Key Roles

This position supports the Manager of Economic Development in all EKPC and owner-member economic development activities under Director’s responsibility. Actively supporting recruiting, expansion and retention of business, industries, education, workforce and community growth initiatives necessary for new load, investment, and job creation across service territories.         

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as spokesperson/presenter for the company in venues and conferences involving economic development and business efforts, as directed.
• Develops, evaluates, and recommends innovative products and concepts used to recruit and retain businesses within the Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives service territories, as directed.
• Recommends strategies for recruiting industrial customers including domestic and international companies to Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives service territories.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. state and locally elected officials and public opinion leaders).
• Provides leadership and strategic focus to help build beneficial relationships with key decision makers.
• Assists with identification and cultivation of key prospects, including commercial and industrial customer relationships.
• Represents the company in collaborative efforts concerning economic development, as directed.
• Represents the company within service territory communities and serves on boards, advisory committees, and task forces to advance the company’s role in business and economic development.
• Assists with site identification and development and serves as a liaison between assigned prospective clients, business leaders, incentive and financial partners.
• Serves as a liaison between all necessary resources to facilitate economic development activities.
• Coordinates economic development projects and programs with the Manager of Economic Development, owner-member co-ops, and OM economic development team members.
• Supports economic development recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts with assistance to member/consumers, and local and state officials as needed.
• Assists in advising local and regional leaders on educational programming and work skill building solutions offered by Kentucky's various educational systems and workforce development institutions.
• Assists in the development, enhancement, and branding of the department’s website structure and concepts.
• Assists in utilizing and developing new concepts and improvements associated with PowerMap, PowerVision, StateBook, and other tools used to recruit economic development opportunities into service territories.
• Ensures economic development activities are showcased through various social media outlets, as directed.
• Helps develop the annual economic development budget work plan.
• Prepares monthly reports beneficial to management, staff, and Board of Directors.
• Under direction of the Manager, updates economic plan and policies as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related area required.  An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years experience in economic development, preferably in an electric utility, state government entity or local/regional economic development authority.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills including written and oral communications.
• Comfortable speaking to large groups and interacting with diverse groups of people.
• Must be able to build and maintain strategic relationships with business partners as outlined in this document.
• Ability to provide leadership and build consensus with EKPC CEO, Executive Staff, Economic Development Team and Owner-Member Cooperative Leadership.
• Project planning, contract development, and negotiation skills required.
• Ability to build short and long-range budget processes and forecasts.
• Effective working knowledge of land values, zoning regulations, and development potential.
• Strong customer relations and problem solving orientation.
• Working knowledge and experience in the utility industry with emphasis in such areas as finance, economic development, and/or engineering is helpful.
• Working knowledge of rates/pricing and utility services.
• Computer skills including internet research, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Must be comfortable giving presentations to various levels and size of audiences.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of the rates for all owner-member cooperatives, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, other Kentucky cooperatives and investor owned utilities in the state.

Competencies

• Building Strategic Working Relationships
• Strategic Decision Making
• Gaining Commitment
• Building Partnerships
• Problem Solving
• Teamwork
• Negotiation

Conditions of Employment

• Usual office conditions apply to this position with occasional lifting up to twenty (20) pounds.
• Extensive travel within the system and frequent in and out-of-state travel related to economic development recruitment and retention initiatives.  
• Frequent work outside of normal business hours is required, including nights and occasional weekends.
• Must maintain valid driver’s license.
• Must wear personal protective equipment as appropriate