Primary Purpose

Performs a variety of complex administrative duties and professional level duties to support the activities of the Economic Development department including the management of the operations of non-profits managed by the Economic Development department, management of request for proposal process from various state, regional and other economic development partners as well management of workforce and marketing programs.

Essential Functions

• Oversees the day-to-day financial management of nonprofits under the management of the Economic Development department including communication with bookkeepers, auditors, and the Treasurer of the nonprofit.
• Evaluates requests for economic development financial assistance to the department or nonprofits it manages from various entities to include private companies, other non-profits, utilities, and municipalities.
• Coordinates with funding agencies to ensure the administration of grants awarded to Craven County Economic Development are in compliance with the grant's policies and procedures.
• Coordinates and oversees the request for proposal or request for information process that originates from state and regional partners.
• Serves as primary contact with workforce development partners to ensure events such as job fairs are properly executed and successful for employers and job seekers.
• Prepares and recommends Economic Development department budget requests for equipment, supplies and personnel for review by the Economic Development Director.
• Works with individuals and groups, especially existing employers, in determining needs to promote job creation.
• Requests and secures facilities for economic development events and meetings. Coordinates meetings, prepares meeting minutes.
• Completes administrative duties as outlined by supervisor. Receives and delivers mail; prepares and processes mail for delivery. Answers telephone; takes messages; directs calls or visitors and gives information based on the type of request; may dispatch personnel for services.
• Composes letters, reports, memorandums and other materials; processes rough drafts from verbal, handwritten or other marked copy; creates and assembles a variety of documents; ensures correct grammar, punctuation and spelling of documents produced. Summarizes information for standard reports; selects data from varied sources. Writes, edits or coordinates the preparation of records, reports, speeches or other printed materials; researches content items for precedents, correctness of presentation and applicability.
• Screens and routes materials according to content of communications; routing duties require detailed knowledge of organizational operations and individual staff member's assignments and status of work.
• Inputs, retrieves and maintains data and information into computer database or system. Compiles information using standardized logs or forms. Enters correct information onto forms or form letters as necessary to fit varying situations.
• Operates a variety of office equipment such as copy machine, fax machine, and computers and common word processing and spreadsheet applications and specialized departmental software or applications.
• Administers assigned special, recurring or regular projects; completes reports as needed.
• Maintains limited departmental personnel, financial, and/or activity records; acts as a point of contact for the department served and provides information or refers inquiries to proper personnel. Places materials and records in alphabetical or numerical order for proper filing into the appropriate record keeping system; maintains files and purges as necessary.

Minimum Education and Experience

Associate's degree in business administration, office administration, secretarial science or other related field and considerable experience in performing progressively responsible office management, or fiscal support duties; or n equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience working with Munis preferred.

Special Requirements: Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of non-profit operations and working knowledge of economic development programs such as recruitment and existing industry.
• Considerable knowledge of departmental and County policies and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of arithmetic, spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
• Skill in using popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, discretion, and initiative in completing assignments.
• Ability to handle difficult public contact with considerable tact and knowledge of applicable policies, procedures, and programs.
• Ability to plan and supervise the activities required to execute assigned economic development programs.
• Ability to supervise the work of volunteers and personnel.
• Skill in organizing workflow and coordinating activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and other agencies.
• Ability to analyze and interpret policy and procedural guidelines and to resolve problems and questions.
• Ability to research program documents and narrative materials, and to compile reports from information gathered.
• Ability to develop and modify work procedures, methods and processes to improve efficiency.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public.
• Ability to complete assigned work on or before deadlines with minimal supervision and instruction in accordance with directives, County policy, standards, and prescribed procedures.

Additional Information

• Performs related work as required.
• Serves during times of disaster, as needed.
• Occasional after-hours work may be required.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of reaching, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to operate a computer.
• Vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word via telephone, virtually or in person; hearing is required to perceive information and receive information through oral communications; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operation of machines, determining the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of work.