Organization
Bartow EDC is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(6) economic development organization founded in 2016 to drive economic development strategies and momentum in Bartow, the county seat of Polk County, FL. Polk County, FL is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida and the U.S. and Bartow has some of the greatest economic development potential in the region with a robust transportation network, available land for development, progressive city leadership, and quick access to ports, rail and intermodal freight system that are driving industry investment and job creation throughout the region.

Position: President/CEO

General Overview and Opportunity:
The President/CEO will have both the opportunity and responsibility to set the strategic direction of economic development in Bartow to achieve high-impact results though strategies, initiatives and programs that promote the community and drive meaningful economic development outcomes.

The President/CEO will be expected to:
1. Develop and maintain a positive partnership with the BEDC Board of Directors and City of Bartow leadership team.
2. Develop a strong network of business contacts and key community relationships that bolster BEDC’s reputation and its ability to achieve its goals.
3. Identify Bartow’s competitive advantages and undertake efforts to capitalize on the opportunities that are already identified and that will emerge.
4. Build a personal knowledge database of issues, projects, industry and community trends vital to the successful achievement of BEDC’s mission.
5. Ensure BEDC is a well-run organization that exhibits the highest standards of professional economic development practices with fiscal responsibility and a focus on achieving success.
6. Become the recognized economic development thought leader for the community through development of innovative, locally relevant, economic development strategies and successful public presentations, collaborations with partner organizations, government, the business community, and the community-at-large.

Summary of Responsibilities
The President/CEO is responsible for all management and operations of the BEDC and for developing and executing a plan to drive new job creation and capital investment to help position Bartow as a leading business destination in central Florida. The President will be responsible for all functions of the organization including – Business Recruitment, Business Retention & Expansion, Investor and Government Relations, Community Relations, Marketing, and Administrative. The President/CEO works regularly and collaboratively with key partners of the BEDC, including state and local governments and agencies, state, regional and local economic development organizations, and core partners in the community.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate with the Executive Committee to ensure it is setting, re-setting and meeting the organization’s strategic goals.
• With support from the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, develop a 3-5 year strategic plan, with specific goals and metrics.
• Manage and execute the EDC’s business development efforts to bring jobs and capital investment to Bartow.
• Create and foster relationships with influential lead generators, local commercial realtors and developers, regional site selectors and the top employers and landowners in Bartow.
• Design and implement specific project management procedures to ensure efficient and effective management of leads.
• Directly manage attraction and expansion projects.
• Provide leadership in the organization’s efforts with business climate issues, including, but not limited to community growth strategies, redevelopment or repositioning of legacy industrial facilities, incentives modeling, workforce development strategies, and marketing initiatives.
• Recommend incentive concepts/packages to city management and County/State agencies, as appropriate.
• Plan, execute, and track the EDC’s business development plan, including outbound events and inbound familiarization and site tours.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

• Exhibits strong executive presence as reflected by behavior, appearance, demeanor and posture
• Must be proven manager of people, processes and issues, with attention to detail
• Has executive, strategic and long-term critical thinking capacity
• Successful direct experience cultivating site selection consultants, multipliers and direct corporate attraction prospects and successfully closing significant projects
• History of being resourceful and creative, and proactively creating opportunities
• Proven ability to successfully work through complex issues and projects
• Experience with developing and effectively managing budgets
• Strong public speaking and written communications skills
• Knowledge of incentive models used to recruit and expand business
• Demonstrated ability to establish working relationships with local businesses, community leaders, and local associations to promote economic development efforts
• Ability to work within a network of allies and partners to manage effective business, community and government relationships
• Exemplary skills in leadership, interpersonal relations, and ethics
• Considerable knowledge of proven economic development marketing and communication strategies
• Bachelor’s degree with a major in business, marketing, finance or management preferred
• Prefer three-five years’ experience working directly in economic development
• Supervisory experience is a plus

Working Conditions

• Occasional travel for meetings, seminars, conferences and/or trade shows
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required
• Equal Opportunity Employer

Compensation

• Market leading compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience.
• All inquiries should be emailed to: applications@bartowedc.com
• Applicants can confidentially submit Cover Letter and Resume to: applications@bartowedc.com
• References may be requested following review of resumes.