Business & Economic Development Analyst

Business & Economic Development Analyst

Salary

$40.89 - $57.57 Hourly

Location

Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Classified

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

P0130-26

Department

Community & Economic Development

Division

Community & Economic Development

Opening Date

06/26/2026

Closing Date

7/13/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Description

The City of Tacoma, Community and Economic Development Department is recruiting for the valuable position of Business and Economic Development Analyst in the Economic Development Services Division.

This position leads the City's business recruitment, expansion, and target-sector development efforts. The Analyst manages the business pipeline, conducts BRE visits, develops recruitment materials, creates marketing content and supports the Make It Tacoma brand. The role strengthens Tacoma's competitive position by identifying high-growth companies, cultivating relationships with traded-sector firms, and advancing initiatives that drive job creation and private investment.

This position will support the implementation of the Community and Economic Development 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and the Tacoma 2035 Strategic Plan through livable wage job creation by recruiting companies to Tacoma and assist in the creation of additional housing through support of the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption program.

The Business and Economic Development Analyst will make complex recommendations to the Program Manager(s) regarding implementation of the work assigned. Final approval of all decisions in the Community and Economic Development Department are made by the Director.

This position will participate in Division budgetary discussions and can make recommendations regarding the Division's strategic expenditures to advance the strategic initiatives.

Under the direction of the department Director, this position provides essential subject matter expertise on the City's business recruitment, expansion, and target-sector development efforts, marketing, and Make It Tacoma brand, along with having opportunities to perform complex economic development, business recruitment, retention and expansion activities via execution of the Division's strategic plan.

This position will coordinate Business Retention and Expansion visits and coordinate with City staff and external partners/stakeholders regarding outreach and marketing of the City's business development advantages and services. The position will also create and manage a client database of businesses in traded sectors and businesses that may be recruitment/expansion targets within the City's target sectors.

This position will manage the Make It Tacoma brand marketing efforts by creating content, preparing and sending the periodic Make It Tacoma business newsletter, monitoring and responding to the MakeItTacoma.com inbox and contact forms, and supporting administration and technical assistance of the MakeItTacoma.com website, while also working closely with the Department Director and Program Manager(s) to provide reports and analysis of a range of items upon request.

This Business and Economic Development Analyst position will report directly to the Director.

Telework arrangements may be available, depending on the position and needs of the City.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*

Bachelors degree in business or public administration, urban planning or directly related field.

Minimum Experience*

2 years of program administration, economic development, federal grant administration and/or community engagement experience.

• Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements

Washington State Drivers License

Desired Qualifications:

• 5 years progressively responsible analytical and/or program management in area related to Community and Economic Development
• Understanding of the role of Economic Development in a municipal government
• Preferred Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, marketing, economic development, Finance and/or related disciplines
• High level analytical and quantitative skills, multi-task oriented, strong oral and writing skillsets
• Ability to articulate complex information to a variety of groups and cultural backgrounds throughout the community
• Project and/or Program Management experience
• Preparing budgets, and compliance/performance measurement tools/reporting
• Database management

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge:

• Understanding of various scopes of work related to Business Retention and Expansion.
• Knowledge of, or experience with marketing.
• Understanding of frameworks commonly used in public-sector organizations, including principles that guide equitable service delivery, community engagement, and fair decision-making (such as the City of Tacoma's Equity & Empowerment Framework).
• Prior experience with workforce development or the capacity to interact and leverage workforce development programs and organizations, capital investment attraction.

Skills:

• Impeccable Customer Service skills with ability to problem solve.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Cultural competency.

Competencies:

• Fiscal Accountability: Responsibly allocate and account for use of fiscal resources, evaluating alternatives and weighing their benefits.
• Contract Administration: Practices, procedures, and techniques of contract administration, implementation, and evaluation.
• Performance Leadership: Create and nurture a continuous improvement performance-based culture that supports efforts to accomplish the organizational mission and goals. Set meaningful expectations. Communicate, prioritize, and monitor goals.
• Interpersonal Influence: Influence others within the organization to be committed to furthering the organization's objectives through persuasion, positive attitude, optimism, conflict management, assistance to others, feedback, goal setting, etc.
• Results Orientation and Initiative: Focus on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Identify what needs to be done and proactively take appropriate action.
• Written and Oral Communication: Effectively convey ideas and information using language that is appropriate to both the complexity of the topic, the knowledge and understanding of the other person, and the power dynamics of the moment.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

A Commitment to Equity & Diversity

At the City of Tacoma, were on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacomas geographic area. Downtowns Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and Americas Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Apply

Interested individuals must apply online and attach a current resume and cover letter. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to move forward in the examination process. Candidates who qualify for Veterans Preference criteria must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4 (proof of military discharge) at time of application to be eligible for Veterans percentage points.

Examination Process

This is a competitive selection process. You will be required to respond to essay questions outlining your knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the Supplemental Questions #6 - #10 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. These questions will be scored on the basis of information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Please make sure you read the questions and provide complete informative answers, including your roles in the position and key activities. DO NOT respond with see resume in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score. Providing false information will result in disqualification.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $40.89 - $57.57

Annual Salary: $85,051.20 - $119,745.60

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication from the City of Tacoma

NOTE: For questions regarding this specific recruitment contact Kat Flores, HR Analyst.

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, questions regarding this job announcement, or if you are experiencing complications while applying, please contact the Human Resources office at 253-591-5400 by 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow time to assist you before the job announcement closes. (For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time.)

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

01

Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc.), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. I understand that any form of cheating or falsification will disqualify my application for further consideration.

• Yes
• No

02

Please select from the following that best describes your educational and work experience.

• Bachelors degree in business or public administration, urban planning or directly related field, AND two years of program administration, economic development, federal grant administration and/or community engagement experience
• A combination of education and experience to equal six years of professional experience in program administration, economic development, federal grant administration and/or community engagement experience
• Six or more years of professional experience in business or public administration, urban planning, program administration, economic development, federal grant administration and/or community engagement experience
• My education and experience do not meet or exceed the above qualifications

03

Do you have, or are you eligible to obtain, a valid Washington State Drivers license?

• Yes
• No

04

This position requires a minimum of two days per week onsite, and may be eligible for a flexible schedule and/or telework agreement in accordance with City policy. Are you available to work this type of schedule?

• Yes
• No

05

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TEST: Questions #6 through #10 are the experience and training test that will be used to establish the eligibility list. These questions will be scored by subject matter experts who will not have access to your application materials. You must describe when and where you received your experience and/or training and what work was performed. Your answers must stand on their own merit. Please DO NOT refer to your resume in lieu of answering these questions. Your score on the experience and training test will reflect your responses. Responses must not exceed 250 words. Please indicate "Yes" to show that you have read and understand these instructions.

• Yes
• No

06

Describe your qualifications as it pertains to this position. Include your qualifying experiences and/or education. Do not refer to your resume in lieu of answering this question.

07

Describe your experience working with and knowledge of business attraction, retention, and expansion, including program/project development, budgeting, and contract management. If you have no experience in this area, please state N/A in your response.

08

Describe your experience in marketing and content creation. If you have no experience in this area, please state N/A in your response.

09

The City of Tacoma is committed to embedding the principles of Access, Opportunity, and Belonging (AOB) into our policies, programs, and service delivery. Please describe a time when you applied these principles, or similar equity centered practices, in your work. In your response, explain: • How you identified or removed barriers to access • How you expanded or supported opportunity • How you fostered an environment of belonging • What outcomes resulted from your actions If you do not have direct experience, describe how you would approach applying these principles in this role.

10

Describe your experience working with diverse/underrepresented populations and disadvantaged communities pertaining to business, real estate, economic development, or other public sector initiatives. If you have no experience in this area, please state N/A in your response.

11

Please tell us how you learned about this job opening. Select one.

• Job Interest Card notification
• Internet search
• Professional association or organization
• Military organization
• Union job posting
• City of Tacoma employee
• Online job board posting
• Word of mouth
• LinkedIn
• SEED
• Indeed
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Careers in Government
• Government Jobs
• NWPPA
• Outreach event
• Other

12

If you selected "Other", please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.

Required Question

Employer City of Tacoma

Address Human Resources Department

747 Market Street

Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764

Phone 253-591-5400

Website http://www.tacoma.gov