Economic Development Director

Job Description

Job Summary

Mohave County is looking for a strategic, energetic, and people-focused Economic Development Director to help shape the County’s economic future. In this role, you’ll be at the center of efforts to attract new businesses, industries, and investments while helping existing businesses grow and succeed. You’ll build partnerships with business leaders, developers, government agencies, utility companies, lenders, and community organizations; develop innovative strategies to support business recruitment, retention, and expansion; coordinate economic development projects and grant opportunities; analyze trends and data; and provide recommendations to County leadership.

About the position

This isn’t a job where you simply sit behind a desk and shuffle paperwork. You’ll have the opportunity to meet people, build partnerships, explore opportunities, solve problems, travel throughout the County, and help shape the economic future of one of Arizona’s largest and most diverse counties.

• Some days you’ll be analyzing data.
  
• Some days you’ll be meeting with business leaders.
  
• Some days you’ll be presenting to elected officials.
  
• And some days you’ll be out in the community discovering the next big opportunity for Mohave County.
  

You’ll also represent Mohave County at community events, professional meetings, civic organizations, and public presentations, helping tell the story of why Mohave County is a great place to live, work, invest, and do business

We’re looking for a strategic thinker, strong communicator, and results-oriented leader who can turn ideas into opportunities and help move economic development initiatives from concept to action. The ideal candidate will bring vision, energy, and a collaborative approach to advancing economic development throughout Mohave County and working with regional and local partners to create meaningful opportunities for businesses and communities. If you’re a leader who gets things done and wants to make a lasting impact, we want you to bring your vision to Mohave County.

Ideal candidate would be someone who can:

• Lead and manage economic development programs and initiatives.
• Identify opportunities and develop creative solutions.
• Build strong relationships with businesses, government agencies, and community partners.
• Navigate complex projects, policies, regulations, and negotiations.
• Analyze information and turn it into clear recommendations.
• Market and sell Mohave County to prospective businesses and industries.
• Speak comfortably with everyone from business owners to elected officials.
• Manage multiple priorities while keeping projects moving forward.

Education & Experience :

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public or business administration, finance, or a closely related field.
• 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in urban economic or industrial development.
• 1 year of supervisory or managerial experience.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Experience or knowledge in areas such as :

• Economic development and redevelopment
• Business recruitment, retention, and expansion
• Grants and grant administration
• Budgeting and financial procedures
• Marketing and public relations
• Project and program management
• Contracts, agreements, and RFPs
• Economic development incentives
• Research, data analysis, and report preparation
• Public speaking and community engagement

Compensation
Range 29/Steps 1-8 ($46.06 - $56.65)

• Must pass pre-employment background screening
• Must possess a valid driver’s license for operation of motor vehicles on Arizona roads at the start of employment and maintain said license while employed in this position.

Proud to Offer:

Paid Time Off (PTO):

• 11 Paid Holidays.
• End of Year PTO Buyback (optional).

Retirement Benefits:

• Enrollment in Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
  • Contribution rate of 11.98% with 100% Employer Match starting on first day.
• Deferred Compensations Programs (optional)

Comprehensive Wellness Program:

• Low-cost, high-value health care plans for you and your family that include Medical, Dental, Vision.
• 24/7 Virtual Care including Onsite Health Screening Events
• Marketplace Discounts
• Onsite Gyms or Gym Membership Stipend
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness Program
• Basic Life, Supplemental Life/AD&D Insurances with additional voluntary benefits include Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Plans.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA-includes Dependent Care).

Essential Job Functions

• Implements, directs, coordinates, and plans Economic Development Department programs and activities; establishes policies, procedures, and guidelines to be observed by department.
• Ensures economic development activities comply with County goals, policies, and procedures, as well as local, Federal, and State regulations; develops and maintains required reports, files, and records.
• Develops, proposes, and implements services, programs, and policies for effective recruitment of new industry, new business, and new investments in the area; proposes and develops policies to stimulate expansion of and retention of existing industry, business, and investments in the area.
• Coordinates and supports public and private economic development efforts and develops and implements marketing strategy to recruit and retain industrial, retail, and commercial enterprises.
• Provides professional advice and support through the County Manager to the Board of Supervisors and other boards, commissions, and committees on economic development matters.
• Confers with government officials, utility companies, lenders, private sector companies and firms, and others to effect changes in local policies to encourage industrial and commercial expansion and new development.
• Acts as liaison to existing industrial and business land and building owners, developers, marketing firms, financial, transportation and utility firms, and Federal, State, regional, and county agencies regarding loans, grants, data, and educational resources relating to the economic development program.
• Organizes, supervises, and participates in the development, preparation and presentation of complex studies, analyses, and reports; analyzes and evaluates study results, preparing recommendations. Directs the completion of special county and regional economic development planning and research projects.
• Establishes and maintains a liaison function with other County departments, commissions and boards, and other economic development agencies at local, state, and federal levels to assure the achievement of the highest level of effective administration, coordination and participation, maintenance and review of plans and programs.
• Serves on committees, boards and commissions as requested.
• Promotes public understanding of the economic development program and policies through presentations to public and representative community groups and through news releases to the media.
• Attends meetings of professional societies and speaks before professional and civic organizations on varied economic development programs and to increase community contact and develop understanding of the economic development program.
• Plans and coordinates the preparation of applications for Federal and State grants.
• Assists in the development and administration of the department’s budget in accordance with program goals and objectives.
• Makes oral and written presentations to the Board of Supervisors, various committees, and the public.

• Research and investigate redevelopment and economic development problems and issues and prepares reports of findings and recommendations.

• Communicates and acts in a professional manner with the public, co-workers, and work contacts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public or business administration, finance, or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional administration experience in urban economic or industrial development work (preferably with a large municipality or governmental agency).
• One (1) year of experience in a supervisorial / managerial capacity.

• OR an equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Budgetary and financial procedures and data processing applications.
• Principles and practices of grantsmanship to include writing grants and monitoring of grant funding.
• Principles of management and supervision.
• Principles of customer service and public relations and of effective office and public communications, both orally and in writing
• Organizing work assignments and methods of project and program planning.
• Developing, negotiating, coordinating, and administering contracts, agreements, and Requests for Proposals.
• Principles and practices of management, public administration, and planning and development used in economic program development and administration.
• The technical, organizational, and administrative functions necessary to the development and maintenance of a coordinated and comprehensive planning and implementation programs for the development of an economic development program for a large city or county.
• Federal, State, and local laws pertaining to economic development and division operations.
• Technical research and report preparation related to economic development.
• Marketing and public relations techniques.
• Economic development incentives.
• Methods for financing sites, buildings, and equipment.
• Mohave County Personnel Policies and Procedures, and Department Regulations.
• Business Retention and Expansion software tools.
• Project Economic Impact Calculators.
• Website content and management software.
• Business Cost comparison models.

Skill in:

• Effectively utilizing computer systems and applications in the performance of work assignments, such as electronic spreadsheets, word processing, databases, and graphics.

• Communicating and maintaining professionalism with the public, co-workers, and work contacts.

• Identification and resolution of operational, procedural, and developmental problems and issues.

Ability to:

• Develop and administer an economic development program consistent with County goals and objectives.
• Effectively plan for, identify, evaluate, and resolve administrative, operational, procedural and personnel problems.

• Interpret and apply Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Prepare and analyze economic development and redevelopment reports, statements, and correspondence.
• Be persuasive in marketing and selling Mohave County to prospective businesses and industries.
• Maintain complete and accurate records and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Interpret information accurately and make decisions in accordance with established policies and regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work to include, but not limited to, management consultants, industrial realtors, the local Chambers of Commerce, other agencies providing services to prospective industries and businesses, public and private officials, and members of the public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, explaining information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Perform the essential functions of the job specifications with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Comply with Mohave County Personnel Policies and Procedures, and Department Regulations.

Mohave County has an extensive benefits package with exceptional health, wellness, and work/life balance offerings, financial & retirement benefits, comprehensive leave program, and more.
Check out our Benefits Guide for full details!

Closing Date/Time: 11/15/2026 5:00 PM Arizona