Career Opportunity

The city of Las Vegas invites applications for the Director of Economic and Urban Development.

This position plans, directs, manages and oversees the activities and operations of the Economic and Urban Development Department and the Redevelopment Agency. This role also coordinates assigned activities with other city departments and outside agencies and provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager and City Council.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished economic development professional who has proven that they can diversify economies and revitalize communities of appreciable scope and scale. Working in partnership with the City’s appointed and elected leadership, the selected candidate will pay special attention to the various Council Districts’ needs, whether that be new development on vacant land, vertical growth in the city center, or revitalization of depressed areas. Strong candidates will possess a visionary, strategic orientation for economic development while also being able to focus on critical project details. Candidates should also be adept at establishing productive partnerships with current businesses and organizations in the community.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position receives general administrative direction from the City Manager and exercises direct supervision over management, supervisory, professional, technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
Essential Functions:

Manage all Economic and Urban Development staff, services and activities, including redevelopment, business development, parking services, and housing and community development; coordinate new development and redevelopment throughout the city with an emphasis on the downtown area; strive to increase and diversify the city's economic base through business attraction, retention and expansion programs.
Recommend, develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, priorities and procedures for each assigned service area.
Establish, within city policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocate resources accordingly.
Plan, direct and coordinate, through subordinate level managers, the department's work plan; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; meet with management staff to identify and resolve problems.
Assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct and implement changes.
Select staff and ensure effective morale, productivity and discipline; plan, organize, administer, review and evaluate the activities and performance of staff directly and through subordinate managers; work with staff to establish work priorities and schedules; encourage and provide for staff training and professional development; interpret city policies and procedures for staff; prepare and conduct formal performance evaluations; work with employees to develop short and long term goals, monitor accomplishments, establish performance requirements and personal development targets and provide coaching for performance improvement and development.
Determine the feasibility of capital projects; direct, plan and implement new capital projects, including the redevelopment or economic development of real estate sites owned by city of Las Vegas. Acquire new industrial business parks, install infrastructure and market to end users.
Lead and direct staff in the negotiation of public/private partnership agreements to facilitate redevelopment and economic development projects to expand the city's tax base and create or retain jobs.
Coordinate the city’s economic development investment strategy with public and private partners, including Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.
Oversee the administration of federal and state grant funding related to economic development and redevelopment initiatives; coordinate with other city departments’ capital improvement programs related to housing development and rehabilitation.
Direct the management of on- and off-street parking owned and operated by the city and coordinate with the private business community.
Oversee and participate in the development and administration of the department budget; approve the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; approve expenditures and implement budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary.
Explain, justify and defend the office's programs, policies and activities; negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
Represent the department to other city departments, elected officials and outside agencies, and coordinate activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.
Provide staff assistance to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Managers; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
Establish the strategic direction for the department in alignment with City Council and city of Las Vegas strategic priorities; ensure all department employees are aware of their roles in performance measurement and achieving strategic priorities; and facilitate the reporting of measures to the city's executive team and all members of the department.
Provide leadership in promoting sustainable, environmentally sensitive development and operations in the community and the department.
Provide leadership in developing a culture that values people and their differences and is free from inequities and barriers to people reaching their full potential.
Marginal Functions:

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Experience:

Six years of increasingly responsible experience in economic development, urban development, business development, housing programs, grants administration, or a related area, including two years of administrative and supervisory responsibility.

Training:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in business administration, public administration, or a field related to the essential functions. A combination of formal education and directly related work experience may substitute for the degree. The City assesses 1.5 years of full-time experience as equivalent to one year of education.

An advanced degree in a field related to the essential functions is desirable.

Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council is preferred.