COORDINATOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I (Small Business)

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

COORDINATOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Bureau of Small Business Development

Number of Positions: 1

Starting Salary: $74,244.00

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 10/14/2024

Under general supervision, the Coordinator of Economic Development I is responsible for supporting the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) and other Small Business Development bureau programs including managing projects, developing policy regarding neighborhood development, and identifying and obtaining resources and assistance needed to expand, retain, or relocate business or cultural operations in the City of Chicago, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Works with the Program Director to manage the SBIF program including coordinating with the program administrator, communicating with applicants and stakeholders, program marketing, reporting and data management, data visualization, program evaluation, and compliance
• Collects and analyzes programmatic, land use, zoning, social, and/or economic development data
• Creates and designs reports and visualizations from program data to effectively share information and provide insights for process and policy improvements
• Creates online application and design infrastructure to support use of department's project management tool
• Supports and coordinates Bureau of Small Business Development's data collection and program reporting
• Supports other Small Business Development bureau initiatives such as the Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) and Special Service Area (SSA) programs
• Oversees and participates in studies identifying opportunities with the greatest economic development impact for designated areas and programs
• Identifies funding opportunities, sites, and areas for proposed development, expansion projects, or initiatives
• Coordinates planning efforts between department bureaus, City departments, community organizations, sister government agencies, and developers for the purpose of implementing project work plans
• Coordinates and conducts public meetings and project presentations to community groups to promote available economic development programs and incentives as well as other City initiatives
• Oversees projects and ensures compliance with scope, budget, and timeline
• Coordinates and facilitates Economic Development (ED) program activities to achieve the City's economic development strategies
• Makes policy recommendations and develops appropriate policies, programs, and ordinances to further the goals of revitalizing Chicago's commercial corridors
• Researches, prepares, and monitors grant applications and other alternative funding sources; administers grant-funded projects for the division; monitors financial grant compliance and prepares grant reimbursement requests
• Develops, implements, and tracks economic development efforts to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the City's economic development program

Additional duties may be required for this position

Qualifications

Location: 121 N LaSalle Street, 10 th Floor

Days: Monday - Friday (occasional weekend hours may be required)

Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (occasional evening hours may be required)

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Six (6) years of work experience in economic development; OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Associate's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a directly related field, plus four (4) years of work experience in economic development; OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a directly related field, plus two (2) years of work experience in economic development; OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a directly related field, plus one (1) year of work experience in economic development

NOTE: Applicants selected to interview will be required to submit a work portfolio at the time of interview

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a skills assessment and/or written exercise as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Bi-lingual (Spanish) fluency

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required employment/hiring plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and collective bargaining agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. The learn more about our hiring processes click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor