DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH We are seeking an innovative executive to lead the City of Virginia Beach s economic development strategies into an exciting future of growth and opportunity.
ABOUT VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach, Virginia s most populous city with nearly 460,000 residents, is not only an oceanfront resort, but a great place to live and build a successful career. With its 38-plus miles of beaches and almost 80 miles of scenic waterways, Virginia Beach is a vibrant East Coast city that nurtures a healthy mix of industry, attractions and people. Conveniently located in the middle of the East Coast, within a day s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population 43rd largest city in the nation Part of the Hampton Roads region, population 1.8 million 37th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the nation Recognized as one of the best-managed cities in America Low crime rate Nationally acclaimed public schools Home to the newest and fastest ultrahigh speed transatlantic fiber optic telecommunication cables in the world 19 MILLION TOURISTS VISITED IN 2017 ABOUT THE REGION Approximately 1.8 million people live in the Virginia Beach MSA. The region also contains a greater percentage of high school and college graduates as well as a great number of military veterans. Virginia Beach MSA
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT While we believe that our dynamic business environment is reason enough to move here, our incredible lifestyle, temperate climate, 255 city parks and recreation centers, 38 miles of beach, and internationally recognized attractions, make Virginia Beach a destination almost too good to resist. The Virginia Beach MSA is home to hundreds of corporate, North American and regional headquarters, including three Fortune 500 company headquarters, as well as over 200 international companies, such as STIHL, IMS: Gear, Hermes, and Busch. The City s business community is renowned for its highly diverse collection of industries, including nationally and internationally known corporate headquarters, technologically-advanced manufacturers, billiondollar defense contractors, and locally owned shops. AMONG 5 HOTTEST BEACH VACATION DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILIES - MSN TRAVEL The region is home to the largest active-duty military population in the U.S., as well as nine major military installations representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The region is home to The Port of Virginia which offers the deepest, obstruction-free shipping channels on the East Coast, six marine terminals, and the largest container cranes in the world. Virginia Beach is now a digital port, shipping data at the highest speed possible around the world and laying the infrastructure to handle the influx of digital traffic. Tourism is an important contributor to Virginia Beach s local economy. tourism impact* 10.1 million overnight visitors and 8.9 million day visitors $2.45 billion in direct travel-related expenditures Regional impact: 48,020 jobs and $1.07 billion in salaries Over 400,000 overseas travelers Average overnight visitor spending $588 per party * for Virginia Beach
WHO WE ARE MISSION The mission of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development (VBDED) is to attract and retain national and international businesses that will create new capital investment and jobs. The department is one of 50 Accredited Economic Development Organizations (AEDO) in North America. The VBDED promotes Virginia Beach as one of the best business locations through local, national and international events, activities and sponsorships. The department serves as staff for the Virginia Beach Development Authority. 18 + 2* Employess * International Representatives $4.8 M departmental budget 2 offices in Europe TARGET INDUSTRIES In order to increase the department s effectiveness in terms of marketing, business attraction and existing industry programs, resources are focused on several key business clusters:
SUCCESS STORIES TRANSATLANTIC CABLES MAREA (owned by Microsoft and Facebook) and BRUSA, the newest and fastest ultra-high speed transatlantic fiber optic telecommunication cables in the world, connect Virginia Beach to Brazil and Europe through a new 24,000-sf cable landing station operated by Telxius. Stretching 4,000 miles (6,600 km) across from Virginia Beach to Bilbao, MAREA is capable of transferring data at a staggering 200 terabits per second. GLOBAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS Global Technical Systems (GTS) is a family-owned small business founded in Virginia Beach in 1997. The company announced plans to construct a 630,000 sf advanced manufacturing center to produce and distribute 100% green energy storage systems using advanced composites and engineering technologies. It will invest $54 million and create 1,100 well-paid 21stcentury jobs. TOWN CENTER The 25-acre development spans 17 city blocks and includes more than 800,000 square feet of Class A office space and more than 700,000 square feet of upscale retail, dining and business-class hotels. Today, Town Center is generating more than $8 million a year in business taxes, which include business license, business property, trustee and general sales taxes. This project is an excellent example of a successful publicprivate partnership. One of the 10th Best Cities In America To Achieve Work-Life Balance -Zippia Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
JOB SUMMARY THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE POSSESSING THE FOLLOWING: Track record of creating and facilitating key relationships within, and external to, the organization Demonstrated strategic thinker able to conceptualize, communicate and act on ideas and initiatives Team player who inspires collaboration and functions decisively Dedicated executive who can handle and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities Self-starter and finisher PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS A Master s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Marketing, Economics or a related program and six (6) years management/leadership experience; or higher-level education and experience equivalent to twelve (12) years in fields utilizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities, including five (5) years of higher-level program management or administrator experience. The ideal candidate will have diverse private and/or public sector experience and knowledge of economic development focused on: capital investment, workforce development/job creation, incentives, entrepreneurial Virginia Beach Convention Center and business startups, business incubators/ accelerators, public private partnerships, business administration and economics. COMPENSATION Salary will be commensurate with candidate qualifications within the range of $110,323- $169,374. The City offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plan, holidays, and paid time off. APPLICATION PROCESS For additional information, detailed job description, and to submit your cover letter and resume go to www.vbgov.com/edjob. Initial review of submittals will occur by the end of November and candidate information received after the initial review will only be considered if the candidate pool needs to be expanded. Contact Monica Kopin at (757) 385-1361 or at mkopin@vbgov.com with any questions about this exciting opportunity! The City of Virginia Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer Municipal Center