Community and Economic Development Director

The City of Raton seeks an experienced professional for the position of Community and Economic Development Director. This position reports to the City Manager and requires skills in the management of community initiatives, economic development, project management, long-term planning, and communications. The incumbent shall administer, oversee, and coordinate all planning, economic development, property management, inspections, and grant application efforts in support of policies, objectives and goals established by the City Manager and City Commission.

Working as a key member of the leadership team, the Community and Economic Director plans, directs, manages, and oversees all functions, programs, and operations of the Community and Economic Development Department, and works closely with Engineering Planning and Zoning, Historic Preservation, and Main Street organizations. Key responsibilities include Grant Writing and recommending the use of Lodger’s Tax funds to the City Manager, City Treasurer and City Commission. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in collaboration with other key stakeholders and will deliver measurable results.

The Community and Economic Director shall perform administrative duties consisting of budgeting, procurement and financial management, grant preparation and management, personnel management, and other supervisory, management and administrative duties. The Community and Economic Development Director shall participate in City objectives and share collective duties with the leadership team.

Salary:

$65,000 to $85,000/year depending on experience and qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3 years’ experience in public administration, non-profit administration, municipal planning, or community development, including administrative responsibility
• Degree from a four-year college or university, preferably with specialization in planning, public administration, economic and community development or a related field
• Any equivalent combination or experience and training
• Due to the nature of this position, this job is on-site and will require the incumbent to live in the Raton, New Mexico area.
• Possess or obtain a valid New Mexico Driver’s License
• Consent to and pass a pre-employment police background investigation, drug screen and physical

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in public administration, business administration, economic development, urban planning, or related field
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability.

Professional Qualities:

Exceptional interpersonal, customer relations, and public relations skills:

• Ability to negotiate development assistance agreements with private developers
• Maintain effective working relationships with city officials, employees, contractors, architects, business and property owners and the public

Conflict resolution skills:

• Deal tactfully with the public
• Work courteously and harmoniously with other City employees
• Operational and management skills
• Direct the operations of a multi-functional department
• Develop and enforce departmental policies and procedures
• Effectively supervise and lead employees

Public presentation skills:

• Written and oral communications
• Variety of public and civic audiences

Knowledge and Abilities:

The successful candidate will possess or be able to quickly acquire the following knowledge and abilities.

• Principles, practices, and procedures of community development, tourism promotion, public administration, and municipal requirements
• Applicable standards, rules, regulations, agreements, department and City policies and ordinances
• Positioning the community to thrive in an innovation economy through development and implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan.
• Developing and maintaining a structure for Community and Economic Development functions that effectively supports collaboration and teamwork across functional areas including Planning, Finance, Public Works, Procurement, private sector, and State / Regional activities
• Operation and maintenance of apparatus, vehicles, tools, and equipment needed to perform job and functions
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, program development, management, budgeting, procurement, record keeping and report preparation
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including communications systems, computers, and applicable software applications such Microsoft Office software programs, graphic presentations and databases
• Contract administration

Description of Tasks to be Performed:

Key responsibilities and duties of this position may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Management of city-owned facilities including the Convention Center, Community Kitchen, Tourism Information Center, Shuler Theater, Education Building, Airport Armory and other quality-of-life or community development related facilities
• Direct tourism initiatives for the City including events, conventions, tourism marketing and promotion
• Coordinator of Raton’s outdoor recreation program including parks and trails development, playgrounds, and athletic facilities
• Participation in Raton’s economic development strategic plan implementation, including downtown revitalization, workforce development, business recruitment and development of entrepreneurial infrastructure
• Preparation and submission of grant applications and administration, and grant management and administration related to community facilities and development initiatives
• Act as City liaison to community partner agreements and programming with not-for-profit organizations and public agencies related to community development
• Development of community beautification and revitalization programs, and other duties as assigned by the City Manager
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Federal and State of New Mexico agencies and officials, business entities and, community development and tourism organizations
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public
• Professionally represent the City of Raton during public contacts and at public meetings

Physical Requirements:

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

The position requires standing, walking, lifting, and moving objects up to twenty-five pounds. Must be able to work normal business hours and occasional nights and weekends primarily in an office setting, occasionally travel independently, and enter and exit from vehicles. Manually operate vehicles and office equipment. Candidate shall be required to successfully perform a physical fitness-for-duty test as set out by the City of Raton. Random drug and alcohol testing at employer’s discretion.

Application Process:

Please apply on LinkedIn or emailing a resume to: audrey@bettercity.us.

Short-listed candidates will be required to submit an official City of Raton application.

Deadline to be considered for the position is 4:00 p.m. September 15, 2024. All persons offered any job with the City of Raton shall be drug/alcohol screened. Refusal to submit to a drug/alcohol screen will be deemed as a withdrawal of application by the applicant.

The City of Raton is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.