The eight counties and thirty-five cities served by the Southwest Tennessee Development District (SWTDD), located in Jackson, are experiencing unprecedented growth and opportunities associated with the announcement by Ford Motor Company and SK Innovations. To maximize the recruitment of Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers to the region, SWTDD is seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our team. You will be responsible for working with existing economic developers to help them market and recruit industry to the region.

Responsibilities

1) Market the Southwest Tennessee Region. This includes updating the SWTDD website, attending meetings/conferences, developing a newsletter, developing a strong connection to our counties and cities, and “selling the region”.

2) Assist our local economic developers in preparing and submitting RFI’s as needed and any recruiting efforts as requested.

3) Work with current SWTDD staff in mapping and drone footage of sites.

4) Work with current SWTDD staff to provide templates for zoning, regulations, and restrictions.

5) Attend Joint Economic and Community Development Board (JECDB) meetings in each county as requested.

6) Identify strengths and weaknesses of the SWTDD region.

7) Assist in developing a “brand” for the SWTDD region.

8) Provide seamless transition with economic development leaders.

9) Work closely with state and federal economic development agencies.

10) Assist in preparing strong presentations as requested.

11) Conduct research and analysis to identify market trends, industry clusters, and business opportunities for targeted sectors as requested.

Qualifications

1) Bachelor's degree preferred (or equivalent experience) in economics, business administration, planning, marketing, or a related field.

2) Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in economic development or related field. Experience in regional economic development is a plus.

3) Must have a strong background in marketing and successfully implementing economic development programs.

4) Knowledge of local, state, and federal economic development policies, regulations, and funding programs.

5) Familiarity with economic development tools and models, such as cost-benefit analysis, cluster analysis, TIF’s, PILOTS, and Opportunity Zones.

6) Office Suite and data analysis software.

7) Strong presentation and public speaking skills.

In addition to salary, SWTDD provides benefits which include: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, TCRS Retirement, annual leave, vacation pay, and longevity pay. The salary will be based on background and experience.

Please submit cover letter and resume to Joe W. Barker, Executive Director SWTDD, at jwbarker@swtdd.org . Application deadline is 4:00 pm on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Southwest Tennessee Development District

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Regional Economic Development Specialist