Small and Minority Business Officer

POSITION SUMMARY/CLASS DESCRIPTION

The Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Small and Minority Business Officer for the further development of an inclusive and equitable economy in Howard County, Maryland.  This individual must be able to work collaboratively, professionally and competently in a fast-paced, high-performance, and multi-disciplined work environment. In this role, this individual will build connections and relationships within the business community and facilitate opportunities for business growth and capital investment with a specific concentration on small and minority businesses.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Provide vision in partnership with Managing Director of Business Development regarding strategies to grow and strengthen Howard County’s small business community in an inclusive and diverse way
• Create opportunities for small and minority business expansion and attraction
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders in the business community
• Serve as a voice of HCEDA at all public venues, articulating the organization’s vision, mission, and strategy to all constituency groups; creating strong linkages with community residents and groups so the highest degree of impact can be achieved through the most effective use of resources
• Implement small and minority business support, outreach, community engagement and relationship management events as appropriate
• Meet regularly with client companies to assist with expansion or relocation opportunities and provide coaching/education and facilitate connections to resources to accelerate their growth
• Provide technical assistance to local businesses through response to inquiries, outreach, and connecting businesses to state and local resources
• Input and maintain accurate data into reporting software to reflect workplan activities as outlined in the organization’s Strategic Plan
• Work both collaboratively and independently with business development team, and partners to complete nonrecurring and ongoing projects as assigned
• Lead, manage, and/or serve on various committees, both internal to HCEDA, county departments and/or external in the community representing HCEDA interests

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Previous experience working with minority businesses preferred
• Verified commitment to serving the needs of underrepresented groups
• Extensive experience interfacing with internal and external stakeholders and diverse clientele
• Respect for and genuine interest in advancing the growth of small and minority-based businesses in Howard County
• Comfortable in fast-paced environment and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• 3+ years of proven, successful track record of business retention and attraction activities in an economic development office preferably at the local (county or municipality level)
• Working knowledge of State of MD economic development programs and resources
• Knowledgeable of the principles and practices of economic development and the general business community
• Demonstrated experience with economic development, deal structure development and execution
• Exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to demonstrate strong communication, organizational, time management, writing, mathematic and problem-solving skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals and community leaders
• Demonstrate enthusiasm, professionalism, and willingness to work as a team. Must be able to prioritize work load, handle pressure and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Windows Software, knowledge of Salesforce and CoStar preferred but not required, and basic mobile technologies. Able to learn reporting software platforms

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• 3-5 years of experience in economic development, community development, government, or small business

TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates should send resumes, cover letter and salary expectations to the attention of Ms. Kimmie at mdkimmie@hceda.org.  No phone calls please.