Pay Growth
?
out of 5
Not enough data
Not enough info to score pay or growth
Economic Development Business Development Specialist
Job
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Cedar Rapids, IA (In Person)
$60,000 Salary, Full-Time
Review key factors to help you decide if the role fits your goals.
Job Security
?
out of 5
Not enough data
Calculating job security score...
Total Score
57
out of 100
Average of individual scores
Skill Insights
Compare your current skills to what this opportunity needs—we'll show you what you already have and what could strengthen your application.
Job Description
Economic Development Business Development Specialist Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Cedar Rapids, IA Job Details From $60,000 a year 2 hours ago Full Job Description Help Shape the Future of the Cedar Rapids Region The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is seeking an energetic, relationship-driven, and community-minded Business Development Specialist to help advance economic growth and opportunity across the region. Working alongside the Director of Economic Development to support business retention, expansion, attract investment, and strengthen the regional economy. If you enjoy building relationships, connecting people to resources, analyzing trends, and helping communities thrive, we'd love to hear from you. About the Role As a Business Development Specialist, you will support a wide range of economic development initiatives focused on business retention, expansion, attraction, entrepreneurship, and community growth. You will serve as a connector between businesses, community stakeholders, and Alliance programs while helping identify opportunities that strengthen the Cedar Rapids Region. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career professional looking to build experience in economic development, business engagement, project management, and regional growth strategies. What You'll Do Populate site selection information and update available inventory of resources in the region. Support business retention and expansion efforts by imputing data and translating briefings into tangible reference points. Assist with business attraction initiatives by researching prospective companies, preparing materials, and supporting outreach efforts. Pull data and research for organization to enhance communication and resource support. Conduct research and analyze economic, demographic, workforce, and industry data to support strategic initiatives and business development projects. Assist in developing tradeshows and promotion materials that showcase the advantages of the Cedar Rapids region. Maintain accurate records and activity tracking within the organization's CRM and reporting systems. Coordinate and support meetings, site visits, business events, and special projects. Represent the Alliance at community meetings, networking events, industry gatherings, and partner activities. Assist with the preparation of business briefings and reports. Collaborate across departments to advance organizational goals and ensure excellent service to businesses and partners. Stay informed on local economic trends, workforce issues, development projects, and emerging opportunities that impact regional growth. What We're Looking For Excellent communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. A proactive, positive attitude and a genuine passion for community and economic development. Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in economics, business, public administration, marketing, planning, communications, community development, or a related field. Two or more years of professional experience in economic development, community development, public administration, marketing, research, sales, or a related field. Experience working with businesses, entrepreneurs, developers, chambers of commerce, local governments, or community organizations is preferred. Economic development coursework, certifications, or industry training are a plus. Preferred Qualifications While not required, the following experience and knowledge would be valuable: Understanding of economic development principles, including business attraction, business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community growth strategies. Familiarity with both rural and metropolitan economic development opportunities and challenges. Knowledge of economic development incentives, infrastructure planning, site selection considerations, and workforce development resources. Experience using CRM or customer engagement platforms to track business outreach, project activity, and stakeholder engagement. Experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting data to support strategic planning and decision-making. Economic development coursework, certifications, or professional designations such as CEcD are welcomed but not required. Why Join the Alliance? At the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, you'll be part of a team dedicated to creating opportunities, supporting businesses, and helping shape the future of one of the Midwest's most dynamic regions. You'll gain valuable experience working on impactful projects while building relationships with leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Every day offers an opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that helps businesses grow, creates jobs, and strengthens the community.