Executive Director - Partnership Habersham

Position to be filled by: August 1, 2025

Company: Partnership Habersham

Location: Cornelia, Georgia

Category: Development Authority

Position Type: Full Time

Education Requirement: Bachelor degree preferred

Experience Requirement: 3-5 years in economic development or related field

Salary: determined by level of experience in economic development

How to Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to Rope Roberts, Chair, Partnership Habersham, roperoberts7@icloud.com

Job Description & Details:

Partnership Habersham is an organization made up of Private/Public investors who see the importance of economic development as a key in the success of Habersham County. They are seeking to fill the position of Executive Director with one who will be a proven, highly skilled leader in the field, with extensive experience implementing comprehensive economic development strategies and bringing diverse local leaders and constituencies together in a Private/Public partnership for sustainable success. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, honesty, and openness to create strong and enduring relationships with key leaders in the local, county, state and federal arenas.

Specific responsibilities of the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR will include:

Effective implementation of the Partnership Habersham and Habersham Development Authority strategy, including carrying out the current five-year work strategy into annual work programs.

• Understanding the competitive dynamics of best practice community and economic development programs, including an equal focus on competitiveness dynamics, existing business retention/expansion, nurturing small businesses and entrepreneurs, and effective external marketing and recruitment.
• Working closely with representatives of Habersham County, the seven cities, and economic development departments, local chamber of commerce & business associations, and other relevant organizations and groups such as the GDEcD, to advance the Strategy and Implementation Plan.
• Serving as a key advocate and partner for community-focused efforts in the areas of quality of life, education and workforce, land use, transportation, infrastructure capacity development, redevelopment strategies and community sustainability practices.
• Creating and executing highly effective programs and partnerships.
• Serving as the organization’s principal spokesperson to ensure that a strong communications effort is in place that meets internal and external needs.
• Monitoring and evaluating on a regular basis the organization’s financial status and taking appropriate actions to ensure its fiscal sustainability as the key revenue generator.
• Serving as a tireless promoter of the Habersham County, its population, assets and businesses to local, statewide, national, and international audiences.
• Advocating to local, county, statewide, and federal governments for projects and investments that further Habersham’s regional competitive capacity.

Ex-Officio – Habersham County Development Authority 

Partnership Habersham will assign its Executive Director to serve as Ex-officio, to work with the board and staff of the Habersham County Development Authority, and shall perform the following duties and services:

1. Assist HCDA in creating strategic plans for economic and community development, encompassing both short-term and long-term objectives for Habersham County and its seven municipalities.
2. Assist HCDA in creating and updating policies and procedures as they relate to a sound economic development strategy.
3. Stay updated on local, regional, and state economic development policies and initiatives.
4. Identify agenda items and collaborate with the administrative assistant to ensure the preparation and distribution of required supporting documentation to the HCDA for review
5. Develop and maintain professional working relationships with local governments, developers, private consultants, and others to retain and recruit business and economic development to Habersham County; develop effective marketing strategies and tools to attract businesses, new development, and assist with redevelopment opportunities. Maintain and update existing inventory of available buildings and land in the county and the municipalities to include both public and private.  
6. Coordinate with the County Manager and the HCDA on developing appropriate incentive packages for existing industry expansion and new commercial/industrial prospects with the objective of creating diversified quality employment opportunities, increased capital investment, and positive long term economic change.  
7. Oversee management and coordination of maintenance and upkeep of marketable land or buildings owned by the HCDA.
8. Work with the county’s capital project manager to oversee construction projects related to the HCDA.
9. Work with county finance and support staff to oversee Bids or RFPs issued for services or capital projects as directed by the HCDA.
10. Maintain a liaison with various local, state, and outside agencies, coordinates visits to industry conferences, GEDA functions, utility partner sites, and maintain relationships with other key partners.
11. Represent the HCDA at appropriate civic, cultural, charitable, business, and community activities as well as serve on boards, commissions, committees, and organizations related to the areas critical to the HCDA’s strategic plans.
12. Coordinate with the County CFO to prepare and present the annual budget, as it relates to economic development, for approval by the HCDA and the Habersham County Board of Commissioners, ensure HCDA funds are invested wisely, and review and approve invoices from vendors who are working on behalf of the HCDA.
13. Work with HCDA attorney and chair to review documents related to contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and other materials related to HCDA activities/pursuits.
14. Work with HCDA Chair and administrative assistant to plan retreats and other special events.
15. Serve as the single point of contact for projects to provide assistance with tax incentive packages, coordinate state incentives, coordinate site visits with all necessary stakeholders, work with county planning staff and municipalities to facilitate permit processes and ensure all regulatory compliance issues are addressed.  
16. Facilitate annual meetings with Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessor, municipal partners, Board of Education, and projects to ensure compliance with outstanding tax incentive programs.
17. On an as needed basis, provide an update on economic development activities to the Chairman of the HCDA.
18. Provide an economic development activity and initiatives report monthly to the HCDA and at least annually or upon request to the Habersham County BOC.
19. Provide leadership for the HCDA Development Review Board; review construction and advise on compliance.  
20. Work with chosen bond counsel to develop MOU’s, bond resolutions, and structure Industrial Development Bonds to facilitate existing industry expansion and attraction of new industry.

Other Duties to be Assigned or Outsourced

1. Maintain a tax incentive spreadsheet and ensure receipt of all required company incentive reports. 
2. Provide necessary financial information to taxing authorities on outstanding tax incentives for inclusion in financial reports.
3. Produce invoices for PILOT payments due the HCDA and provide an annual tax incentive report.

The ideal candidate for the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR position will be:

• A strong leader and skilled manager with a proven, measurable track record of success in highly regarded economic development, nonprofit, private sector and/or governmental organizations. This individual must be able to clearly demonstrate how those organizations prospered as a result of his or her leadership and direction.
• Experience in a mission-driven organization with a scope and complexity that is commensurate with Partnership Habersham and the Habersham Development Authority.
• An individual with the ability to transfer previous experience into the current community and economic development challenges in Habersham.
• A proven leader with a successful track record in building and developing relationships.
• An individual with experience dealing with complex economic, political, and financial issues and the sensitivity to function in the role of a leader in those issue areas.
• A visionary with a demonstrated ability to think outside the box and develop creative approaches to complex issues.
• An individual with extensive knowledge of public policy dynamics, particularly technological, political, and economic challenges for today’s modern communities.

Desired Education, Skills, and Experience:

• College degree preferred;
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite and other economic development resources and tools;
• 3-5 years of relevant work experience required;
• Private Sector Leadership preferred, but not required;
• Experience of developing new industrial land is a plus;
• Skills include strategy development and implementation, financial analyses and budgeting, and impact assessment/evaluation;
• Exceptional interpersonal, writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to serve as an external voice for the work of the Partnership Habersham initiative;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Deep understanding of urban/rural economic development issues preferred;
• Demonstrated leadership and proven ability to lead a complex, cross-sector, multi-dimensional, results-oriented agenda;
• Demonstrated success managing multiple projects;
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a demanding environment;
• Proven track record of setting Key Performance Indicators for self, team and organization;
• Proven track record of exceeding goals;
• Professional certification (CEcD) would be a plus, but not required.

Personal Characteristics:

• Extremely organized and efficient;
• Excellent communicator;
• A creative thinker with strong problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work under the pressure of tight deadlines;
• Ability to make decisions about how to manage and organize the workload quickly and effectively;
• Participative work style; ability to receive feedback; and
• Mature interpersonal style, ability to interact well with a diverse range of people

Location:
Habersham County, Georgia.

TO APPLY:
Submit resume:
Rope Roberts, Chair, Partnership Habersham, 
roperoberts7@icloud.com or
PO Box 428, Clarkesville, GA 30523 

DEADLINE:
Accepting applications until close of business (5pm) July 18, 2025.  Salary range is determined by level of experience in economic development.