Project Director, Economic Development

Organization:      Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Job Title:          Project Director, Economic Development 

Classification:     Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE), exempt

Reports To:        Vice President, Economic Development 

Location:         Hybrid (This role requires a combination of in-person and remote work, with frequent travel to external meetings and events in the Seattle Metropolitan area.)

About the Organization

The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is the largest independent business and employer association in the region. The Chamber engages the innovation and entrepreneurship of its members to create a strong economy, advocate for a vital business environment, and build sustainable and healthy communities in the Seattle region.

Position Summary

The Chamber’s mission is to help businesses grow and thrive in an inclusive and equitable regional economy. We are looking for an experienced candidate who aligns with our mission and is committed to making a difference.

As the designated Associate Development Organization (ADO) for King County, we lead Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) efforts across the county by supporting local cities, designing and implementing initiatives, and connecting businesses and our partners with the resources and assets they need to grow.

Our mission and our role as King County’s ADO drive us to focus on the immediate need to support BIPOC businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and held back by barriers borne out of racism. There is a moral and economic imperative to help these businesses grow and expand in King County.

This position will monitor and oversee the Chamber’s small business outreach program, the Community Business Connector, and our contractors who serve as trusted advisor and subject matter experts. A key responsibility will help businesses to connect with service providers to receive economic development technical assistance.

This position will lead, coordinate, and participate in meetings with contractors to cultivate strong relationships and troubleshoot issues and challenges. In addition to provide leadership and support to the program, under the direction of the Vice President of Economic Development, this individual will track and gather metrics from the contractors, ensuring that the Chamber reports economic development metrics to state, local, and private funders.

This position will manage contractors responsible for ensuring that the Chamber tracks and reports on economic development metrics to state, local and private funders. The contractors work with local partners to provide economic development technical assistance to a variety of businesses.

Additional projects will be assigned based on the Chamber’s ADO status and initiatives in coordinating and writing grant applications, standing up special programs, and raising awareness about business resources and policies.

The position will collaborate with public, private, and community-based partners to maximize community benefit and will be responsive to and inclusive of the communities we serve. The ideal candidate will have experience working with diverse partners to support existing firms with their needs. They should have a working understanding of the business climate in King County and understand the needs of different types of businesses at various stages of their growth cycles.

Additionally, the successful candidate will have a proven track record of building trust in BIPOC communities, brings a pro-business and antiracist lens to the work, and can deliver Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) results against a set of annual targets and metrics.

Attendance at outside meetings will be required for outreach and relationship-building activities which may involve travel within the Seattle Metro area during the workday.

Critical Job Functions:

The following describes the critical functions of the role but does not provide an extensive list of job responsibilities and duties.

• Oversee the Chamber’s small business outreach program serving King County, with a focus on startup formation and growth of BIPOC-owned businesses across the county.
• Manage contractors who are responsible for ensuring that the Chamber tracks and reports on economic development metrics to state, local and private funders.
• Complete quarterly and annual reports submitted to state, local and private funders, including writing business success stories with guidance from the Chamber’s marketing and communications team.
• Collaborate with partners to optimize leverage points across community-based organizations, local chambers, and private business owners to improve business interactions and advance BRE outcomes.
• Lead and participate in assigned stakeholder meetings and business community events.
• Provide administrative support to the Vice President of Economic Development as needed.

Project Leadership (40%)

• Manage the Chamber’s Community Business Connector program to serve all 39 cities and unincorporated areas within King County.
• Assist businesses by providing support and serving as liaison between the company and various local and state agencies, as well as assisting their executives with personal relocation matters.
• Respond to local requests for small business assistance and support.
• Keep up to date with businesses of different sizes and sectors; government entities; capital providers (e.g. CDFIs); technical assistance and entrepreneurship organizations; and BIPOC communities.

Contract Management (30%)

• Supervise Community Business Connector field operations, travel as needed.
• Manage and coach Connectors with guidance from the VP of Economic Development.
• Develop and maintain appropriate databases to support economic development activities.
• Assist with the development of outreach materials, training, and tools.
• Collaborate with VP of Economic Development to identify outreach and business assistance opportunities in the region.

Data Management & Analysis (20%)

• Lead technical assistance referral management, coordinating usage of an intake process among all service providers serving small businesses in King County.
• Assist Connector Liaisons with navigation of city departments, programs, regulations, and other processes necessary to grow or enhance King County-based businesses.
• Effectively manage and track business interactions, maintaining detailed, accurate understanding of business ecosystem and all players including for-profit, non-profit, federal, state, local government resources.
• Report economic development metrics and project deliverables to state, local and private funders.

Community Engagement & Communications (10%)

• Liaise between community-based organizations and service providers to update Connector Liaisons on resources and information to share with small businesses, and to also share insights on based Connector Liaison findings and lessons learned in the field.
• Develop and actively engage quality, trusting relationships with the leadership of client companies, organizations that serve BIPOC-owned businesses, regional governments, city jurisdictions and their economic development leadership and colleagues.
• Provide guidance to community-based organizations and local chambers as to how they can align with Chamber programs and resources.
• Write business success stories with guidance from the Chamber’s marketing and communications team.
• Leverage state and local information and other assets to support Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) efforts.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Seven (7) years of experience in program management or opportunities that would bring similar skillsets, ideally in the fields of, or related to, community economic development or business retention and extension (BRE).
• Strong commitment and knowledge of economic development, business recruitment, program or project management.
•  Experience in supervising a team and the ability to oversee multiple initiatives and projects in an efficient and organized way, with the ability to prioritize quickly and manage multiple deadlines.
• Experience building relationships, networking, and collaborating effectively with team members and community-based organizations. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to connect with a diverse group of audiences effectively and convey information accurately through phone, video conference, and email.
• Excellent skills in program management and evaluation and grants/contract management.
• Experience with data collection methods and software such as SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms or equivalent software preferred; with the ability to analyze and translate data into actionable information.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel for recording and reporting data.
• Excellent report writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated strong time management skills while maintaining high levels of productivity and accuracy in all tasks.

Employment Details

The Chamber is committed to internal and market equity. The full pay range for this position is $82,364-$123,562 annually, with an anticipated hiring range of $82.364-$102,968 annually, based on experience. The Chamber provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including but not restricted to:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• 401(k) and Roth Retirement Accounts, with Employer Match of up to 6%
• Generous Holiday and Paid Time Off Schedule
• Mindfulness and Wellness Resources
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Company-sponsored ORCA Card
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Parental Leave
• EAP Membership
• Additional Voluntary Benefits, including Long-term Disability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, and Pet Insurance

We recognize the value of the Chamber and our affiliate organizations and programs reflecting the diversity of our community and are intentionally and actively seeking out applications from a variety of backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

The Chamber is an equal opportunity employer. All employees and potential employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, and, if necessary, disciplined without regard to sex, race, religion, creed, caste, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political ideology or activity, disability, honorably-discharged veteran or military status. All applicants are carefully screened, and full consideration is given to their training, education, skills, aptitudes, experience, and previous work record. In addition, the Chamber does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information in its employment related policies and practices, including coverage under its health benefits program.