Economic Development Program Manager

City of Charlotte • Charlotte, NC

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About The Position

The City of Charlotte’s Economic Development Department takes great pride in our success with bringing together public and private resources to create places that attract a diversity of talent, job opportunities, and businesses. We are driven to make Charlotte competitive in the global market and facilitate an environment through which all residents and businesses have opportunities for economic success. Areas of focus include development/redevelopment, entrepreneurship and small business support, business recruitment and retention and talent development. Through active and strategic collaborations with other City departments and community partners, the team fulfills its purpose of helping businesses and residents thrive. The Economic Development Department is seeking a Program Manager whose primary responsibility is leading the City’s Skilled to Build Small Business Readiness programs, with additional responsibilities supporting implementation of the Small Business Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan. This role will manage the coordination and ongoing delivery of small business initiatives that prepare businesses to access opportunities associated with major transportation, transit, and capital infrastructure projects. The position works closely with internal City departments, small business ecosystem partners, training providers, and private-sector partners to operationalize, market, measure, and continuously improve these efforts.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of small business ecosystems, capacity-building strategies, and entrepreneurship development
• Knowledge of procurement and government contracting ecosystems
• Ability to translate complex program, policy, and infrastructure information into clear, actionable guidance for small businesses
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple project/programs workstreams simultaneously
• Excellent stakeholder coordination, facilitation, and relationship management skills
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills
• Ability to use data for storytelling, performance measurement, and reporting
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years of related experience or Master's Level Degree and three (3) year of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential job duties.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in program management, economic development, small business support, workforce development, or related field required
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and/or major project rollouts

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation, coordination, and ongoing management of the Skilled to Build Small Business Readiness programs/projects
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to support effective program/project implementation
• Develop and manage a comprehensive KPI and performance measurement framework
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to support outreach and communication efforts that raise awareness of small business readiness pathways, procurement opportunities, and other related small business programs/tools/resources
• Regularly assess program performance, identify capacity gaps, and recommend systems improvements and partner alignment strategies
• Support implementation of the Small Business Ecosystem Strategic Framework with a focus on coordination, alignment, and collaboration across the small business ecosystem
• Assist with outreach, engagement, and referral strategies that connect businesses to technical assistance, capital readiness, and workforce resources
• Develop and lead special assignments/projects as needed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager