Position Title: Assistant Director, Economic Development

Department:  Economic Development

Division: GENERAL OPERATIONS

FLSA Status: Exempt

Union Code/Affiliation: Unrepresented

Starting Salary: $87,381/yr - $111,010/yr; Commensurate w/Training & Experience

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

The Role: Assistant Director (City of Columbia) & Vice President (REDI)

The Opportunity: Join a unique public-private partnership driving prosperity in Columbia and Boone County. We are looking for an economic development leader to spearhead site development, business attraction, commercial development, and more in a region defined by vibrancy and quality of life.

Why Join Us?
 - Momentum: Be part of a growing region fueled by the University of Missouri, a new airport terminal, and major I-70 expansion.
 - Impact: Partner with an influential Board and skilled staff to help create quality jobs and upward economic mobility.
 - Foundation: Build on a decades-long track record of community support and winning projects.

Hours: 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday, with some after-hours work as required.

Must submit cover letter that includes reason for interest in position.

Please provide 2 to 3 examples of written communication that you delivered to a varied audience of customers/stakeholders where you needed to convey several pieces of information and encourage them to take some kind of action. These examples could include a written plan that you created and shared, or an update you provided to a group of stakeholders or customers. The formats could vary, such as documents, presentations, or emails.

This position is open until filled with a preferred deadline to submit application by 11:59pm on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Job Description (This job description/posting in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.)

The purpose of this job is to advance the Economic Development Department (EDD) and Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) mission of fostering a vibrant business environment that creates quality job opportunities and supports upward economic mobility for residents of Columbia and Boone County. This position (1) facilitates industrial site development and marketing; (2) attracts business investments by marketing the region, managing recruitment projects, and coordinating local and state incentive processes; (3) collaborates on commercial development and retail recruitment initiatives; (4) supervises a staff member contributing to these objectives; (5) supports business retention and expansion efforts; and (6) represents EDD/REDI internally and externally as a leader and community partner.

Essential Functions:

• Supports the Director in the execution of department strategic plans, implementation of department-wide initiatives, and direction of operational activities; coordinates major projects and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Maintains a comprehensive inventory of local industrial land and buildings on Missouri LocationOne. Manages the Missouri Certified Site designation process in coordination with area landowners throughout the City, Boone County, and the University of Missouri. Serves as lead staff member to ensure industrial sites are identified, evaluated for infrastructure improvements and development, and effectively marketed.
• Manages industrial development and new business attraction program. Prepares site, building, incentive proposal submissions for new industry/employers, and responses to questions from prospective companies.
• Coordinates consultant and company project site visits to Columbia/Boone County, conducts project management activities leading to new major employer locations, and facilitates Chapter 100 process for Boone County Commissioners.
• Recruits retail businesses by maintaining an inventory of available sites, identifying high-potential prospects, initiating outreach, attending industry trade shows, and responding to information requests.
• Coordinates with external stakeholders and assists them through regulatory and permitting processes in collaboration with City, County, and other development partners.
• Develops and implements revitalization strategies for under-served areas and other priority opportunities through research, data analysis, best practices, and evaluation of financing options.
• Supervises assigned staff.
• Serves in a support role in business retention and expansion efforts by assisting with local and state incentives, monitoring incentive compliance, reporting information to taxing entities and stakeholders, and maintaining contact with area industrial plant managers and major employers.
• Serves as Vice President of REDI. Provides monthly information and reports to Board of Directors, assists with planning events, and attends meetings.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience (An equivalent combination of education, training & experience will be considered):

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in in Public Administration, Business, Marketing, Finance, Regional Planning or related field.
• 7 to 9 years' experience in local or state economic development, or related field.

Licenses or Certifications

• Valid driver’s license.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), or Missouri Certified Economic Developer (MoCED) preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Local real estate, utility, and other infrastructure needs for achieving marketable site readiness.
• Basic mapping and governmental/proprietary real estate sources.
• Local and state incentives and tools such as Chapter 100 and Missouri Works, how they are most impactfully deployed and how they can complement each other.
• Industry trends and business needs.
• Commercial development and redevelopment principles and related financing tools.
• Urban planning, land use, zoning, and regulatory processes and regulations related to commercial development.
• General office practices and administrative procedures, records management and administration techniques and procedures.
• Managerial best practices and methods.

Skill in:

• Organizational and project planning, and the coordination of a broad range of projects.
• Communicating verbally and in writing to meet the needs of the various business, community, and governmental audiences.
• Collecting, analyzing and interpreting demographic, economic and market data.
• Negotiating and resolving conflicts.
• Marketing to secure project opportunities.
• Monitoring and assessing the performance of employees or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Ability to:

• Conduct research and pay close attention to details.
• Exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Apply logic and reasoning to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Prepare and present reports.
• Handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Develop and implement policies.
• Effectively plan and delegate the work of others and to train and/or supervise the work of others.
• Regularly use a computer, software, phone and related office equipment.
• Focus on tasks.

Supervision Exercised: 

• Work requires supervising and monitoring work performance of assigned staff, including making decisions on hiring, disciplinary actions, evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, conducting performance evaluations, and realigning work and staffing assignments, as needed.

Click here to apply: https://www.gocomojobs.com/postings/34521

Individuals needing accommodation to apply may call 573.874.CITY (2489)

TTY: 711 (MO RELAY)

THE CITY OF COLUMBIA IS A MERIT, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: MALE / FEMALE

THE CITY OF COLUMBIA REQUIRES PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING

The City of Columbia participates in the federal E-Verify work authorization program