Job Summary 

The official economic development organization of St. Bernard Parish, the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF), is seeking a resourceful, service-oriented, business-minded candidate to help carry out the organization’s mission of creating and retaining jobs, building prosperity, and improving quality of life in St. Bernard Parish. The Business & Community Development Manager reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is responsible for the planning and execution of all community development, grant writing, investor relations, and business attraction, expansion, and retention initiatives for SBEDF.  

Roles and Responsibilities 

The role of the Business & Community Development Manager will include the following. Please note that this job description is not designed to be a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Being a small nonprofit, SBEDF’s organizational roles are not distinct and will overlap as required to best serve St. Bernard Parish residents and organizations. 

• Business Attraction & Development 
• Lead implementation of SBEDF’s business attraction, retention, and expansion strategies 
• Maintain and manage SBEDF’s business development pipeline, prospect database, and tracking systems 
• Coordinate with Louisiana Economic Development (LED), Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.), and regional partners to facilitate site visits, incentive applications, and workforce initiatives 
• Identify companies looking to relocate and contacts at major corporations who handle location management and build SBEDF’s database of companies, developers, and site selectors  
• Update templates for conducting outreach to site selectors, developers, and business owners to encourage them to open a location in St. Bernard  
• Update content for marketing materials showing the advantages of opening a business in St. Bernard  
• Continually update SBEDF’s Buildings & Sites Database to include all commercial buildings, lots, and space available for companies interested in locating in the parish  
• Maintain a current inventory of available commercial and industrial buildings and sites, regularly updating and verifying local site data  
• Provide regular updates to the SBEDF board and team on prospective and current projects while maintaining confidentiality for companies  
• Collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders on multiple projects to support business development, raise organizational awareness, and contribute to workforce development  
• Work with the CEO to continually increase the number of retail establishments, amenities, workforce programs, businesses, and jobs in St. Bernard Parish  
• Business Retention & Expansion (BRE)  
• Implement and continually improve plan and survey for BRE outreach to top employers in St. Bernard  
• Manage SBEDF’s BRE program and conduct annual BRE meetings with economic driver companies 
• Assist CEO in managing the Industrial Tax Exemption Program process for companies applying 
• Connect local businesses to financing, support, resources, and technical assistance providers  
• Serve as a primary point of contact for small businesses and individuals in need of assistance with site selection, incentives education, technical assistance, workforce issues, financing, or any other challenge that limits their success doing business in St. Bernard Parish 
• Assist the CEO in performing research and drafting language for local incentives which improve the business environment in St. Bernard Parish 
• Research, Data, and Database Management 
• Be the go-to resource in the parish for knowledge of and research on state and local business incentives, technical assistance programs, including but not limited to PILOTs and the High Impact Jobs, FastSites, and other Louisiana Economic Development incentives programs  
• Act as staff lead for ITEP projects by providing education on the program, coordinating preparation of related preliminary documents, and working with local stakeholders to execute statutory procedures  
• Manage the Louisiana Economic Development Site Readiness (LACRED) program for St. Bernard Parish, including reimbursement processing, pre-application generation, due diligence, and partner coordination  
• Collect, organize, track, interpret, and report on selected economic indicators for the purposes of marketing, educating, and promoting the parish  
• Provide staff support for economic development activities using tools such as Excel, Microsoft Dynamics, GeoThinQ, Louisiana’s Commercial Database, EMSI, Entergy’s Buildings and Sites database, and others  
• Monitor public reports of new advance notifications on the FastLane online database, coordinating with team members and SBEDF leadership on project management efforts 
• Community Development & Grant Writing 
• Identify grant funding opportunities for which SBEDF (and strategic partners such as St. Bernard Parish Government, Nunez Community College, and the St. Bernard Port) qualify and work with the appropriate parties to draft application narratives and submit the completed materials  
• Draft letters of support, MOUs, and other documents to propel SBEDF and partners’ efforts forward  
• Manage all grant applications, administration, and reporting for SBEDF along with CEO and outside firm 
• Investor Relations  
• Work with CEO to cultivate partnerships, maintain existing investments, and secure new investment 
• Foster strategic, targeted communications to build and expand relationships with all stakeholders 
• Maintain and manage prospect and donor records in the within SBEDF’s tracking systems  
• Manage GiveNOLA Day efforts, including content coordination, donor engagement, and recognition in the Annual Review and on the SBEDF website 
• Attend networking and community events to develop relationships and positively represent SBEDF 
• Work with CEO to appropriately steward and recognize all contributors to SBEDF 
• Identify and create opportunities for donor engagement, stewardship, recognition, and appreciation 

Qualifications, Skills, Software 

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university, or equivalent work experience, preferred 
• A minimum of 2 years of economic and/or community development, nonprofit, fundraising, real estate, small business technical assistance, or experience in a similar public facing role preferred 
• Experience with business development, business engagement and assistance, program management, non-profit management, partnerships, investor relations, and fundraising; Microsoft Dynamics CRM proficiency is a plus 
• Ability to work independently and on multiple projects simultaneously 
• Emotional intelligence and the ability to work with a team, be accountable and self-aware, to maintain balance amid opposition and change, and to be multi-culturally aware and sensitive 
• Excellent communications skills: ability to write appropriately for different channels and to individuals at all levels 
• Incredible reading comprehension: ability to think critically, read between the lines and predict needs before they're urgent 
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work well under deadlines 
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office Suite applications 
• Desire to learn – about the work SBEDF does, new processes, and new technology  
• Demonstrated proactive nature with the ability to prioritize and preemptively solve foreseeable challenges 
• Professional demeanor at all times 

Requirements, Compensation, and Other Notes 

• Applicant must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer  
• While performing elements of job, candidate is commonly required to travel to the Arabi coworking space, Chalmette office, and within the Greater New Orleans area – must have reliable transportation 
• The role requires in-office work Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, as well as evening and weekend work as the job duties demand; flexibility and remote work are occasionally permitted 
• Salary and fringe benefits are commensurate with experience 
• Employer paid health, vision, and dental insurance with low copays and out-of-pocket totals, $50,000 employer paid term life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and an employee assistance plan 
• Generous PTO, access to our in-office workout room, top of the line MacBook computer, and endless opportunities for professional development 

If you are looking for a meaningful experience, fast-paced environment, and the opportunity to make a difference with a growing non-profit corporation that believes in community, we’d love to hear from you. If this job description excites you but you aren’t sure if your experience is a 100% match, please reach out. The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation embraces and celebrates diversity. Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized or differently abled candidates are encouraged to apply. 

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and references via e-mail to contact@sbedf.org. Cover letters must answer the following questions. Why is economic development important to you? What makes St. Bernard a great place for investment? What gives you the most energy in your current work? What about your current work drains you the most? What are your long-term career goals and how does this role help you get there? Please include “Business & Community Development Manager Application” in the email subject line. Once your materials have been received, you will receive a confirmation email. 

Skills 

• Local Economic Development 
• Workforce Development 
• Economic Development Incentives  
• Government Incentives 
• Commercial Real Estate 
• Site Selection  
• Investor Relations 
• Grant Writing 
• Corporate Consulting 
• Business Advisory