Now Hiring: Industry Attraction Department Coordinator

Title: Industry Attraction Department Coordinator
Type of Employment: Full-time EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity)
Task Supervisor: NRGRDA (New River Gorge Regional Development Authority) Industry Attraction Department Lead

Summary:
The mission of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) is to initiate and support the community and economic development efforts within the counties of Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers located in the New River Gorge region of West Virginia. The successful candidate will coordinate activities and projects associated with NRGRDA’s Industry Attraction Department, including site development, Request for Information (RFI) response, and analysis of workforce needs. The successful candidate will also support initiatives of the New River Gorge Regional Working Group (NRG Working Group), a coalition of regional stakeholders that identify and advance infrastructure solutions in gateway communities to the New River Gorge National Park. The purpose of the NRG Working Group is to assist the region’s communities in cultivating and implementing projects that promote sustainable economic development.

The Industry Attraction Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the coordination, sharing of resources, and ongoing communication of several NRGRDA-led projects in Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers Counties, including the NRG Working Group. The Industry Attraction Coordinator will work closely with NRGRDA staff to ensure the NRG Working Group’s continued success as a vehicle for advancing regional opportunities, in addition to supporting other projects that improve economic opportunity in the region.

Position Goals:

• Maximize the immediate and long-term impact of the NRG Working Group
• Ensure that efforts of the NRG Working Group achieve immediate and long-term community and economic development goals
• Improve NRGRDA and the NRG Working Groups’ communication strategies, ensuring consistent information sharing to local government, local organizations, state agencies, federal agencies, and other relevant stakeholders
• Support gateway communities’ development goals while leveraging the impact and potential of the New River Gorge National Park as a regional asset

Primary Responsibilities

1. Ownership and Project Coordination:

• Coordinate the NRG Wayfinding Assessment, which supports downtown economic development through increased visitation and ease of navigation in gateway communities to the New River Gorge National Park
• Collaborate with the New River Gorge Regional Working Group (NRG Working Group) to support infrastructure solutions and sustainable economic development.
• Coordinate other projects, as assigned, with NRGRDA’s Industry Attraction Department
• Coordinate the NRG Working Group’s quarterly meetings, including agenda preparation and member communication
• Identify and execute improvements of coalition processes, including but not limited to group communication, project identification, project prioritization, funding identification, and asset maintenance

2. Site Development Coordination

• Coordinate the NRG Master Planning Process, which explores the feasibility of new site development within the region
• Support identification of new potential sites for industrial development, determining highest and best use.
• Prepare and facilitate new site project onboarding
• Support due diligence on selected sites in coordination with the larger site project team.

3. Request for Information support

• Support NRGRDA’s Industry Attraction Department in responding to Requests for Information (RFIs (Request for Information))
• Culminate infrastructure and site related data in a usable database to allow easily accessible site information for responding to RFIs
• Support business expansion and attraction efforts led by NRGRDA

4. Incentive Development Support:

• Establish and maintain relationships with local and national funders, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and private sector representatives.
• Identify business and industry incentives and resources and support the further development of tailored incentive and resource packages
• Support incentive proposal development.

5. Skills and Workforce Gap Analysis Support:

• Collect and catalog industry workforce gap identification to share with higher education and skills training programs via the NRG Working Group Higher Education sub-committee.
• Support and coordinate industry workshops, skills trainings, etc. to address identified skills gaps

6. Impact tracking

• Develop and prepare reports and metrics for measuring success of the NRG Working Group
• Work alongside NRGRDA staff to prepare and compile components of grant submissions, ensuring that proposals are formatted, packaged, and submitted in accordance with granting agency requirements
• Prepare and deliver memos that capture the progress and key projects of the NRG Working Group.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Communications, Public Administration, Sustainability, Economic Development, Business, or similar field.
• Experience in economic development, project management, sustainable development, or civic engagement preferred.
• Proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Office, Canva, Eventbrite, Survey 123, and DoodlePoll.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to collect and analyze information effectively.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for regional travel.

Personal Attributes:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Results-oriented with effective organizational and planning abilities.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work with diverse groups.
• Proven ability to build positive partnerships and relationships.
• Positive attitude, strong listening skills, and commitment to equitable growth.

Work Environment:

• Professional office setting in Beckley, WV.
• Work-life balance including flex time and hybrid work options.
• Extensive regional travel with limited out-of-state travel.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Full-time, salaried position.
• Compensation: $42,000 based on experience and qualifications.
• Benefits include travel reimbursement, health, life and disability insurance, vacation and sick leave, and retirement program.