Job Summary

Bellevue is building the community of the future. Our welcoming, international, innovation-focused community attracts technology pioneers, outdoor enthusiasts, and family-focused professionals from around the world. Bellevue is Seattle’s biggest, most technology-focused neighbor, and home to global corporations like Alibaba, Concur, Microsoft, REI, T-Mobile, and Valve. We offer a community of diverse people, transit-connected neighborhoods, and a solid platform for professional growth. The Cultural and Economic Development division (CED) supports the business and artistic communities with proactive services because we believe the fresh, inventive ideas they are building here will change the world.

As a member of CED, you’ll be an integral part of the team that brings new business and creative opportunities to Seattle’s Eastside.  We have a bias for action, love big ideas, and are uncompromising in our demand for high-quality customer service. Our goal is to support the expansion of a world-class creative community, recruit global businesses to the Eastside, and support economic empowerment through entrepreneurship.

Join us in building the most inclusive knowledge economy in the Pacific Northwest.
Consider applying here if you want to:

• Work in an entrepreneurial, dynamic, and multicultural environment with a chance to make a lasting impact on the business and creative ecosystem.
• Develop lasting relationships with the Seattle area business and creative communities.
• Help create leading-edge civic programs that are unmatched in the Pacific Northwest.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead activities related to business attraction, business retention, and entrepreneurship with a focus on technology, video gaming, professional services, and retail companies.
• Drive Bellevue’s participation in the Startup 425 and Innovation Triangle partnerships.
• Provide support for international trade and investment missions and support the attraction of foreign direct investment to Bellevue
• Work with the CED team, Chief Communications Officer, and external partners to market Bellevue as a top tier business destination regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Manage projects, build programs, create tools, and develop partnerships to advance business investment and business formation in the region.
• Advocate for policy updates, process changes, and other improvements that enhance the regulatory environment and ecosystem for business.
• Benchmark, measure, evaluate, and report on a variety of outputs, outcomes, and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to the city’s economy and business activity.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders with diverse perspectives to blend disparate projects into an effective, unified program plan.
• Works under the general supervision of the Chief Economic Development Officer.
• May require occasional domestic or international travel.

QualificationsKnowledge, Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to think strategically, synthesize and translate complex subject matter into policy guidance.
• Customer focus, with strong experience with Customer Relationship Management and a demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with external partners.
• Exceptional communication skills with demonstrated experience engaging diverse audiences including co-workers, elected officials, and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity while driving toward high-quality decision making.
• Strong emotional intelligence.
• Experience using PMI or similar methodology for project management.
• Thorough knowledge of economic development principles, practices, and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of performance management techniques.
• Understanding of international trade, foreign direct investment issues, and international cultural protocol.
• Experience working with economic development organizations such as chambers of commerce and downtown associations.
• Fluency in German, Japanese, Mandarin, and/or Spanish is highly desirable.
• Skill in the operation of a computer and familiarity with various digital tools including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Salesforce, Asana, Mailchimp, and Survey Monkey, among others.

Management Style & Attributes:

• Have a genuine passion for public service and community service.
• Be a visionary and help stakeholders see individual projects as part of long-term ambitions.
• Have a bias for action and evangelize Lean methodologies and the Build-Measure-Learn process.
• Be uncompromising in your demand for high-quality customer service.
• Be comfortable working and leading projects in a matrixed team environment where cross-functional collaboration is expected.
• Be a clear and concise communicator orally and in writing.
• Be enthusiastic!

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Four or more years of experience in sales, account management, customer relationship management, or economic development.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in business, economics, public policy, international affairs or related field.
• Master’s degree in business, business management, business analytics, entrepreneurship or related field preferred.
• PMP, PgMP, ACP, Scrum Master, or similar certification preferred.

OtherFor questions regarding this position please contact Jesse Canedo at 425-452-5236 For technical assistance with the online application contact 855-524-5627.

The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of  race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance in the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838.