We are looking for a Business Relations Coordinator to promote local growth, support business retention, and attract new investments. This role involves working with community stakeholders, analyzing economic trends, and developing initiatives to stimulate regional prosperity. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, experience in economic planning, and a passion for fostering sustainable development.
The Business Relations Coordinator will play a pivotal role in driving the success and growth of local businesses and entrepreneurs within the City of Baytown. In this dynamic position, you will serve as the primary link between small businesses and essential government resources, championing their development and fostering a vibrant business community.
This position leads the Economic Development team’s business engagement outreach efforts, proactively networking and forging valuable partnerships to unlock new business opportunities. Your mission is to connect local businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources, tools, and technical assistance they need to thrive, ensuring a robust and resilient business environment.
The ideal candidate is a proactive, customer-focused professional with a strong work ethic and a passion for business development. The ideal candidate will possess a solid understanding of business and economic principles, combined with a genuine enthusiasm for engaging with and supporting the business community.
Duties
- Performs a range of professional and technical duties involving research, design, implementation and monitoring of economic development programs.
- Serves as the initial point of contact for new and expanding business inquiries, providing the appropriate connections and referrals within the City, and follows up to ensure the business needs are met.
- Prioritizes revitalization strategies with specific focus on increasing occupancy, foot traffic and tax base in targeted areas such as Texas Avenue, Alexander Drive, Bayway Drive, Market Street, and West Baytown.
- Assists in the implementation of special districts, economic incentives, enterprise zones, and existing development agreements.
- Develops and implements strategies to support and retain existing businesses, consistent with the City’s adopted plans, studies, and policies.
- Guides business owners by recommending the most viable process and options for project development.
- Facilitates communication with the appropriate City staff and assists through the pre-development and permitting processes.
- Assists with promoting city-funded grant and loan programs and recommends other financial services needed to expand business capacity.
- Pursues regular outreach to provide support using internal resources and external referrals.
- Maintains an updated data library with information on demographics, workforce statistics, infrastructure, utilities, education, available real estate sites, and other community attributes.
- Ensures informational resources are current and available on the City website and in person.
- Prepares marketing, promotional, educational and resource material and content for social media platforms according to branding parameters, the appropriate City web pages, and other online platforms. Coordinates and implements the marketing and promotion of business development activities to increase City’s visibility as a desirable business location.
- Performs a variety of other duties related to developing, updating, and distributing materials to support business retention and expansion efforts.
- Establishes and nurtures strategic partnerships with business leaders, property owners, and other stakeholders to create a supportive ecosystem for local businesses.
- Proactively engages and collaborates with small businesses and partners to support their needs and concerns.
- Coordinates business-related outreach functions and makes presentations to the public, including business, neighborhood, and government groups. Participates as a member of various committees/teams to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative relations.
- Serves as a liaison for small businesses with other city departments, Small Business Development Center, Chambers of Commerce, economic and workforce development agencies, state agencies, other municipalities, businesses, appropriate community partners and stakeholders as needed.
- Ensures consistency, alignment, and furtherance of the economic development priorities established in adopted City plans/studies, including City Council policies.
- Monitors progress utilizing performance metrics and regular reporting to assess and communicate outcomes.
- Prepares and submits written reports to other government entities, various committees, and City Council. Analyzes data to highlight trends and current issues to assist in making data-driven decisions.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or institution in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
- Two years of professional experience in Economic Development and business recruitment, development, and retention.
- Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record (must obtain TX driver’s license within 90 days).
OR
- An equivalent combination of education, experience, certification and/or licenses sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Preferred:
- Master’s Degree from an accredited college or institution in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
- Prior government experience in Economic Development, or a related field.
- Combination of prior municipal government experience and private sector, entrepreneurial experience.
- Economic Development or Community Development Certification.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Proficiency in the operational characteristics, service delivery, management practices, and activities of an economic development program. Knowledge of economic development initiatives, policies, and resources. Excellent interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with businesses, City staff, other agencies, elected officials, media, and the public. Ability to communicate verbally and in written form in a professional and persuasive manner. Efficiency in project coordination and time management skills, including planning, organizing, evaluating and implementation. Highly organized with attention to detail and ability to multi-task. Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations for business operations. Ability to work independently and use good judgment under stressful conditions and with frequent interruptions.
Here at the City of Baytown, in recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you bring. We strive to provide a workplace where differences are honored, with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people we serve.
Attendance is an essential function of this position. The City reserves the right to require an employee to work overtime. This position provides services or performs duties for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations. These may include services or duties different from those performed in the usual course and scope of your job. In the event of an evacuation, the incumbent in this position may be required to remain to perform needed services.
Overall Position Strength Demands
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
