Manager, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

This is a non-civil service announcement. The Manager supports the Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development, which attracts and retains high-quality jobs in private commercial, industrial, main-street, and residential businesses and supports sustainable and equitable development throughout Davidson County. Reporting to the Senior Director of the Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development, the Manager of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development will work to improve the business environment for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Davidson County, with a focus on minority-owned businesses.

• Market and manage Nashville's growth incentives that are funded through the budget, grants, and any other tools developed to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• Partner with the Nashville Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (BAO) and the Equal Business Opportunity Program on ways to improve access for small, minority, and disadvantage-owned businesses.
• Work with ecosystem-building partners like the Entrepreneur Center, the Nashville Business Incubation Center, the Darrell S. Freeman Sr. Incubation and Innovation Center, TSU's Business Incubation Center, and other organizations working to develop small business and entrepreneurialism in Nashville.
• Act as the ombudsman for the entrepreneurial community to understand the challenges facing entrepreneurs and small businesses and establish programs or initiatives to address these challenges.
• Develop and maintain an asset map for start-up, small, and disadvantaged businesses that addresses the changing challenges of starting and growing a business in Davidson County.
• Conduct policy and grant research, program development, policy development, and other projects as assigned.
• Monitor relevant boards and commissions for potential partnerships and issues.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in economics, entrepreneurship, public administration, finance, planning, business, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in business, economic development, community development, planning, or equivalent.

• Fundamental knowledge and experience in business or economic development, which includes business startup and growth, workforce development, marketing, development finance and permitting, and incentives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage public hearings and meetings with groups representing diverse opinions with the potential for confrontation and extreme emotionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and present highly technical information, development projects, budgetary philosophies, and policies.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, make effective oral presentations, and prepare written reports.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain successful working relationships with departments, staff, government officials, and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage programs, including metrics and outcome-based reporting.