Economic Development and Tourism Manager
$122,850 to $153,530 Annual Salary Range.
The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking an Economic Development and Tourism Manager.
CLICK HERE to view the full recruitment flyer and learn more about this amazing opportunity!
JOB SUMMARY:
The Economic Development and Tourism Manager role demands someone who can effectively design, implement, and oversee programs that enhance the City's economic strength and tourism appeal. The ideal candidate will be forward-thinking, with the ability to implement long-term economic development and tourism plans while also being pragmatic enough to address immediate challenges. They should have a proactive attitude, always seeking innovative solutions to drive economic growth and enhance the city’s visitor experience. Their enthusiasm for San Luis Obispo should be evident, including the ability to motivate others to share in the vision for the community and contribute to achieving set objectives.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:
The single-position class develops and implements a wide variety of programs for the benefit of residents, businesses, employees, and visitors. Responsibilities include analysis and implementation of policies and programs to improve the economic strength of the City. The Economic Development and Tourism Manager represents the City in a variety of meetings and public forums regarding the support of local business, industry, downtown, tourism, and job development. The position leads implementation and provides support for policies, programs, and projects that strengthen the City’s head of household job base and revenues, particularly sales tax and transient occupancy tax, and works to improve communication and to find solutions to problems of economic concern. This class is distinguished from other mid-management classes by its extensive involvement in major and politically sensitive economic development projects, policies, and other highly visible issues, both internally and within the community and region.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)
- Plans, organizes, coordinates, and administers a comprehensive and coordinated programs aimed at encouraging sustainable economic development and tourism for the City.
- Ensures that the City’s efforts related to Economic Development and Tourism are coordinated and aligned to meet the goals of the City, including but not limited to sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
- Develops, implements, and updates the City’s Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plans.
- Monitors progress and reports results of the City’s current Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plans.
- Provides overall direction to and supervises the work of the staff managing the Tourism and Community Promotions Programs as related to the Tourism Business Improvement District Board and the City’s Promotional Coordinating Committee.
- Develops and oversees the implementation of policies, programs, marketing, and promotional activities related to the support of key sectors of the City’s economy, including tourism, the downtown, and other sectors identified by the City Council or as outlined in the Economic Development Strategic Plan.
- Works closely with the City Manager, City Council, City departments, a variety of public and private organizations, and citizens’ groups in developing programs and implementing projects to solve problems related to the community’s economic development and tourism functions; advises the City Manager and City Council on related issues and programs.
- Identifies and pursues grant and funding opportunities that leverage City resources for economic development and tourism activities and/or community events; oversees administration of economic development and tourism grants and contracts.
- Designs, develops, and implements business retention, support, expansion, and targeted outreach programs, consistent with the Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plans.
- Identifies community employment needs and supports job creation efforts that match these needs with the skills of current residents and other members of the workforce.
- Communicates the elements of the City’s Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plans to diverse groups and builds consensus for these strategies.
- Recommends work plan in support of economic development and tourism goals and priorities through the City’s budget and goal-setting process.
- Oversees the development and preparation of informational brochures and other materials describing the community and develops information about economic development and tourism activities for the various City’s and partner web sites.
- Overseas the contact of businesses interested in locating to the community, and initiates recruitment efforts to attract businesses that meet the City’s job creation goals.
- Attends meetings, workshops, conferences, and seminars on economic development and tourism.
- Serves as the City’s liaison and formal representative to the business community, conducting regular interactions and visits to business leaders; regularly attends Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association, Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH), Visit SLO CAL, and other business organization meetings.
- Serves as an advocate for business; represents the perspective of the business community by translating input and needs identified by the business community into program objectives.
- Establishes and maintains contact with other City, County, and statewide economic development and tourism organizations and serves as team leader on specific projects related to economic development and tourism.
- May coordinate and facilitate major development projects and works closely with other City departments on these projects.
- Monitors and assists in facilitating planning and building permit processing activities as needed.
- Coordinates economic development and tourism activities with other City departments and offices.
- Plans, organizes, administers, reviews, and evaluates the work of assigned professional, technical, and/or office support staff; provides training and policy guidance and interpretation to staff.
- Analyzes legislation pertaining to economic development and tourism; recommends policy and procedural changes to implement adopted legislation.
- Prepares reports, graphic representations, and statistical summaries on issues related to economic development and tourism and makes presentations to the City Council, commissions, business and community organizations, and other stakeholders regarding these issues.
Develops, manages, and tracks the budget of the City’s Economic Development, Tourism, and Community Promotions Programs in coordination and collaboration with the City Manager. Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.
- KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
- Principles, practices, and resources for economic development, tourism, job creation, and business recruitment, retention, and expansion.
- Principles and practices of marketing and promotion.
- Federal, state, and local programs and opportunities to cooperatively develop and enhance the economic strength of the City.
- Applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Financing trends, practices, and resources in economic development.
- Principles and practices of drafting agreements, negotiation of contracts, and oversight of contractors.
- Principles and practices of urban planning and community development, including community issues related to economic development.
- Business and administrative computer applications related to the work.
- Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person, over the telephone, and via email.
Basic program management, budgeting, and supervisory techniques.
Ability to:- Plan, organize, coordinate, and administer comprehensive and coordinated programs aimed at encouraging sustainable economic development and tourism for the City.
- Design, develop, and implement targeted business recruitment, retention, support, and expansion programs.
- Identify community employment needs and implement recruitment strategies and job creation efforts that match the skills and needs of current residents.
- Communicate the City’s economic development and tourism strategies effectively to diverse groups and build consensus for this strategy.
- Conduct outreach to businesses interested in locating in the community and initiate recruitment efforts to attract businesses.
- Support business incubation programs and job creation through the use of entrepreneurial approaches.
- Establish and maintain effective contacts with other City, County, and statewide economic development organizations.
- Think creatively to develop new and/or different approaches to solving problems.
- Identify and implement appropriate funding resources and strategies.
- Serve as an effective advocate of economic development and tourism within the community.
- Identify and help resolve issues within the development review process.
- Plan, direct, and review the work of staff on a project basis.
- Develop and analyze projects and programs for their financial feasibility and effectiveness.
- Research and evaluate legislation pertaining to economic development and tourism.
- Make effective presentations to the City Council, commissions, community and business organizations, and other stakeholders regarding economic development and tourism issues.
- Use sound independent judgment within general legal, policy, and procedural guidelines.
- Prepare accurate and effective reports, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of the work, including diverse internal and external customers.
- Work with diverse populations and maintain an inclusive environment.
TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration, economics, planning, or a field related to the work;
and
Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in one or more economic development disciplines (that may include, but is not limited to, business attraction and retention, development and management of public/private partnership projects, job creation, real estate development, tourism, and/or assessment districts), including three years at a program management level.
or
An equivalent combination of education and experience.
Possession of an advanced degree and some experience in a public agency setting are desirable.
POSSESSION AND MAINTENANCE OF:
- A valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
The Recruitment Process:
Application Deadline: First review of applications on October 17, 2024.
If you are selected for Interviews, they will take place In person on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, so please hold this date.
Candidates must submit an online application, resume, and cover letter by 5:00 p.m. on October 17, 2024. Candidates will be contacted after the application deadline. The evaluation and selection process may consist of a supplemental questionnaire and a phone screening prior to interviews.
Applications, resume and cover letter must be submitted online at: https://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/human-resources/job-openings-application-2306
Contact Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann at [email protected] / 805.781.7194 if you have any questions regarding this position or recruitment process.