Economic Development Strategist

Economic Development Strategist

Salary

$8,529.80 - $10,918.86 Monthly

Location

420 College Street SE, Lacey, WA

Job Type

Full Time

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-00029

Department

Community and Economic Development

Division

Planning

Opening Date

07/08/2026

Closing Date

7/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

BASIC PURPOSE

Reporting to the Current Planning and Economic Development Manager, under general direction, the Economic Development Strategist performs high level program management and technical work that develops and implements economic development strategies aimed at business investment and attraction, business retention and expansion, commercial real estate, retail, and tourism development. This position is also responsible for duties which include, but are not limited to, identifying and implementing economic development initiatives; workforce and neighborhood development; recruitment of corporate and small businesses; planning and organizing economic development activities; project management of major development initiatives; and preparing and presenting information to various groups, external organization, internal management, and elected officials.

Please note: The Hiring Manager reserves the right to make changes to this posting at any time.

First round interviews are tentatively scheduled for August 17, 2026.

Second round interview are tentatively scheduled for August 25, 2026.

• This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next six (6) months.*

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These duties include but are not limited to the following:

Economic Development Program Management:

• Plans and develops economic development comprehensive strategies and supports and advises the Community and Economic Development management team in identifying, preparing, and implementing chosen economic development initiatives and strategies that benefits the citizens of Lacey and achieve the Citys vision and goals enumerated in the Comprehensive Plan.
• Ensures that the City remains current with best practices in economic development in support of the Department's mission.
• Develops, recommends and maintains the Citys Economic Development Strategy and Economic Development Work Plan.
• Works with City staff to balance the needs of economic development, permitting processes, and City standards.
• Provides support to the Department management related to economic development activities.
• Develops and maintains a database of vacant and/or undeveloped commercial and industrial building space and properties and provides "case management" support to resolve development issues for properties in distress.
• Analyzes population, land use and other data relevant to the City's economic development and redevelopment plans; prepare data and analysis, reports and recommendations.
• Produces a quarterly report to inform the management;
• Develops and monitors the economic development portion of the budget for the Department and assists with development and management of the Department budget.
• · Research, analyze, and promote economic and market trends.
• Evaluate industrial and commercial development potential of properties.
• Develop position papers and memoranda;
• Develop marketing materials and website content in support of the Citys economic development efforts.
• May lead professional staff and provide technical guidance for support activities associated with economic development.

Project Management and Community Outreach:

• Plans, organizes, and performs marketing activities to enhance economic development in the City of Lacey. Actively develops business contacts and effectively markets the City.
• Collects, maintains, and produces reports of key demographic and economic data to be used for retention, expansion, recruitment, and promotion functions, including developing and maintaining resources that promote retail and industrial opportunities.
• Prepares and presents information and recommendations to business community groups, advisory groups, and the City Council.
• Develops and maintains working relationships and ongoing dialogue with the business community, advisory groups, Economic Development Council, chamber of commerce, other governmental agencies, and citizens for the purpose of identifying needs of the business community.
• Investigates and secures development opportunities through State resources.
• Develops a network with the brokerage community.
• Provides management of enterprise activities in support of the City's economic development mission for such endeavors as the Makers' Space, public market, food truck court, or business incubator.
• Assists with preparation, administration, and reporting of federal and state grants or programs supporting economic development..
• Coordinates consultant services, contracts, and program agreements.
• Tracks grant compliance requirements and project performance.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Performs other duties and projects in support of the department.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Eight (8) years of combined education and work experience that provides the applicant with comprehensive knowledge and skills in commercial/industrial real estate or brokerage; economic development or related field.

OR

An Associates degree in economics, marketing, community development, business or public administration, or related field AND six (6) years of experience in commercial/industrial real estate or brokerage; economic development or related field.

OR

A Bachelors degree in economics, marketing, community development, business or public administration, or related field AND four (4) years of experience in commercial/industrial real estate or brokerage; economic development or related field.

• May have a combination of experience, education and training that would substitute for the above requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certification as a Certified Economic Developer and formal economic development training.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OR LICENSE(S):

• Must pass a thorough City background investigation and successfully complete reference checks.
• Must maintain a level of physical and mental fitness necessary to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Must be attentive to job safety considerations and follows all required safety policies, procedures and techniques.
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver's license at time of hire OR must obtain within 30 days from date of hire, and must have a driving record acceptable to the City and the City's insurance carrier; OR must be able to provide own transportation to and from job, meetings, and related job sites.
• Verification of identity and United States work authorization must be completed as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Fundamentals of business and economic development, economic development theory, marketing, land use law, real estate law.
• Commercial real estate market and current lending practices.
• Economic and data analysis techniques related to market, feasibility, and impact studies.
• The different roles of local, regional, and state economic development agencies, as well as, applicable local, state and federal regulations and codes related to economic development.
• Public finance and economic development tools and sources of economic development grant/loan funding in Washington State.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of economic development programs, policies and operational needs.
• Available incentives for economic development and business recruitment.
• Business perspective in selecting a new location or expanding an existing facility.
• Current best practices in the economic development field.
• Modern office practices, digital workflows, and computer systems, including productivity platforms, data analysis tools, and the effective and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies

Skill in:

• Project management.
• Interpreting and applying complex and interrelated laws and regulations.
• Grant writing, management and administration.
• Developing and meeting schedules, timelines, work programs, and cost estimates.
• Effectively representing the City in situations which are potentially adversarial or stressful and present information to the public.

Ability to:

• Conduct economic development related studies on own or through the use of consultants.
• Effectively communicate with City Council, Planning Commission, and the business community.
• Cultivate and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with, advisory bodies, the business community, department directors, employees, community partners, government agencies, the media, and the general public.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a diverse audience
• Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.
• Analyze complex issues and impacts, identify clear and concise recommendations and alternative solutions, the consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain federal, state, and local policies, codes, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Seek creative solutions using strong interpersonal skills.
• Prepare high-quality, publishable reports, presentations, and documents, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency and clarity.
• Ability to effectively utilize emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to enhance research, analysis, communication, and service delivery.
• Project and maintain a positive and professional image with those contacted in the course of business.
• Maintain regular and dependable attendance; be available to work after business hours and attend evening meetings as necessary.
• Stay current in best practices in the economic development field.
• Discern when to keep subordinates, peers, partners, and supervisors informed of activities, changing situations, and developing problems.
• Take ownership of problems and take responsibility for actions.

The City of Lacey understands the importance of benefits and offers a competitive and full benefits package for all regular full-time employees.

Generally, represented employees may receive some, or all, of the benefits listed below, based on their union contracts. Those employees should consult their union agreements for specific information about their benefits, which can be found on the City web page here.

Medical Insurance Benefits:

• Medical - Choice of Regence BlueShield (PPO) or Kaiser Permanente (HMO) plans offered through the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Trust.

The employer pays 100% of employees monthly premiums and 90% of qualified dependent/domestic partners premiums.

• Vision - VSP with low co-pays
• Dental - Choice of Willamette or Delta Dental plans and orthodontia coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Program that provides resources to employees, their immediate family (including dependent children) and anyone living in the employee's household. The EAP can provide help with matters such as stress/anxiety, parenting, grief, workplace issues, legal services, financial services, and more.

Life Insurance & Long Term Disability & Accidental Death and Dismemberment

• Employer paid life insurance plan
• Employer paid long term disability plan
• Employer paid accidental death and dismemberment plan

Leave Benefits:

• Vacation (which increases with years of service)
• 96 Hours Vacation on Accrual Basis for Non-Represented Non-Supervisory Employees, LPOG Represented Employees
• 128 Hours Vacation on Accrual Basis After Second Year of Employment for LPMA Represented Employees & LPSMA Represented Employees
• 135 Hours Vacation on Accrual Basis for Non-Represented Supervisor or Management Employees

11 Paid Holidays Floating Holidays

• 2 Floating Holidays for Non-Represented Employees & LPSMA Represented Employees
• 1 Floating Holiday for LPOG & LPMA Represented Employees

8 Hours Sick Leave on Accrual Basis Per Month Jury Duty/Military Leave Bereavement Leave

• All benefits and accruals outlined in collective bargaining agreements can be found here: Policies, Union Contracts, Pay & Benefits - City of Lacey

Investment and Retirement Programs:

• State retirement pension plan - Includes employer paid contributions to the State of Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS)
• 457 Deferred Compensation (voluntary)- two options MissionSquare and DRS
• Social Security benefit (for Public Employee Retirement Systems (PERS) covered staff) - Our Employee Benefits include employer paid contributions to Social Security and Employees pay the employee portion of Social Security tax.
• HRA/VEBA plan- A designated monthly amount (a City and/or employee contribution) is paid into a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) VEBA account. An HRA is a type of health plan savings account for your family's medical care expenses and premiums, which can be accessed during employment with the City or saved and used at separation or retirement.
• 1% Benefit - Employer provides a 1% contribution of your monthly salary pre-tax towards two options; 1) applied to insurance premium amount owed for dependent coverage or invested into a 457 deferred compensation account; OR a cash disbursement amount applied to your check monthly but the amount is taxed.

Voluntary Benefits:

• Optional plans for additional life insurance, disability, and accident coverage
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan - employees can contribute pre-tax contributions toward IRS allowed, qualifying medical and/or daycare expenses.

Wellness Program:

• The City has a robust employee Wellness program that offers a variety of resources and activities for employee well-being.

Flexible Working Arrangements:

• In recognition of Commute Trip reduction efforts, the City of Lacey provides flexible and alternative work schedules for many of our workforce positions.
• City Hall is within minutes driving from I-5 Exit 108, and within walking/biking distance from Park and Ride Transit Martin Way Location and the Chehalis Western Trail.

Tuition Reimbursement:

• The City promotes a learning environment and encourages opportunities for employees to continue to grow in their positions and careers. The City offers tuition reimbursement (as outline in City Personnel Policies) for eligible employees.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF):

• Employees are also eligible to apply to The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. This program is a United States government program that was created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 to provide indebted professionals a way out of their federal student loan debt burden by working full-time in public service.
• Note: Regular part-time employees may be eligible for pro-rated benefits (medical/dental/vision) depending on the hours of work assigned to the position. Their spouses and dependents are not eligible for health insurance coverage.

01

INSTRUCTIONS: Please read the following instructions before you proceed in responding to the supplemental questions below. Answers to the supplemental questions will be evaluated by subject matter experts. You must answer each question in its entirety for it to be considered as a complete answer. You must also answer the remainder of these questions as truthfully and as accurately as possible. Please do not refer to your resume or other attached documents, or copy and paste information from your resume or other attached documents, in lieu of answering any questions. Your responses must be typed in the space provided for each question. Your responses may be assessed in subsequent examinations and any sign of deliberate misinformation or intentional exaggeration may result in disqualification from the examination process and possible elimination from future employment opportunities with the City of Lacey. As part of the interview process, you may be invited to come in and perform a work assessment prior to interviews related to the duties of this position. Please note that the education and work experience sections must be completed in order for your application to be considered complete. Please indicate "yes" to show that you have read these instructions and understand that your application may be considered incomplete if any of the above criteria are not met.

• Yes
• No

02

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. Are you at least 18 years of age?

• Yes
• No

03

A high school diploma or G.E.D. is required at the time of application. Do you have a high school diploma or G.E.D.?

• Yes
• No

04

Please select the option that best describes how you meet the required qualifications for this position:

• Eight (8) years of experience.
• AA + six (6) years of experience.
• BA + four (4) years of experience.

05

Describe your experience leading or contributing to economic development strategies, plans, or programs aimed at fostering business investment, supporting business retention and expansion, encouraging redevelopment, increasing tourism, or creating jobs. Include your responsibilities and the outcomes of your efforts.

06

Please describe your experience with commercial or industrial real estate, site selection, development projects, or business attraction and recruitment initiatives. Include examples of how you collaborated with businesses, developers, brokers, property owners, or public agencies to move projects forward, address challenges, or achieve successful outcomes.

07

Describe your experience analyzing economic, demographic, market, or real estate data and using that information to support economic development decisions, policies, or projects. Include examples of reports, recommendations, presentations, or other work products you prepared and the audience for whom they were intended

08

Are you willing and able to perform the duties and functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Lacey

Address 420 College Street SE

Lacey, Washington, 98503

Phone 360-486-8717

Website www.cityoflacey.org