The Director - Economic Development will focus on sustaining and growing a healthy economy in the REC footprint by providing direction and oversight of commercial and industrial (C&I) member strategy and plan implementation, project management, and internal and external coalition building to support business retention and expansion (BRE) and business attraction (BA) efforts.

Serves as the Economic Development point of contact for REC and manages REC staff responsible for C&I member projects, ongoing service support and engagement. Reviews, executes, and recommends amendments to department strategic plan. Plans, coordinates, evaluates, and monitors all policies, practices, and procedures related to BA and BRE for C&I accounts while mitigating risk to the Cooperative.

See our REC Careers page for a full description!

Applicants should possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business, Urban & Regional Planning, Public Administration, or related curriculum preferred or equivalent work experience will be considered in lieu of degree. Professional certifications or training in economic development preferred. A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in economic development, a strong working knowledge of the practice of economic development, and active participation in economic development organizations are required. Experience should include increasingly responsible positions involving project management; budgeting; business attraction, retention, and expansion; and measuring program results. Prior work experience or knowledge of land development, financial and/or energy markets and infrastructure development preferred.

Forward-thinking capacity, leadership, and supervisory experience are essential for managing a departmental staff carrying out the following:

Interpersonal: Maintain confidentiality in discussing sensitive projects; Build trusting relationships and generate cooperation among internal and external partners and other stakeholders through modeling of REC’s core values; Communicate well, both in writing and verbally, including public speaking and presentations; Collaborate with and positively influence many different types of people in a variety of positions and roles, both internally and externally.

Technological: Proficient computer skills, to include a working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including, but not limited to: Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint as required by job responsibilities; Manage and administer a CRM (customer relationship management) software database for record keeping and report generation; Able to use GIS (geographic information system) mapping software to identify real estate sites and pertinent electric grid infrastructure.

Decision-making: Must be able to generate C&I and economic statistics and understand their strategic implications; obtain knowledge of the Cooperative, its terms and conditions, rates, and electric grid infrastructure and design appropriate for the position and job responsibilities; Synthesize economic and industry trends and determine their impact on REC to strategically adjust support of C&I members and corresponding services.

Organizational: Plan and organize work, tasks, and schedules of department staff to meet specified deadlines and quality standards; Develop and effectively administer the Cooperative’s policies and procedures and make timely decisions.

Leadership: Provide and demonstrate strong leadership, negotiation, risk mitigation, political acumen, and management skills; Provide supervision and coaching of department staff to ensure performance as well as ongoing skill and career development.

The role entails a blend of remote and office work, maintaining standard office hours and conditions. Regular travel, both within and outside the state, will be necessary, involving overnight stays for work duties and educational endeavors. Expect to utilize general office equipment, related tools, manuals, and possibly passenger vehicles. The position involves predominantly sedentary tasks, with occasional requirements for stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, light lifting, grasping, conversing, observing, and hearing. It is mandatory to engage in a minimum of one professional development activity annually.

About REC

REC'S mission is to enhance the lives of the members and communities we serve by providing safe, reliable and affordable electric service as good stewards of the environment. REC is a member-owned utility that provides electric service to over 180,000 connections in portions of 22 Virginia counties. The Cooperative was formed in 1980 after the consolidation of two cooperatives, Virginia Electric Cooperative in Bowling Green and Northern Piedmont Electric Cooperative in Culpeper. The Cooperative's general office is in Spotsylvania County. REC operates and maintains more than 18,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The Cooperative serves a variety of residential, commercial and industrial accounts. The Cooperative is guided by a board of directors, also member-owners of REC, and who are elected by REC's other members during the annual meeting. Directors serve three-year terms.

Connections working at REC