Economic Development Coordinator - Community Development Department (INTERNAL POST ONLY)

Economic Development Coordinator

The Economic Development Coordinator supports the Economic Development and Housing division by assisting with redevelopment and business development projects. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing complex development policies, projects, and programs. The position must coordinate with all city departments, generate new ideas and programs, and demonstrate the viability of these ideas to carry out the housing and development goals and objectives of the City Council.

This position may supervise intern(s). This is an internal posting only and restricted to current City of Brooklyn Park employees only. External candidates will not be considered at this time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provides leadership and project management to housing and development programs. Develops and implements strategic initiatives to address housing and development problems.

Prepares and provides information and reports to supervisors, boards, commissions, civic groups, general public, Economic Development Authority (EDA), and City Council.

Interacts / negotiates with other government units including the State of Minnesota, Hennepin County, Minnesota Housing, Met Council and HUD.

Facilitates and / or participates in organizational development teams and events, internal meetings to support a high-performing organization and external meetings to support the City's community engagement work.

Assists with administering grants, funding applications, and compliance requirements for economic and housing development projects.

Responds to public, developer, and government agency questions related to housing, redevelopment, economic development, transportation projects, programs, and policies.

Assists with the development of short-term and long-term division plans, policies, procedures, and priorities.

Supports the implementation related to business retention, expansion, and workforce development.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Education Bachelor's degree in economic development, business, planning, urban studies, public administration or related field.

Experience Four (4) years of related experience.

Licenses / Certifications Valid driver's license. Equivalency An equivalent combination of education and experience closely related to the duties of the position MAY be considered.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Significant knowledge of generally accepted City Government processes.

Significant knowledge of State and Federal laws, County and Municipal Ordinances and of

Knowledge of city policies and procedures regarding business development.

Ability to work under own initiative with minimum supervision.

Ability to problem solve and manage complex projects that are impacted by the economy and market forces, each contract is different and requires a creative approach.

Ability to maintain deadlines and prioritize work.

Ability to take directions and recommendations to assist in finding a solution.

Ability to maintain confidentiality of communications, documents, and other matters.

Ability to make decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Ability to handle numerous interruptions, switch from task to task and focus on the task at hand.

Ability to work with legal and financial consultants to draft legal documents and make recommendations on spending to the City Council / Economic Development Authority.

Ability to stay updated on policies and legislative changes that include Mixed Income Housing Policy, Procurement Manual, or Conduit Debt Financing Fees to influence decisions and communications.

Ability to consult with developers, external partners, or staff from regional or local government agencies to resolve problems.

Ability to provide a level of customer service that meets or exceeds customer expectation and satisfaction.

Embrace and engage in cultural shift toward Continuous Improvement.

Proven ability and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive workplace related to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Desired Qualifications

Certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) or Housing Finance Professional.

Additional training or coursework in real estate development, business financing, or public-private partnerships.

Economic Development Finance Professional and Housing Finance Professional certifications from Grow America (previously the National Development Council).

Financial and legislative trainings to track changes in legal requirements and more in-depth financial analysis skills through the Urban Land Institute (ULI) have made me more prepared to make recommendations that have financial impact to the City Council.

Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Lao or Vietnamese language(s).

Experience working with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.

Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully and safely perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to fully and safely perform the essential duties.

Core business hours are set by departments based on operational needs. Alternative schedules can be arranged, but must comply with the City's Alternative Work Arrangement policy.

Monday Friday, normal office hours with occasional evenings. Some travel occasionally to other locations.

Office environment; exposure to computer screens; working closely with others, frequent interruptions.

May engage with individuals who are upset, frustrated, or experiencing heightened emotions, requiring tact, empathy, and conflict resolution skills.

The City has determined that a criminal background check and / or qualifications check is necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants will be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and / or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Brooklyn Park is a thriving northwestern suburb of Minneapolis and the sixth largest city in the state with over 86,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. As the 6th fastest growing city in Minnesota, the city has become even more vibrant because of our remarkable racial and cultural diversity. Approximately 60 percent of our residents are people of color, 22 percent are foreign-born, and more than a quarter speak a language other than English at home.