Job: Business Retention Specialist

For the city of Bowie, Maryland.

14 Jun 2022 — 2 min read

City of Bowie, Maryland

Business Retention Specialist

City Manager’s Office – Economic Development

The Business Retention Specialist performs advanced professional economic and community development work; manages key projects from inception to completion; conducts business recruitment and retention activities, implements commercial district revitalization efforts, acts as a liaison between business and community groups, and performs departmental administrative functions. Reporting directly to the Economic Development Director, the incumbent conducts economic development policy analyses and development, and is responsible for making various public presentations. Frequent and consistent interaction with various community groups, including residents, members of the business community, and elected and appointed officials at all levels of government is vital to the success of incumbent in this position.

Specific Duties Include:

Working with local county and city officials for retention and expansion of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses.
Serving as a liaison between businesses and public/private agencies
Developing and implementing events, forums and programs to address identified needs of the business community.
Collecting, compiling, and analyzing data regarding economic conditions and projects.
Respond to inquiries from City staff, developers, prospective businesses, and the general public; determine focus/needs of inquiries and respond as specifically as possible; make referrals and/or introductions as appropriate.
Cultivating and maintaining effective relationships with residents, and individuals at all levels of government.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in economic development, urban planning, public administration, marketing, finance, or a related field.
Four years’ experience in economic or community development, business assistance, commercial development, and/or business retention programs.

Certain combinations of training and experience may be considered in lieu of the above listed qualifications.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Business Retention and Expansion International (BREI), Community Development Institute (CDI), or International Economic Development Council (IEDC) certification.
Prior experience working for a local government or similar agency.

COVID-19 vaccination required in order to qualify for this position.

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Salary: $76,322 - $88,000 Annually

Employee Benefits: Excellent medical, dental, vision, life and long-term care insurance; 401(k) with employer match; 457 savings plan. Telework and flexible scheduling opportunities may be available with this position.