Department: Economic Development
Job Title: Economic Development Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisor: City Manager
Salary: $72,173/year ($34.70/hour) - $103,743/year ($49.88/hour)
Revision Date: 1/2026
About Us: The City of Craig provides a wide range of essential services designed to ensure the smooth functioning of daily life for our residents. Key services provided include public safety, infrastructure maintenance such as road repairs, waste management, and water utilities, as well as local government support through licensing, permitting, and zoning. The city also offers community engagement programs, park maintenance, and recreation opportunities. The municipal team plays a vital role in fostering a positive work environment and addressing the needs of the community.
About the Department: The Economic Development Department supports a vibrant and resilient local economy by fostering business growth, expanding job opportunities, and strengthening community partnerships. The department works to attract new businesses, supports existing enterprises, and advances strategic initiatives that enhance Craig’s long-term economic vitality. Through planning, collaboration, and innovation, the Economic Development department helps ensure a strong and sustainable future for the community.
About the Role: The Economic Development Manager leads efforts to strengthen and grow the local economy by attracting new businesses, supporting existing employers, and advancing strategic development initiatives. This role builds strong partnerships with community stakeholders, identifies opportunities for investment, and develops programs that promote job creation and long-term economic vitality. Through research, outreach, and strategic planning, the Economic Development Manager plays a key role in shaping Craig’s economic future and enhancing the community’s overall prosperity.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The essential functions and responsibilities listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position. Duties and responsibilities are also subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
· Takes a leadership role in organizing, administering, managing, and supporting the Craig Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), the Craig Urban Renewal Authority (CURA), and the Craig Housing Authority (CHA) programs, budgets, and operations.
· Implements business retention, expansion, and attraction strategies in coordination with City departments and relevant partner organizations.
· Executes the EDAC’s work plan, including workforce development, entrepreneurship, innovation initiatives, partnerships, communications, and events. Updates the Moffat County Vision 2025 Transition Plan in conjunction with the EDAC’s mission, vision, and goals.
· Connects businesses to financial incentives, access to capital, and state and regional economic development programs such as the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Colorado Office of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Colorado Office of Just Transition (OJT), and the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and Moffat Economic Development Authority (MEDA).
· Develops and manages partnerships with local organizations, including Moffat County Visitors Center, Craig Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association, Memorial Regional Health, Moffat County School District, Moffat County Commissioners, Moffat County Local Marketing District, Northwest Colorado Development Council, Regional Transportation Authority, Steamboat Springs Transit, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, and regional entities.
· Manages contracts, funding applications, partnership strategies, grant opportunities, and multiple contractors supporting economic development.
· Provides direct assistance to businesses related to expansion, relocation, site selection, permitting, and networking.
· Negotiates incentive agreements under the City’s limited incentive program.
· Prepares annual EDAC/CURA budgets, revenue estimates, expenditures, reports, contracts, and meeting materials.
· Manages EDAC/CURA programs and projects within the approved annual budget plus capital project activities, including state and federal grant funding.
· Supports redevelopment projects and public infrastructure investments.
· Represents the City in regional economic development organizations and initiatives.
· Maintains regular engagement with the Craig business community and stakeholders.
· Coordinates community marketing efforts and supports downtown and community events.
· Research policy issues, track business trends, and manage the City of Craig’s Economic Development website, social media marketing, general marketing campaigns, and local marketing campaigns.
· Attend bi-weekly staff meetings, monthly EDAC meetings, applicable City Council, CURA, and CHA meetings, and prepare and present quarterly Economic Development Department Reports to the City Council.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
· Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
· Calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
· Solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
· Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
· Maintain excellent working relationships with the public and city employees.
· Maintain confidential information.
· Plan, prioritize, and coordinate multiple projects.
· Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
· Use resources effectively, efficiently, and produce quality and timely results.
· Work as an indirect producer to reliably and predicably carry out duties.
· Work under pressure to meet deadlines.
· Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
· Excellent written and oral communication skills.
· Knowledge of financial and accounting systems.
· Knowledge of office machines, filing, and office procedures.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Required Education, Training, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and one year of experience; or five years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Education, Training, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and two years of experience; or a Master’s degree and one year of experience, or six years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Supervision: None.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Mental/Motor Demands: The mental/motor demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Diversified duties; works under general supervision in an office setting.
Work Environment: The work environment described here are representative of the duties of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are generally performed in an office setting with a controlled environment. The job requires sitting for extended periods of time, and the work may expose the employee to unpleasant social situations and significant work pace pressure.
Benefits: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, 401a with employer match, Life Insurance, Long-term disability, and Flex Spending account.
The City of Craig is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position, as well as meet the physical demands, mental/motor demands, and work environment characteristics. The City encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodation with the employer.
