Business & Economic Development Analyst

Job Description:

Business & Economic Development Analyst

Description

Position Description

The City of Tacoma, Community and Economic Development Department is recruiting for the valuable position of Business and Economic Development Analyst in the Economic Development Services Division.

This position leads the City’s business recruitment, expansion, and target-sector development efforts. The Analyst manages the business pipeline, conducts BRE visits, develops recruitment materials, creates marketing content and supports the Make It Tacoma brand. The role strengthens Tacoma’s competitive position by identifying high-growth companies, cultivating relationships with traded-sector firms, and advancing initiatives that drive job creation and private investment.

This position will support the implementation of the Community and Economic Development 2026-2030 Strategic Plan and the Tacoma 2035 Strategic Plan through livable wage job creation by recruiting companies to Tacoma and assist in the creation of additional housing through support of the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption program.

The Business and Economic Development Analyst will make complex recommendations to the Program Manager(s) regarding implementation of the work assigned. Final approval of all decisions in the Community and Economic Development Department are made by the Director.

This position will participate in Division budgetary discussions and can make recommendations regarding the Division’s strategic expenditures to advance the strategic initiatives.

Under the direction of the department Director, this position provides essential subject matter expertise on the City’s business recruitment, expansion, and target-sector development efforts, marketing, and Make It Tacoma brand, along with having opportunities to perform complex economic development, business recruitment, retention and expansion activities via execution of the Division’s strategic plan.

This position will coordinate Business Retention and Expansion visits and coordinate with City staff and external partners/stakeholders regarding outreach and marketing of the City’s business development advantages and services. The position will also create and manage a client database of businesses in traded sectors and businesses that may be recruitment/expansion targets within the City’s target sectors.

This position will manage the Make It Tacoma brand marketing efforts by creating content, preparing and sending the periodic Make It Tacoma business newsletter, monitoring and responding to the MakeItTacoma.com inbox and contact forms, and supporting administration and technical assistance of the MakeItTacoma.com website, while also working closely with the Department Director and Program Manager(s) to provide reports and analysis of a range of items upon request.

This Business and Economic Development Analyst position will report directly to the Director.

Telework arrangements may be available, depending on the position and needs of the City.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, urban planning or directly related field.

Minimum Experience*
2 years of program administration, economic development, federal grant administration and/or community engagement experience.

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Washington State Driver's License

Desired Qualifications :

• 5 years progressively responsible analytical and/or program management in area related to Community and Economic Development
• Understanding of the role of Economic Development in a municipal government
• Preferred Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Public Administration, marketing, economic development, Finance and/or related disciplines
• High level analytical and quantitative skills, multi-task oriented, strong oral and writing skillsets
• Ability to articulate complex information to a variety of groups and cultural backgrounds throughout the community
• Project and/or Program Management experience
• Preparing budgets, and compliance/performance measurement tools/reporting
• Database management

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge :

• Understanding of various scopes of work related to Business Retention and Expansion.
• Knowledge of, or experience with marketing.
• Understanding of frameworks commonly used in public-sector organizations, including principles that guide equitable service delivery, community engagement, and fair decision-making (such as the City of Tacoma’s Equity & Empowerment Framework).
• Prior experience with workforce development or the capacity to interact and leverage workforce development programs and organizations, capital investment attraction.

Skills:

• Impeccable Customer Service skills with ability to problem solve.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Cultural competency.

Competencies:

• Fiscal Accountability: Responsibly allocate and account for use of fiscal resources, evaluating alternatives and weighing their benefits.
• Contract Administration: Practices, procedures, and techniques of contract administration, implementation, and evaluation.
• Performance Leadership: Create and nurture a continuous improvement performance-based culture that supports efforts to accomplish the organizational mission and goals. Set meaningful expectations. Communicate, prioritize, and monitor goals.
• Interpersonal Influence: Influence others within the organization to be committed to furthering the organization’s objectives through persuasion, positive attitude, optimism, conflict management, assistance to others, feedback, goal setting, etc.
• Results Orientation and Initiative: Focus on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Identify what needs to be done and proactively take appropriate action.
• Written and Oral Communication: Effectively convey ideas and information using language that is appropriate to both the complexity of the topic, the knowledge and understanding of the other person, and the power dynamics of the moment.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

A Commitment to Equity & Diversity
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
The Community
Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.
Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI
Apply
Interested individuals must apply online and attach a current resume and cover letter . Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to move forward in the examination process. Candidates who qualify for Veteran's Preference criteria must attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4 (proof of military discharge) at time of application to be eligible for Veteran's percentage points.

Examination Process
This is a competitive selection process. You will be required to respond to essay questions outlining your knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their r esponses to the Supplemental Questions #6 - #10 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test . These questions will be scored on the basis of information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Please make sure you read the questions and provide complete informative answers, including your roles in the position and key activities. DO NOT respond with see resume in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score. Providing false information will result in disqualification.

Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $40.89 - $57.57
Annual Salary: $85,051.20 - $119,745.60
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma
Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.
Communication from the City of Tacoma
NOTE: For questions regarding this specific recruitment contact Kat Flores, HR Analyst.

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, questions regarding this job announcement, or if you are experiencing complications while applying, please contact the Human Resources office at 253-591-5400 by 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow time to assist you before the job announcement closes. ( For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system , call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time.)

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 7/13/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$40.89 - $57.57 Hourly