JOB SUMMARY

The High Economic Impact Projects Unit is responsible for economic development strategy and high economic impact projects to facilitate economic growth and diversification through partnerships with stakeholders that support investment attraction, business retention/expansion, entrepreneurship, innovation, tourism development, rural economic development, and advance job creation and economic diversification.

You are responsible for providing a broad range of economic development services to the City of Ottawa, including participating in the development and implementation of economic development programs, policies, procedures, and strategies. You are also responsible for: developing effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and economic development partners; ensuring responsive service delivery; undertaking research and analysis; and representing the City on economic development matters.

Additionally, you contribute to the achievement of departmental and corporate objectives within the following four key areas of the City’s Economic Development ecosystem:

1. Knowledge-Based Business Sector
2. Creative Industries Sector
3. Rural Economic Development
4. Urban Services

Some specific responsibilities you will assume within the above four key areas include:

• Developing and Maintaining Partnerships – with a focus of working with key economic development partners to coordinate the delivery of economic development services within the City’s economic development ecosystem.
• Business Outreach-with a focus on resolving municipal related issues and facilitating interactions with other levels of government and the City’s economic development partners within the business community, post-secondary and other major institutions such as the Ottawa Hospital.
• Local Economic Development- with focus on economic development issues/opportunities at the ward level, such as relocation of an existing business and participating in evaluating commercial development applications to assist others in understanding the economic development opportunities associated with these, and assistance in resolving micro economic development matters.
• Business Improvement Areas (BIA) Management – with a focus on the local business community to facilitate new BIA formations, and consult on expansions, grants, facade improvement, and funding opportunities.
• Project Facilitation/Special Projects - with focus on large-scale economic development projects and/or initiatives that have major relevance to the City’s economy and/or will contribute significantly to realizing the City’s economic growth and diversification objectives, and/or long-term ad hoc projects.
• Community Economic Development, Social Enterprise Development and Social Innovation and Workforce Development- to partner with industry, business, government and the education sector, and lead ongoing workforce development efforts in assisting local employers with attracting talent, the development of effective attraction/development/retention strategies, and provide detailed local labour market information.
• Creative Industries and Tourism Sector – to partner with and advance the opportunities represented by the creative industries sector, and position Ottawa as a premier destination for business investment and talent attraction to support growth of the tourism sector and increase Ottawa’s exposure on the national and international stage.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 4 year university degree, with a focus on courses relating to commerce, economics, public relations or related fields

Minimum of 5 years of related and progressively responsible professional work experience in areas such as public sector economic development, private sector business development, marketing, public relations, or project management.

Experience in governmental affairs

Entrepreneurial experience

Broad experience with private, public, non-profit and academic sector employment

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

KNOWLEDGE

• Structure and processes of government, including inter-governmental stakeholders
• Strong knowledge of the local economy, and of the local business and economic development environment
• A broad understanding of the various industry sectors and areas of economic development focus in the Ottawa region
• A broad understanding of the drivers of the knowledge based economy
• Practical knowledge of working in multiple sectors and in partnerships
• Exposure to international business trends and practices
• Project management principles and practices
• Applicable computer technology and tools
• General knowledge of the City’s growth plan and City building objectives and how economic developments fits into City building
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Municipal planning and development approvals processes
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, policies and practices, such as Municipal Act, Business Improvement Area legislation

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Able to represent and promote the City of Ottawa in economic and business development initiatives
• Able to work independently, with minimal direction, and collaboratively with all staff
• Able to manage a high volume of public contact, to lead multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder initiatives, and to organize and facilitate focus group consultation processes
• Able to advance the City’s Economic Development Strategy and related, approved City plans
• Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically
• Possess organizational skills and flexibility to deal effectively with multiple demands, conflicting priorities, pressures and deadlines
• Possess a client service focus tempered by the recognition of the need for compliance to corporate standards, formats and systems
• Able to develop and maintain excellent relations with representatives from other departments, partner organizations and outside agencies
• Able to influence and work collaboratively with others representing a wide range of interests and bring conflicting points of view to consensus
• Able to plan, lead, coordinate, implement and manage projects to completion and to lead/support/mentor project teams
• Monitor and synthesize information from a variety of sources to establish future directions, research and data collection needs
• Possess persuasive and assertive interpersonal and oral/written communication skills
• Possess strong documentation, report writing and presentation skills
• Research skills
• Business-oriented
• Possess a focus on quality of services, innovation and on-going process improvement
• Possess a positive, inclusive approach to project development and implementation