Director of Special Projects and Research

Director of Special Projects and Research

Salary

$134,953.18 - $164,005.89 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26/08-0850-O

Department

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC)

Opening Date

08/24/2026

Closing Date

9/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

50

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Information

The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) is seeking an experienced and passionate leader to serve as the Special Projects and Research Director. Join our team!

Starting salary up to $78.58/hour ($164,005/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

About the Position

As the Director of Special Projects and Research, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight for significant economic development initiatives and the Economic Development Collaboratives research program. Working closely with department leadership, County partners, businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders, you will develop and implement programs that advance County economic and community development priorities. In this role, you will supervise and coach an engaged team comprised of a program manager, analysts, and support staff, and work closely with the Executive Director of the EDC on strategic decision-making and organizational priorities. Additional responsibilities include:

• Evaluating program outcomes, community benefits, resource allocation, and opportunities for improvement
• Overseeing economic research activities and using data and emerging trends to inform programs and strategic decision-making
• Building and maintaining partnerships with businesses, community organizations, public agencies, and other stakeholders
• Identifying opportunities to incorporate economic development considerations into County projects, programs, and policies
• Developing fundraising strategies and overseeing grant-related activities in collaboration with department staff
• Contributing to departmental budgeting, fiscal oversight, administrative practices, and organizational planning
• Representing the department at community meetings, public events, and other stakeholder forums

The ideal candidate is a strategic and collaborative leader who can effectively guide complex initiatives, foster strong working relationships, and support a high-performing team. They will possess strong political and business acumen and work effectively across public and private sectors and among diverse stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• Experience leading and supervising staff, including coaching staff and supporting professional development
• Experience developing and managing complex economic or community development programs, projects, and strategic initiatives
• Knowledge of economic and community development trends, policies, and practices
• Experience with strategic planning, policy development, fiscal management, and program evaluation, as well as fundraising and grant management
• Demonstrated success at building partnerships and coalitions with businesses, community organizations, government agencies, elected officials, boards and commissions, or other stakeholders
• Superb communication skills, both written and verbal, including public speaking, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
• Proven problem-solving and negotiation skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and politically sensitive situations with tact and sound judgment

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing youre working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Special Projects and Research Director position in the Economic Development Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this position is Business Development Manager.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include:

Experience and Education: A Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Business Administration, Public Administration, Marketing, Financial Management, or a closely related field, AND at least four years of professional experience in strategic business development and/or marketing, with at least one year of experience supervising staff.

License: Possession of a valid drivers license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: principles and techniques of business development plans, revenue management, general management, marketing, public relations and promotion and project management; policy analysis and development; data collection, research methodology and application of basic statistics.

Working knowledge of: current issues and trends, and techniques, principles and operations for the assigned department and/or program(s); management, supervision, and leadership principles and techniques; contract and grant administration; business correspondence and report writing; budget preparation and monitoring; grant writing principles; modern business and computer technologies including web based sales and marketing; English usage, composition, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Ability to: plan, organize and coordinate business plans and revenue strategies; develop and execute sound marketing and public relations strategies; select, train, and supervise staff; analyze problems, examine alternatives and recommend solutions or determine a course of action; work cooperatively with public, community groups, business and community leaders, government officials, members of the media, and departmental staff; speak effectively in public settings; use a variety of software applications; stay abreast of current related principles and technologies; work non-traditional work hours as necessary.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicants application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, drivers license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

• Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CA

HR Technician: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

• Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01

How did you first learn about this opportunity?

• Careers in Government
• California Association for Local Economic Development
• College or University
• County of Sonoma Human Resources Office
• DiversityJobs
• Employee of Sonoma County
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Handshake
• Indeed
• Instagram
• International Economic Development Council
• Job Fair
• La Voz
• Latino Service Providers
• LinkedIn
• Los Cien
• Press Democrat
• sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
• Start Here!
• X (Twitter)
• Veterans Services Office
• Womens Organization or Group
• Other Internet Site
• Other Publication

02

Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.

• I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
• I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
• I am only interested in full-time positions

03

This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions and your level of proficiency.

• Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position

04

For this question and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers. Please detail your experience, education, and training to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position which normally includes:

• Four or more years of professional experience in strategic business development and/or marketing
• One or more years of experience supervising staff
• A four-year degree in business or public administration, marketing, financial management, or a closely related field

05

Please describe your experience using data and research to inform the development or evaluation of programs, policies, or strategic initiatives highlighting initiatives related to community or economic development. Detail one project and include the information you analyzed, how you applied your findings, and the outcome.

06

Please describe your experience developing and managing economic or community development programs, projects, or initiatives. Describe one example that best demonstrates your experience and include the objective, your specific role and responsibilities, the stakeholders involved, and the outcomes achieved.

Required Question

Employer County of Sonoma (CA)

Address 575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403

Phone (707) 565-1701

Website http://www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org