Deputy Director of Economic Development

Job Description:

Deputy Director of Economic Development

Description

Description

The City of Tustin invites dedicated and visionary professionals to apply for the role of Deputy Director of Economic Development. This dynamic leadership position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by driving business development, fostering economic growth, and overseeing vital affordable housing initiatives through the Tustin Housing Authority.

As the head of the Economic Development Division, the Deputy Director will play a pivotal role in planning, organizing, and managing economic development strategies to attract, retain, and expand businesses while improving the community's housing resources. Reporting directly to the Director of Community and Economic Development, this role offers a high degree of autonomy to shape and implement innovative programs that enhance the City’s vibrant economic landscape.

Selection Process:

To be considered, please submit an application along with a cover letter and resume. Application materials will be carefully reviewed to identify those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Individuals who are best qualified will be invited to participate in a panel interview. Panel interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of February 3, 2025. All candidates who pass the panel interview will earn placement on the eligible list, which may be used for current and future vacancies in the job classification.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plans, organizes, and manages all functions of the Economic Development Division; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, and standards

• Develops and implements economic development strategies that align with the City’s goals and vision; plans and implements programs that enhance investment in the community, business development and success, and workforce development and cultivate a climate of innovation and entrepreneurship

• Develops and coordinates advertising and marketing programs for business development, attraction, retention, and tourism; oversees the creation of informational and marketing materials

• Manages, administers, and monitors the City's affordable housing program for ownership and rental housing; develops, implements, and administers new projects, negotiates contracts and agreements; monitors projects for compliance with agreements, contracts, and federal, state, and local regulations; plans, facilitates, and evaluates permit processing activities
• Assists in the development of the City’s policies and strategies pertaining to affordable housing

• Manages and participates in studies and projects related to targeted areas, industries, and opportunities; assists with the preparation of long-term plans and special studies in coordination with other City departments, stakeholders, and other public agencies

• Partners with other City departments, developers, and outside agencies and organizations to coordinate projects and programs related to the division’s activities

• Represents the department at community meetings, public hearings, and professional events; initiates and maintains strong relationships with community and professional organizations

• Prepares comprehensive and concise City Council Agenda Reports and other written reports on highly complex economic development and housing matters; makes presentations at City Council meetings and other public meetings

• Continuously monitors and evaluates the effectiveness, financial status, and policy compliance of programs and projects; develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of division programs, projects, service delivery methods, and procedures; conducts fiscal analysis and economic studies of projects and programs

• Prepares or directs the preparation of agreements, contracts, and related documents between the City and business developers; administers and manages contracts; Prepares or directs the preparation of applications for grants for federal, state, and private funding sources

• Stays abreast of awareness of new trends and developments in the fields of economic development and housing

• Oversees the development and administration of the division budget

• Assists the Director of Community and Economic Development with the development and implementation of the department’s overall goals, objectives, policies, and priorities

• Provides highly responsible staff assistance to the Director of Community and Economic Development

• May act as department head in the absence of the Director of Community and Economic Development

• Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; directs the work of subordinate staff; leads with a positive attitude and provides an encouraging and supportive working environment; works with staff on the continuous improvement of city services

• Assesses training needs for division staff; coordinates training and growth opportunities

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, experience, and training that has provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities is required for entry into the classification. A typical combination includes :

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, economics, political science or a related field; and four (4) years of professional experience in economic development or a related field in the public or private sector, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or management capacity.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.

Special Requirements:

Satisfactory results from a background investigation, physical examination and administrative screening.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

For a full job description including knowledge, skills, abilities and physical demands, CLICK HERE.

The City of Tustin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

The City of Tustin offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit program that includes:

FLEXIBLE BENEFIT PLAN
The City provides a specific dollar amount to each employee to use toward the purchase of individual or family health coverage, dental plans, vision coverage, additional life insurance, deferred compensation, and other optional benefits. Currently, the flexible benefit amount for Employee + 2 is $2050 per month.

The City contracts through CalPERS medical program (PEMHCA) which offers multiple PPO and HMO options for health insurance providers. Employees also have the choice of Delta Dental PPO or HMO plans.

RETIREMENT
Employees will be enrolled in a defined benefit (pension) plan with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). CalPERS determines the retirement plan in which a new employee will be enrolled based on the individual's membership status with CalPERS or a reciprocal retirement system on the individual's first day of employment with the City.

Classic CalPERS members will be enrolled in the 2% @ 60 plan, with an employee contribution of 10% (pre-tax). New CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA"), will be enrolled in the 2% @ 62 plan, with an employee contribution of 6.25% (pre-tax). The City does not participate in Social Security, though participation Medicare is mandatory (1.45% employee contribution).

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Employees who contribute to an IRC Section 457(b) deferred compensation account will receive a matching City contribution to an IRC Section 401(a) deferred compensation account, up to a maximum of two percent (2%) of the employee’s base salary.

GENERAL LEAVE
General Leave may be used for vacation and/or illness. Annual accrual amounts increase from 160 to 248 with years of service.

ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE
Management employees receive up to 80 hours of Administrative Leave annually.

HOLIDAYS
The City has 13paid holidays per calendar year.

LIFE INSURANCE
Full-Time employees receive a $200,000 life insurance policy.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY
The Long-Term disability program provides 60% of the employees' income when the employee becomes disabled because of an illness, injury or accident.

UNIFORM ALLOWANCE
Deputy Police Chief and Police Captains will receive an allowance of $16.50 biweekly, up to a maximum of $429 per year for care and maintenance of City uniforms.

ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULE
The 9/80 alternative work schedule is available for most full-time positions.

RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE
Employees who retire from the City of Tustin with ten (10) years of full-time service and continue enrollment in the City's health plan are eligible for reimbursement of $350 per month toward retiree health insurance costs. Employees first hired into a benefitted position with the City of Tustin prior to July 1, 2011 are eligible for this benefit after five (5) years of service.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
After passing the probationary period, employees may request reimbursement up to a maximum of $4000 per calendar year for tuition and related expenses when attending a community college or four year university.

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PAY
Deputy Police Chief is eligible to receive $575 per month for a Bachelor's degree and $600 per month for a Master's degree.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Employees are enrolled in an Employee Assistance Program that provides a variety of legal and counseling services.

MEDICARE
All newly hired employees contribute a portion of gross salary for Medicare coverage. The employee contribution to Medicare is 1.45%.

SECTION 125 MEDICAL & DEPENDENT CARE PROGRAM
The section 125 program is optional for employees and provides a method to pay medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Closing Date/Time: 1/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$135,345.60 - $182,228.80 Annually