Economic Development Director

Progressive, Diverse, Wake County Community Seeks Economic Development Director

The Town of Morrisville’s first Economic Development Director (Director) could be your next career move if you are a visionary and intrigued by the opportunity to create a new economic development department and to utilize industry best practices and trends to continue to enhance the Town of Morrisville as a regional leader in economic development.

Morrisville’s Economic Development Director is responsible for retaining and expanding the town's economic strength by marketing, planning, coordinating, and directing the town's economic development activities. This position is for the demonstrable leader with economic development and municipal leadership experience in communities of 30,000+ who has a proactive and “sense of urgency” approach toward economic development. Ideally, the first Director has experience with existing business growth and retention, as well as site selection, and understands the role of a development broker.

The Economic Development Director will join a collaborative organization as part of the town’s leadership team and unite themselves around the team’s servant leadership style. This Director plays a vital role in developing and implementing strategies to promote economic growth, support local businesses, and attract new investment to the Town of Morrisville. The Director will assume responsibility for the Town’s “Morrisville Means Business” small business program and will be responsible for selecting and then supervising the Town’s 30 hr. employee focused on small business. This will also include collaboration with the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce as they work to also support small businesses in the community.

About the Organization and Position: 

The Town of Morrisville is governed by a seven-member Town Council utilizing the Council/Manager form of government. The town has thriving team of 246 employees, not including part-time and seasonal staff, across 13 departments. With AAA bond ratings from bond rating agencies and excellent stewardship of tax dollars, the Town is regarded as a fiscally responsible and well-managed government. The FY2025 approved budget of $58.2M is supported by a property tax rate of .35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The strategic focus of Morrisville is guided by the community vision established in the 2017 Connect Morrisville Strategic Plan and renewed in the 2021 update. The Town also relies on its Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Land Use Plan, Capital Investment Program, and other policies adopted by the Town Council to guide its work.

The Economic Development Director, reporting to the Deputy Town Manager, will oversee the town’s economic development priorities through its newly created Economic Development department.

In close collaboration with town leaders, staff, and other stakeholders, the Economic Development Director will prioritize establishing and executing Morrisville’s economic development workplan, which will focus on economic prosperity and smart growth, community advancement and collaboration, and brand identification and placemaking. The Director will refine and revise the town's economic development policies to best support the town's economic growth and ensure sustainability and viability given that Morrisville is more than 80% built out with no ETJ (Extra Territorial Planning Jurisdiction). The Director must explore and create opportunities to creatively recruit and retain businesses who will build “up, not out” and redevelop existing properties. 

Required Qualifications:

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in economic development, business, public administration, or a related field with training in economic growth and considerable professional experience in business or economic development. 

Preferred Qualifications:

A master's degree and 10+ years of demonstrated economic development experience, with 3-5 years of experience in urban municipal government, along with familiarity with the state of North Carolina.

Salary and Benefits: The hiring range for the position is $135,000 - $145,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The Town of Morrisville is recognized as a high-quality employer that values and supports its employees. Information about the Town’s generous benefits (including but not limited to flexible work schedules – including up to two days of remote work per week following an orientation period, paid time off (PTO) beyond other paid leave, and contributions to a 401K) can be found here. As a condition of employment for all positions with the Town of Morrisville, the selected candidate must complete a pre-employment background check, drug screening, and motor vehicle record check.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the title ofEconomic Development Director – Morrisville, NC.

• All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the Town’s employment application portal or any other external website.
• Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
• Applicants should apply by July 12, 2024.
• Successful semi-finalists will be invited to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluation interviews on August 12-13, 2024. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
• In-person interviews with the leadership team are tentatively scheduled for August 22-23, 2024.
• Direct inquiries to hiring@developmentalassociates.com

The Town of Morrisville, NC, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this position. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/, select "Client Openings," and scroll down to "Important Information for Applicants."

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.