Economic & Development Planning Director | TARCOG

The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Government (TARCOG) is looking for an energetic, tenacious, directed, and organized Economic & Development Planning Director to lead and manage government and grant funded projects in our five-county service area (DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall).   

The Economic Development & Planning Director leads a team of six professionals (Principal and Associate Planners (2), Community and Economic Development Specialist, Grant Administrator) is responsible for promoting and nurturing economic development and planning and help foster the strategic and economically supportable alliances and partnerships, providing technical assistance and consultation among government members in TARCOG’s five county (Dekalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall) service area.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Reviews, writes, and manages grants, contracts, and related regulations awarded to TARCOG for economic development and planning to plan/schedule work assignments and to become familiar with regulations so that tasks are accomplished, and programs are administered in accordance with applicable guidelines. Maintains records/files of grants and contracts and related activities to document such activities for monitoring by awarding agencies and to prepare timely reports as required by awarding agencies.
• Reviews and approves all technical written material and reports produced by ED&P staff to assure timeliness, accuracy, and quality of acceptable standards prior to publication. Updates Executive Director on program status, balance of work to be performed, and plans for accomplishing work.
• Performs monthly budget and project reviews to ensure status/updates and to prepare and submit necessary reports in a timely fashion.  Coordinates information with the Finance Director concerning expenditures, status of accounts, and status of invoices for ED&P contracts to establish and maintain budget expenditures and to ensure that invoices are being paid by appropriate agencies.
• Supervises ED&P staff using meetings, memoranda, reports, conversations, etc. to assign and coordinate tasks and GIS functions, review work, solve problems and conflicts, determine training needs, counsel employees on performance, set goals, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master’s Degree in Planning, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field, with at least four years of related work experience, OR a Bachelor’s Degree and at least two years post graduate work in one of the above areas with at least five years of experience in the field of planning and/or economic/community development.
• Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience preferred.
• Exceptional writing skills, with both grant writing and grant administration experience.
• Exceptional oral communication skills for preparing and presenting plans, grant reports, and other related projects to elected officials and local, state, and national partners/partner organizations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with local government officials and other regional stakeholders.
• Capacity to work on several projects or issues simultaneously while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and time management.
• Ability to conduct or facilitate surveys or public hearings throughout the five-county region to acquire program input and determine priorities.
• Presents periodic reports to the TARCOG Board of Directors, member governments, community leaders and other organizational partners to provide summaries of programs, introduce new programs, and respond to requests for information.
• Ability to attend workday and evening meetings throughout the five-county region.
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed.
• Driver’s license and good driving record required.

Salary (based upon qualifications and experience): $72,000 – $100,000; Full benefits package. 

To apply, submit a résumé and brief cover letter to TARCOG’s HR Manager at hr@tarcog.us by Friday, June 2, 2023.