About Us: Founded in 1981, the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a non-profit dedicated to fostering economic growth and development within our community. We work with local and prospective businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to create a thriving economic environment. Our goal is to support sustainable development, job creation, and economic opportunities for all residents.
Purspose of Position: Under the direction of the Director of Business Services, the Business Development Specialist will play a crucial role in promoting regional economic growth and development. The Specialist is responsible for the development of professional, competitive business attraction collateral requests for information, proposals, and outreach (regional and national) for the County of Fresno and its cities by collaborating with various internal and external partners. This position involves collaborating with existing and potential businesses to identify opportunities for expansion, relocation, and investment. The Specialist will also work to amplify and enroll businesses in economic incentives such as the New Employment Opportunities (NEO) program, PG&E Economic Development Rate (EDR), Good Jobs Challenge (GJC), and other EDC programs and incentives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in business development, excellent communication skills, and a passion for economic development.

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Strong verbal and written communication, excellent interpersonal skills, and a proven ability to build and maintain relationships with business leaders
• Project Management: Excellent organizational and time management skills, with ability to manage projects and meet performance targets
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with remote meeting technologies (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.). Knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), CoStar, ArcGIS Business Analyst, EMSI, or similar programs (Strongly Preferred)
• Knowledge of real estate, real estate development, or land use (Strongly Preferred)
• Familiarity with the regional business landscape and target industry sectors (Strongly Preferred)

MINIMUM EDUCATION & WORK HISTORY:

• Bachelor’s degree in with a concentration in marketing, finance/accounting, real estate, advertising sales or business administration preferred and one year of proven experience in a marketing or sales position; OR
• A combination of some college and 3 years of marketing, business development, commercial banking, and/or sales experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The physical demands listed are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Modified “light duty” restrictions may be arranged as needed and when available for job-related injuries or illnesses.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit; use hands for clerical duties and keyboarding. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; stoop and kneel.
• The employee will occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus, and visual acuity sufficient to read a computer screen and paper documents.
• Acute hearing is necessary for telephone and in-person communication with callers and assisting staff, customers, and vendors. This position requires speaking in front of a group to lead meetings and training sessions.