Economic Development Specialist

About the role

The City of Roanoke is seeking an Economic Development Specialist to support real estate and economic development initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage City owned property leases, license agreements, easements, and encroachments to ensure compliance with applicable agreements and City policies.
• Cook up and administer the sale and disposition of City owned real property, including working with internal departments, legal counsel, developers, and prospective purchasers.
• Provide staff support to the City of Roanoke Economic Development Authority (EDA), including coordinating monthly meetings, preparing agendas and supporting documentation, maintaining official records, and implementing EDA actions.
• Administer local and state Enterprise Zone programs, ensuring compliance with program requirements and serving as a resource to businesses and property owners.
• Serve as the department's primary liaison to the commercial real estate community, developers, brokers, property owners, and other economic development stakeholders to support investment and redevelopment opportunities.
• Aid with business recruitment, retention, redevelopment, and other strategic economic development initiatives as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in real estate, business administration, economics, urban planning, public administration, or a closely related field.
• A Master's degree in an appropriate field is preferred.
• Two or more years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, commercial real estate, property management, redevelopment, public administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience administering public programs, managing real estate transactions, negotiating agreements, or preparing state or federal grant applications is highly desirable.

Qualifications

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Benefits

For Full-Time Employees:

• Paid leave is time off from work available for use by an employee upon approval by supervisor.
• Extended Illness Leave: accrues at the rate of six (6) hours per month.
• Mental Health & Well-Being Leave: Employees receive 24 hours (Fire Suppression receives 34 hours) of Mental Health & Well-Being Leave upon hire.
• Health Insurance: Four coverage types are available through payroll deduction.
• Dental Insurance: Four coverage types are available through payroll deduction.
• Life Insurance: Paid by the City at no cost to employees.
• Retirement: Employees contribute 5% of salary and choose between participating in a traditional defined benefit plan or a hybrid program.
• Flexible Spending Account: Allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars from their pay checks to pay for child care and/or medical and dental expenses not covered by the City's health care or dental plans.

Pay

Direct deposit is required for all new employees. Paid bi-weekly, 26 pay periods per year.

Schedule

Pay Days: Direct deposit is required for all new employees. Paid bi-weekly, 26 pay periods per year.