Economic Development Specialist

Economic Development Specialist at Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Thanks for taking a moment to check out this opportunity! We're looking for an Economic Development Program Specialist to support impactful programs, strengthen community connections, and help drive economic growth across the Cedar Rapids region. What you'd be doing in this role: You'll play a key role in supporting and advancing our economic development programs and initiatives. This includes overseeing the Ignite CR summer intern program—creating meaningful experiences that connect interns across the region—and providing administrative and logistical support for Impact CR our young professional programming. You'll help coordinate a variety of unique initiatives like HQ visits, trade shows, and intercity exchanges, while also supporting efforts that align with broader regional initiatives. Collaboration is central to this role—you'll work closely with community partners and internal teams to move projects forward. You'll also support governance and program operations by preparing meeting materials, recording minutes, maintaining rosters, and assisting with year-end processes. Along the way, you'll help share program updates with our communications team, track member engagement, and contribute to the development of new initiatives. This role requires someone who can juggle multiple priorities, think creatively, and bring people together to move ideas into action. You're probably a match if you have: Bachelor's degree required 5 years of experience working with boards, volunteers, programs, or investors Experience in meeting and program planning, communications, and budget management Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at once Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including taking clear and concise meeting minutes Ability to work both independently and collaboratively High level of integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality Strong attention to detail and sound judgment Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams) Experience working with governance structures and board processes is a plus A proactive, flexible mindset with a willingness to jump in where needed About the company: We're a Regional Economic Development organization dedicated to promoting and strengthening the Cedar Rapids region. Our work focuses on economic development, chamber of commerce, and community development—supporting business growth and regional success through a collaborative and mission-driven team. A glimpse of what we offer: Competitive non-profit salary (commensurate with experience) Health, dental, and retirement benefits PTO and professional development opportunities A collaborative, high-performing, and community-focused work environment

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person