Job Description

Join us and help make a difference! At Grey County we work together to deliver essential public services that meet the needs of our communities. Grey County isn't just a great place to live; its also a great place to work!



We are proud to offer competitive wages and an attractive total compensation package. We support learning and continuous employee development, and champion career progression for our employees. We value work-life balance, so you can make the most of your career at Grey County, while making the most of your life in Grey County!



This posting closes on December 15, 2025 at 11:59pm. Candidates may be contacted prior to the closing date for booking an interview.



Apply now to join our team!



Purpose

Reporting to the Director of Economic Development, Tourism & Culture, the primary role of the Economic Development Manager will provide strategic leadership to plan for and implement initiatives to foster economic growth and prosperity for the County. This includes priorities such as business retention and expansion, workforce development, destination development, and activating Sydenham Campus. This position leads all investment readiness and investment attraction (foreign and domestic) for Grey County.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, the Economic Development & Tourism Manager has the following duties and responsibilities:

Develop and execute comprehensive, long-term economic development and tourism plans aligned with the departmental master plan and corporate strategic plan. Lead sector support strategies for business retention and expansion efforts and actively attract new business, including marketing the region to potential investors and assisting with relocations. Oversee a diverse portfolio of economic development projects and initiatives from conceptualization to implementation, managing budgets, resources, and timelines. Build and maintain strong relationships and act as a liaison with community leaders, businesses, tourism operators, entrepreneurs, investors, and all levels of government. Analyze market conditions and trends to inform strategic decisions; identify opportunities, assess project feasibility, and report on performance. Prepare and manage an annual operating budget. Provide financial oversight by monitoring and controlling program expenditures and revenues. Identify and secure funding for economic development projects by writing grant proposals and exploring alternative funding sources. Evaluate and report on the impact of legislation and recommend policies that support economic growth, such as those related to land use and zoning. Work with educational institutions and service providers to address skills gaps and strengthen the local workforce. Provide effective leadership, supervision, guidance and coaching, to a team of economic development and tourism professionals to foster innovation and to ensure staff feel motivated and rewarded. Attend trade shows, industry events/conferences, seminars and workshops as the County's representative; develop and deliver presentations to internal/external stakeholders. Organize meetings, site tours, presentations on recommendations to Council and maintain group and committee files. Respond to socio-economic enquiries and assist other departments and municipalities as required. Upholds personal responsibility for occupational health and safety. Responsible, as a Manager, for the Health and Safety of staff. Assist with projects and duties as assigned

Working Conditions

Usual hours of work are 35 hours per week. Overtime is required to cope with deadlines, peak periods and unexpected situations that arise. Work is often performed outside of regular working hours (ie. trade shows, special events, conferences, etc.).

A vehicle is required for travel throughout the County, region and southwestern Ontario.

Contacts

Internal Working Relationships

Works cooperatively with Business Development Manager, Strategic Marketing Manager, Museum & Archives Manager, Planning and Transportation Staff as well as departmental and County staff.

External Working Relationships

Involves a high degree of interaction with the public, media, regional, provincial and federal partners, business and industry, municipalities and their economic development officers, economic development and tourism organizations, school boards, post-secondary institutions, indigenous communities, government agencies and other external contacts with whom the County does its business.

Knowledge and Skill

Post-secondary degree in Economic Development, Business Administration or related field combined with a minimum of five years relevant experience is required; preferably in a municipal or public sector setting. Economic Development Certification (Ec.D. or CEcD) or eligibility to obtain is preferred. Strong oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and stakeholder engagement, and the demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks. Excellent Microsoft Office skills, CRM systems, GIS tools, and data visualization platforms. Knowledge of municipal affairs, business development, economic development as well as Grey County socio-economic characteristics and market opportunities. Strong interpersonal skills combined with demonstrated project/time management, organizational, analytical, research, communication (written, oral), report writing, negotiating, administrative, problem solving, and public relations. Ability to think and act strategically in a political and community service environment, maintain confidentiality and to foster and contribute to a positive, productive work environment. Strong understanding of relevant municipal legislation, policies and procedures Strong leadership and team-building skills with experience coaching and motivating staff Experience building and maintaining client relationships; exceptional customer service skills. Requires strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate consistently and effectively with stakeholders to represent the corporation. Valid G driver's license

Impact of Error

Failure to choose the appropriate marketing and advertising vehicles may result in the message about Grey County not reaching the target audience and reducing economic benefits.

Incorrect data obtained from market research may result in missed promotional opportunities, hence loss of revenue and goodwill.

Failure to communicate effectively with economic development and tourism partners may result in a less cohesive and effective approach to marketing promotion and strategy.

Loss of investment opportunities, negative tourism reputation, and missed funding or partnership opportunities.

Errors may affect Council decision-making, public trust, and regional competitiveness.

The performance of staff is key to ensuring support of the economic development process and maximizing benefits. Failure to engage municipal and key stakeholders in project definition and delivery and in obtaining deliverables to support economic activity across the two counties, will waste resources and result in negative economic impacts.



Grey County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and promotes a culture of respect where all team members are valued for their unique talents, knowledge and lived experiences.



Accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process. Applicants are encouraged to outline accommodation needs when submitting their application. If alternate methods of application are required, candidates can email careers@grey.ca.



While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.



Any personal information submitted will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and will be used only to determine eligibility for employment.



Based on the nature of the position, pre-employment screening may be required including but not limited to; Criminal Record Searches, Financial Credit Inquiries; Educational and Credential Verification; Driver's Abstracts; Drug/Alcohol Testing; Pre-Medical Testing and Investigative Employment References.