s excellent benefits package here.

To apply, please visit:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates/jobs/441…

Please note the following:
● All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the town’s employment application portal or any other external website.
● Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
● Applicants should apply by April 1, 2024.
● The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluation on April 30 – May 1, 2024. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
● Direct inquiries to hiring@developmentalassociates.com.

The Town of Chapel Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC manages this position's recruitment and selection process. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/, select “Client Openings," and scroll down to “Important Information for Applicants.”