Reporting to the Director, Economic Development and Tourism, the Manager of Rural Economic Development will be responsible for implementing strategies for bold and transformative programming to enable new growth in the Region's rural tourism industries and the agriculture & food sector, including enabling diversified on-farm uses, agri-tourism, and local-food capacity development, as well as recreational cycling tourism and. This Manager will be responsible for leading rural economic development programming and business retention and expansion programming in Durham's northern Municipalities, working with stakeholders and area municipal partners to advance the economic vitality and vibrancy of northern communities and downtowns, as well as attracting new investment to the north.
The incumbent will:
- Lead, coach and inspire three direct reports, including setting strategic direction for the section, developing and managing workplans as well as the annual section budget, and establishing agreements with service providers
- Develop strategy and programming for local farm and agri-business owners that: enables agri-tourism and other on-farm diversified uses, unlocking new revenue streams; and supports the adoption of new local-food business streams including on-farm value-added processing and retail
- Initiate a corporate calling program in coordination with northern municipalities, providing support to local companies to expand and create jobs, including specifically across the rural tourism industries
- Initiate and lead rural community economic development projects (i.e. specific BR&E projects, downtown revitalization, trail development, business directories, First Impression projects, etc.)
- Provide educational opportunities to the northern/rural business community (i.e. workshops, speakers, resources, tours, etc.), and promote the various business services available (i.e. BACD, Provincial and Federal staff, SPARK, etc.)
- Actively pursue prospective investment leads suited to the northern Municipalities, and advance these leads, leading to investors establishing a physical presence and creating jobs
- Prepare customized information for prospective business investors, organize tours of potential northern sites and Municipal/Regional assets, and facilitate meetings for prospective investors with appropriate personnel and service providers
The successful applicant will possess:
- A university degree (honours) in Business, Economics, Marketing, Commerce, Agriculture, Tourism Management, or related discipline or
equivalent combination of education and experience - Demonstrated commitment to continued personal development through micro-credentials, courses, certificates
- Minimum 8 to 10 years of demonstrated experience in a leadership role
- Minimum 5+ years of experience in a team management capacity
- Minimum 2 years experience leading core economic development strategy/programming, dealing with executives, boards, and/or municipal councils
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of the agri-food sector, tourism industries, and rural economic development
- Deep Knowledge and understanding of rural economic development theory and strategy, investment attraction strategy, industry/sector development best practices. Extensive knowledge of business investment decision making, and demonstrated ability to report to Council in the fields of, economic development, agri-food, and tourism industries, and the credentials/experience to justify strategic decisions and costs
- Exceptional leadership and negotiation skills with the ability to build and maintain collaborative professional relationships and influence without direct authority
- Exceptional ability to create and improve relationships at the executive level across the private, public, academic sectors and with senior levels of government
- Knowledge and experience communicating complex topics to a variety of stakeholders and audiences from diverse backgrounds in a clear, concise, accessible, inclusive, and meaningful way
- Demonstrated high level of political awareness and acuity; ability to respond effectively to political sensitivities
- Demonstrated ability to lead a team and complete multiple simultaneous, diverse and complex projects
- Strong knowledge regarding the negotiation and purchase/sale of industrial and commercial real estate
