MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Code No. 7954
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (Non-Merit)

CLASS SPECIFICATION

DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is executive-level work directing the operations of the Department of Economic Development, and to implement the Partnership for Economic Development between the County and Montgomery College serving as the Special Assistant to the President of Montgomery College to identify and support educational initiatives necessary to promote and expand the business and industry markets in the County. Contacts are with high ranking legislative and executive officials within County Government, officials of equivalent rank in other governmental jurisdictions, State and corporate officials, private sector and community organizations and groups. The purposes of the contacts include exchanging information and developing working relationships to foster the goals and objectives of county-wide economic development, and presenting, justifying and defending controversial positions where conflicting and opposing viewpoints, goals and objectives are strongly advocated and must be reconciled to develop suitable alternatives or arrive at consensus or acceptable compromises.

The employee in this class plans, develops, implements, and evaluates activities designed to generate private sector investment in the County, especially from high technology enterprises, broaden the commercial/industrial tax base, sustain a balanced and healthy business climate, promote employment opportunities, strengthen existing business and foster entrepreneurship. In the role of Special Assistant to the President of Montgomery College, the incumbent will implement a partnership with the College to promote the presence of higher education and continuing educational opportunities directed towards business; promoting the participation of senior executives, chambers of commerce and other business groups in public planning and decision making processes. The work is performed under broadly defined missions and general administrative direction of the County Executive. The employee exercises full and final accountability for all matters associated with completing work assignments including determining the work to be performed and the methods used. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and evaluated in terms of the Office's success in facilitating planned County growth and future development. Guidelines consist of broad policy directives and basic legislation and require the employee to use considerable judgment in interpreting the intent of the guidelines and generating specific policies and guidance for use by subordinate managers in developing various components of the overall economic development and interests strategies. The complexity of the work is reflected in the need for planning, directing and integrating a broad range of economic development and educational and training programs and services to achieve heightened economic development and opportunities. The work requires consideration of public policies and programs affecting such areas as continuing education, workforce development, transportation and land use, community issues and impacts, and development of solutions that accommodate conflicting objectives from a variety of organizations, groups and individuals. The work of directing the economic development interests of the County is essential to the mission of the County Government and affects all residents and communities in the County. The work is primarily sedentary, performed in a typical office setting, and subject to common everyday risks.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

Develops special marketing efforts to attract targeted industry to the County and appropriate business to the Central Business Districts.
Promotes the presence of Federal Government agencies.
Promotes the presence of higher education in the County to attract and retain employers and provide higher education opportunities to County residents.
Identifies and facilitates higher education and employment training services and programs to support and attract a workforce to ensure the expansion of biotechnology, telecommunications and professional services.
Develops and markets continuing education opportunities directed towards business, including management and workforce training and retraining.
Provides technical assistance to small and minority owned businesses in the County as well as other existing County industries.
Promotes the travel industry in cooperation with the Maryland Tourist Development Office and the Montgomery County Travel Council, Inc.
Ensures that the economic development perspective is adequately represented in the land use planning process and the transportation program of the County.
Provides leadership to promote the high technology industry through the High Technology Council and Economic Advisory Council.
Oversees the conduct of economic studies and analyses of socio economic trends, labor market trends, and economic development opportunities as the basis for the formulation of the County's long term economic development policies.
Supports the efforts of the Action Business Committee, the Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Private Industry Council.
Directs the review and preparation of analyses of proposed Federal, State and local legislation affecting the County Government's economic well being, and provides review and analysis of legislation having critical importance or special interest to the County.
Conducts formal briefings and presentations for County officials, including County Executive, Chief Administrative Officer, County Council, Planning Board, and citizen and community groups to explain economically based planning proposals and gain support of such officials and groups.
Performs other related duties as required.

RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Extensive (7 years) experience in economic planning or program development specialization, with at least four (4) years in a managerial or supervisory capacity which included responsibilities for fund and budget administration, program planning, implementation and administration.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Economics, Urban Planning, Public Administration or related area; and completion of the Basic Economic Development course and attendance at the Economic Development Institute or other economic development education.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of economic planning and development.
Extensive knowledge of Federal, State and local economic planning policies and standards.
Extensive knowledge of local government functions and organizations.
Skill in directing, developing, implementing and administering a broad range of economic planning functions and programs.
Skill in negotiating agreements which accommodate the conflicting interests and viewpoints of numerous groups and organizations.
Skill in oral and written communication sufficient to make informative and persuasive presentations and proposals, and develop defenses of and justifications for decisions reached.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the business community, other governmental and bi-County agencies, private organizations, and the general public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government, business, civic, community and private groups
Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office.

LICENSE: None.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Medical History Review

Class Established:
Revised: July, 1987
August, 1995
September 1995
December, 2002