Economic Development & Business Growth Specialist I

Department: Commercial Development & Business Solutions Location: Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899 Category: Customer Service Minimum Pay Rate: $111,092.
80 Maximum Pay Rate: $147,201.
60 Civil Service Status: Civil Service Apply by Date: 04/15/2024 Posting Type: Open Commercial Development team is a resource for our developer customers in the planning, coordination and connection of their project to our grid.
We assist prospective businesses, builders and developers through their build process, from project conceptualization and implementation to meter set up.
We foster relationships with regional developers and engage early on and often to create a single point of contact, coordinating all touch points within SMUD, streamlining the development process, and serve as a liaison to facilitate integration with other utility services to better support our customers.
This posting intends to fill a full-time, regular Economic Development & Business Growth Specialist I position.
An eligibility list will also be established, which may be used to fill regular, full-time, or limited term Economic Development & Business Growth Specialist I positions, over the next two (2) years.
Purpose To design, develop and manage new business and economic development initiatives that are consistent with SMUD’s overall business strategy; enhance SMUD’s reputation and raise its visibility among key stakeholders by building and growing meaningful, consistent, and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Nature and Scope Employees in this classification serve as a resource in a relevant professional discipline; oversee projects and strategies of minimally complex to moderately complex difficulty and exercise independent judgment and discretion within established, broad guidelines.
Ramifications of mistakes have significant financial and reputational risk to SMUD.
Duties and Responsibilities Assists in the planning, developing and implementing of long and short-term strategies related to economic and community development which contributes to the local regional economy while conforming to SMUD’s operational and business strategies; influences business direction by communicating effectively with all levels of the organization.
Engages in business development initiatives by performing market evaluations identifying economic trends and valuation of potential business partners; identifies corporate recruitment, expansion and/or retention solutions; develops tactics and teams (multi-disciplinary, interdepartmental) needed to bring projects to fruition.
Coordinates regional public affairs and governmental relations partners and other relevant stakeholders in pursuit of development projects that advance SMUD's enterprise goals.
Engages internally with SMUD business partners to proactively create opportunities for beneficial commercial and residential development; resolves issues of rates, energy services, customer services and billing, distribution services, power quality, and speed to market.
Identifies, evaluates, and communicates business/partnership opportunities internally and externally; interfaces with operations as necessary to help introduce partnering solutions to external businesses and local government entities; identifies and evaluates new markets for existing programs/services.
Represents SMUD’s enterprise objectives before businesses and other external stakeholder entities; manages complex contract negotiations and ensures that the organization’s needs are represented effectively and fully.
Monitors, evaluates, and reports on the program effectiveness and suggests improvements where necessary.
Actively engages stakeholders to create influential relationships with community and government agencies; monitors and understands emerging trends in economic and community development.
Performs other related duties as needed to include working outside of typical business hours when necessary.
Required Education BA/BS degree in Business Administration, Business Development, Economics, Engineering, Architecture or a related discipline from an accredited college or university; equivalent, relevant experience may be substituted on year-for-year basis.
If no degree, a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience is required.
Required Experience Qualifications Three or more years (3+) of progressively responsible experience in the electric utility industry with customer or energy service-related activities and/or economic/business development/urban planning experience in the Sacramento region.
Knowledge Of Relevant local, state, and national authorities and agencies; planning, budgeting, and technical writing; strategic planning; consumer education and communication techniques and procedures; electric utility rate making practices and procedures; energy management applications and programs and electric distribution systems; electric system operations; fundamentals and practices of economic evaluations of projects and programs; fundamentals and practices of program evaluation; fundamentals and practices of economic development, urban planning and community relations; relevant commercial building codes, rules and regulations.
Skills To Provide corporate guidance and build mutual beneficial relationships; oversee integrated local public affairs campaigns for large commercial development or infrastructure projects; develop short/long term integrated strategies; assess and interpret policies and procedures; grasp new and complex concepts quickly; plan, assess and evaluate budget expenditures; express ideas/facts clearly and concisely one on one or to groups, taking into account the audience and nature of information; reconcile significant and/or controversial differences to bring interested parties to consensus; effectively communicate verbally and in writing; assess complex issues and develop/implement resolution alternatives; solve problems creatively and quickly; appraise situations and people accurately and adopt an effective course of action; negotiate with external representatives on behalf of SMUD; work collaboratively and effectively with internal staff and external public and private entities; exercise good judgment; work well under pressure of deadlines; attend community functions.
Desirable Qualifications Understanding of project timelines, electrical capacity needs and budgets Familiarity with infill, commercial, industrial, housing and mixed-used development Physical Requirements Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento.
Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers.
Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine.
Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities.
By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all.
We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020.
This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification.
As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic.
All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California? The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.
S.
Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges.
The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region.
Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement.
Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries.
Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away.
Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
Hybrid Work This position may be eligible for SMUD's hybrid (office/home) work employee benefit, the schedule of which will be determined by the successful candidate and the Hiring Manager.
SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work.
We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues.
Our approach to hybrid work will continue to evolve.
Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.
SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.
Req ID: 1273