Economic Development Specialist

Are you ready to join an organization where we focus on People First, have fun at work and make a difference in what we do?

Dairyland is proud of our People First culture centered around appreciation, celebrating wins and collaboration. We’ve worked hard to ensure alignment between our culture and our processes and systems, learning and development and rewards and recognition programs.

As a team, we work together to leverage the team’s diverse perspectives, ideas and experiences to deliver nothing less than the best. We are collaborative, transparent and committed to our People and their work experience, growth and professional development.

Economic Development Specialist

Hiring Salary Range: $67,100 - $100,700 
Compensation is determined by a combination of factors, including but not limited to education, work experience, and certifications. The actual offer may vary, reflecting the candidate's unique blend of experience, educational background, and skill level. 

The Economic Development Specialist will support the Community and Economic Development team with implementation of the department’s comprehensive strategic work plan.  Lead work plan initiatives including economic development marketing, economic development finance programs (inquiries, applications, processing, repayments), general department reporting, data collection and maintenance.  Assists with project coordination, responses to prospect development inquiries, member-cooperative and economic development stakeholder relationship management within Dairyland Power Cooperative’s service area, and other initiatives that help retain and grow member-cooperative energy sales. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Exemplify Dairyland’s commitment to safety and the Dairyland mission, vision and values. 

2. Support the Community and Economic Development team with execution and delivery of the department’s comprehensive strategic work plan.

3. Administer Dairyland’s economic development revolving loan fund and other economic development programs, including Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) applications through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

4. Administer economic development marketing efforts. Maintain and implement communication channels including the economic development website, newsletter and available sites and facilities inventory. 

5. Administer department reports, data collection and databases, customer relationship management (CRM) tools and other tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) to generate meaningful internal and external reports.

6. Engage with internal and external stakeholders to assist Economic Development Managers with project requests, facilitation of meetings, and inquiry response. 

7. Assist improvement, development and implementation of new economic development tools, processes, and initiatives. 

8. Maintain and grow knowledge of current federal and state economic development finance programs, as well as emerging tools, available in Dairyland’s service area.

9. Actively participate as a member of the Community and Economic Development team engaging with both internal and external partners to model safety, excellence, accuracy, and efficiency in all work and behavior. 

10. Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience:  Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, public administration, political science, marketing, community/economic development or related field. Minimum three (3) years demonstrated experience in the electric utility, economic development, or business development with experience in marketing, finance, business credit analysis, project administration, and reporting required. Experience with cooperative business models, economic development program delivery in rural or smaller urban settings, administration of economic development finance programs, and/or proficiency in CRM software is a plus.

Skills:  

Knowledge of utility industry business structures and motivations, including cooperatives and other utilities. Knowledge of economic development programs, agencies and community initiatives.  Ability to communicate effectively and proactively. Ability to build and maintain effective work relationships, both internal and external, and establish credibility with businesses, community and government officials, and other decision makers.  Skill in customer relations, verbal and written communications, team building, and interpersonal relations. Knowledge of the cooperative model, electric industry, economic development and general energy industry. Must have good organizational skills and the ability to prioritize work assignments.  Must model an attitude of ownership of the wor