The City of Bangor is pleased to present a new professional opportunity in our Community and Economic Development (CED) Department.  We are seeking a great candidate for the role of Business Development Specialist (BDS).  This position reports to the Economic Development Officer (EDO). The BDS assists the EDO and CED staff in developing, managing, and supporting business and economic development opportunities and relationships. This position will work to develop, manage, and enhance relationships with clients and potential clients in order to support and create economic development opportunities. This role emphasizes aggressively establishing new relationships and maintaining a high visibility profile within the region and state for the purposes of fostering development relationships. The primary responsibility of the BDS is to attract new business and to retain and facilitate the expansion of existing businesses. This role will also assist the EDO with tasks and special projects as may be assigned.

SOME OF THE DUTIES OF THIS POSITION INCLUDE:

• Assists EDO and CED staff in implementing and updating comprehensive economic development strategy for the City designed to generate new job opportunities and expand the commercial property tax base.
  
• Supports the City’s business retention, expansion, and attraction strategies by representing the City in relationships with businesses and developers, in groups and organizations related to business and economic development, and occasional trade shows and missions as appropriate.
  
• Supports and develops mutually beneficial business and economic development relationships that deliver positive results for both the client and the City of Bangor.
  
• Provide support and outreach to existing Bangor businesses, staying up-to-date on industry and community needs.
  
• Prepares and maintains a list of clients with the potential to locate or expand business operations in Bangor, and contacts, visits, establishes, and maintains relationships with potential clients.
  
• Works with the Bangor real estate community to attract new business to the City, and to facilitate retention and expansion of existing businesses.
  
• Works with state, regional, and local economic development agencies and groups working to attract, retain, and expand employment opportunities in the Bangor region.
  
• Manage and update lists of available properties, labor data, census data, and other related data sets for use by CED staff.
  
• Assists the EDO in tasks associated with CED needs.
  
• Assists and helps market as appropriate other CED with related work products such as Community Development Block Grant program
  
• Assists and takes direction from the EDO on special projects as may be assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

The ideal candidate will possess a four-year degree related to business, economic development, public administration, marketing, or a related field, and three to five years of relevant experience. An advanced degree and a work record of progressively responsible positions are desirable. Additional relevant experience may be considered as a substitute for degree.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Exceptional and dynamic communication skills, both oral and written, to insure effective communications with the general public, community leaders, developers, and other governmental officials;

• An established career, visibility and reputation for success known within the economic development, real estate, and business communities, and ability to maintain a high profile in the community, region, state, and within the City of Bangor;

• Must be conversant with federal, state, local, and affiliated agency business development and assistance programs;

• Demonstrated ability to establish positive and productive relationships to promote the City in a variety of professional settings;

• Creative and strategic thinking ability;

• The skills to be responsible for messaging and public relations efforts on behalf of the department and/or the City;

• The ability to build and maintain productive relationships with a variety of private and public sector stakeholders, and a demonstrated ability to interact with and have credibility with senior leadership;

• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;

• Possess strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines;

• Ability to operate effectively in a large organization and to closely coordinate efforts with peers, superiors, and policymakers;

• Ability to creatively address problems and devise solutions;

• Must enjoy managing many projects simultaneously;

• Undertakes special projects or assignments as may be made from time to time by the Director;

• Performs related duties as assigned or required; and

• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and/or travel around City as needed.

WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

• Business Development Specialist maintains a working relationship with Division and Department staff, many other City staff, City Council, members of various boards and commissions, community and business leaders, local, state, and federal agency representatives, and members of the general public for the purpose of coordinating economic development projects, as well as devising, planning, and implementing new program policies and priorities.

• Reports directly to the EDO.

OTHER:

• Incumbent may perform site visits in varying weather conditions and is exposed to the normal hazards associated with the construction trade and demolition activities.

• Some travel is required that may include overnight stays

• General office work – sitting, standing

BENEFITS:

Some of the benefits of working for the City of Bangor include:

• Working directly to support your local community
  
  
• Stable, team-oriented environment with professional development opportunities
  

• Several health, dental, and vision insurance offerings including low-deductible health insurance options and up to 80% of health insurance premiums paid for by the City

• Paid time off with 2 weeks of vacation and 3 weeks of sick time in your first year

• 13 paid holidays annually

• Employee Assistance Program and Wellness Program incentives, including discounts on services through Work Perks and paid incentives for preventative health care measures

 Salary range is $27.33 to $36.70 per hour (based on a 37.5 hour schedule per week) with opportunities for merit-based and cost of living adjustment wage increases.  Please click below for access to our easy-to-use and mobile-friendly online application.  Applications are also available at the Human Resources Office, Bangor City Hall, 73 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine 04401.  Questions can be emailed to apply@bangormaine.gov.  Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Bangor!

Equal opportunity employer

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