Raftelis
City of Victorville, CA Economic Development Administrator
Raftelis, Victorville, California, United States, 92394
Overview
The City of Victorville is looking for an energetic dynamic leader to be their next Economic Development Administrator (EDA). The EDA will lead the Economic Development Division which encompasses the City's economic development, homelessness solutions, real estate management and housing services. This is a high-visibility leadership role that requires adaptability, strong executive presence and a passion for championing new development across the City. Reporting directly to the Deputy City Manager, the EDA will serve as a key member of the City's leadership team and oversee complex community-facing programs that are integral to the City\'s future growth.
The EDA will be the single-threaded owner for all economic development efforts throughout the City, serving as the primary representative for economic development activities on the City Manager\'s behalf. The new incumbent will be charged with proactively building relationships with developers, investors and commercial real estate interests with a focus on successfully attracting and securing new retail, dining and entertainment options to the City. The EDA will lead strategic marketing of the City in close collaboration with the Public Information Officer (PIO), including campaigns to promote locally owned businesses across the City as well as special event promotions like the upcoming 100-year anniversary of Route 66. The EDA will also promote the City at relevant regional and national industry events and trade shows with contributions and support from the PIO and the Planning and Building Departments.
The EDA will oversee the City\'s affordable and multi-family housing programs including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program. The EDA will pursue and encourage increased development of new affordable and multi-family housing throughout the City, particularly in the Old Town area. The new administrator will also oversee the City\'s real estate portfolio including maintaining and managing City-owned properties and handling routine property acquisition and disposal. Additionally the EDA will facilitate and promote real estate development opportunities at the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA).
The EDA will also have oversight of the City\'s comprehensive homelessness solutions programs including the 170-bed City-owned Wellness Center. The City contracts with a third-party for Wellness Center management operations and services. The EDA will play an integral role in vendor and contract management for the Wellness Center, ensuring that services provided meet the City\'s needs and expectations. The EDA will foster high-functioning cross-departmental cooperation across the City in relation to the planning and successful execution of existing and new homelessness solutions programs.
Finally the EDA will be responsible for establishing a cohesive collaborative service-oriented culture in the Economic Development Division. The EDA will lead a team of ten dedicated City employees across economic development, housing, real estate management and homelessness solutions. The EDA will provide strategic direction to this group and facilitate cross-functional collaboration both within the Division and across the City.
Priorities
Build Strong Relationships in the City and the Victorville Community: Take deliberate intentional time to learn and understand the dynamics of the City and the Victorville community. Demonstrate skill in building relationships with elected officials, business leaders, community groups, managers, peers and direct reports within the City.
Secure New Development and Drive Revenue Growth: Launch a proactive targeted campaign to bring new retail, dining and entertainment options up the hill from San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This includes serving as the primary representative for the City in all economic development activities, actively building relationships with developers and investors and acting as the dealmaker for new projects that expand the City\'s property and sales tax base.
Establish a Cohesive Economic Development Division: Lead the Division in establishing a collaborative service-oriented culture and defining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all functional areas.
Lead Strategic Marketing and Branding Efforts: Collaborate closely with the Public Information Officer to develop and implement an annual City-wide marketing content plan. Leverage the upcoming 100-year anniversary of Route 66 as a major promotional opportunity and support and enhance existing local business promotion campaigns. Coordinate City presence at key industry events and trade shows throughout the year.
Ensure White Glove Service for New Development: Enhance the City\'s pro-business and pro-development reputation by ensuring developers and investors receive a white glove experience working with the City. When new development opportunities are identified drive critical early-stage coordination with key internal stakeholders in the Planning, Building, Fire and Engineering Departments to ensure developers experience frictionless handoffs as they move through the required reviews and approvals.
Drive Old Town Revitalization Efforts: Prioritize revitalization efforts and new development in the Old Town area to expand affordable and multi-family housing inventory and support community-desired redevelopment.
The Successful Candidate The ideal EDA is an outgoing, energetic, and highly effective leader with a talent for relationship-building, marketing and negotiating complex deals on behalf of the City. The successful candidate has their finger on the pulse of national and regional economic development trends and has demonstrated success applying new development strategies in a local government setting.
The successful candidate will be comfortable leading diverse teams and will naturally embrace challenges as opportunities. They will be a pivotal member of the City\'s leadership team where cross-departmental collaboration is both welcomed and expected and will be committed to working hand in hand with the PIO and Development Departments to achieve the City\'s broader economic development goals.
While direct experience managing homelessness solutions programs is not required, the ideal candidate will have a strong background in contract negotiations and vendor management. Similarly the new EDA must have demonstrated success in driving development of new affordable and multi-family housing stock but may not have deep expertise in managing ongoing housing programs. The successful candidate will understand that new development sometimes requires navigating complex dynamics in the community. The ideal EDA will be skilled at building consensus and ensuring that new development is considered through equitable and transparent review processes.
The successful candidate will be politically and technologically savvy, adaptable and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. They will be comfortable challenging the status quo and will be energized by the prospect of transforming the City\'s current economic development, homelessness solutions, real estate management and housing programs into a strategic proactive full-service Economic Development Division. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic growing community with a high-functioning supportive senior leadership team and City Council.
Qualifications Minimum requirements
include at least five (5) years of increasingly responsible economic development experience, preferably with a local government agency, including at least three (3) years of supervisory and/or management responsibility. A bachelor\'s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration or a closely related field is also required.
Preferred qualifications
include prior experience successfully negotiating complex development agreements, demonstrated expertise in developing and executing organization-wide strategic plans specific to economic development and/or marketing, and practical experience building consensus across community members, elected officials and business leaders for new development in a local government setting.
Inside The Organization The City of Victorville was originally incorporated as a general law city in 1962 and reorganized as a charter city in 2008. The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient implementation of Council policy and effective administration of all City government affairs. The elective officers of the City consist of a City Council of five members, one of which serves as mayor.
The City employs 570 full-time positions and is organized into 17 departments each responsible for managing its own operating budgets together with any assigned special funds or projects. Through these departments the City provides a full range of services including public safety, highways and streets, sanitation, parks and recreation, aviation, municipal utilities (water, electric and gas), public improvements, planning and zoning, community development and general administrative addition to these governmental activities the City Council has legal authority over the City\'s Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, Southern California Logistics Airport Authority, the Victorville Water District and the Victorville Library.
The City organization is focused on achieving the following strategic goals:
Financial Stability: Foster fiscal health through disciplined long-term planning, cost control, increased revenues and cost recovery.
Public Safety: Implement public safety strategies to support a thriving and growing community.
Community and Economic Development: Support the economic vitality and preservation of the community for all its members.
Reduce Homelessness: Implement effective solutions to reduce homelessness.
Invest in Infrastructure: Create a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City\'s assets through investment in infrastructure and innovations.
Community and Outreach: Build strong connections with community partners, residents and employees.
Organizational Effectiveness and Sustainability: Provide high-quality services through a commitment to local government best practices and employee development, support and retention.
The Community Victorville is a growing, vibrant city in Southern California at the high point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, serving as the center of both industry and retail in the High Desert region. It is home to approximately 140,000 residents and some of Victor Valley\'s largest employers. The City is conveniently located within a few hours of Southern California\'s beaches, mountains, lakes and other major attractions, with Ontario International Airport (ONT) approximately 45 miles away.
Victorville was incorporated in 1962 at 10 square miles and a population of approximately 8,110. Today the City sits at 74 square miles with a daytime population that reaches approximately 250,000. The City\'s history predates incorporation by more than 100 years, with its beginning around 1885. A portion of the famous U.S. Route 66 established in 1926 provided a major transportation corridor through Victorville. During World War II Victorville Army Airfield was constructed and after its deactivation was annexed into the City and renamed Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA).
Victorville is the economic engine of the Victor Valley and the largest commercial center between San Bernardino and the Nevada state line. The City boasts 20 parks, a municipal golf course and nearby desert, lake and mountain recreation options. Located at 2875 feet above sea level, the high desert climate provides a taste of all four seasons with hot sunny summers and winters with occasional light snow.
Compensation and Benefits The anticipated hiring range for the new EDA is $154,296 to $187,548 per year based on the candidate\'s experience and qualifications.
The City\'s extensive benefits include the following:
Membership in CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) 2% @ 62 (New Member) or 2.5% @ 55 (Classic Member)
Vacation Time 80 hours per year
Sick Leave 96 hours per year
Holidays 14 days per year
Executive Leave as determined by the City Manager
Health Insurance Allowances $1000 if enrolled in a City-provided medical plan or $400 if waiving City-provided medical benefits
Additional Benefits Expense Subsidy 50% of the total out-of-pocket cost of health insurance up to $1000 per month
City-Paid Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
9/80 work schedule with alternating Fridays off
Additional Benefits Auto Allowance, Cell Phone Allowance, Paid Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Stability Pay, Bilingual Pay and Tuition Reimbursement
How to Apply Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will remain open until filled with a first review of applications beginning November 10, 2025. Early application is encouraged.
Questions Please direct questions to Sarah Slegers, Serena Wright-Black, and Robert Colichio.
RECRUITMENT BROCHURE
Required Experience: Unclear Seniority
Key Skills: Athletics, Academics, Facility Management, Light Bus And Heavy Bus, Data Analysis, AutoCAD 2D
Employment Type: Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1
Monthly Salary: 154296 - 187548
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The EDA will be the single-threaded owner for all economic development efforts throughout the City, serving as the primary representative for economic development activities on the City Manager\'s behalf. The new incumbent will be charged with proactively building relationships with developers, investors and commercial real estate interests with a focus on successfully attracting and securing new retail, dining and entertainment options to the City. The EDA will lead strategic marketing of the City in close collaboration with the Public Information Officer (PIO), including campaigns to promote locally owned businesses across the City as well as special event promotions like the upcoming 100-year anniversary of Route 66. The EDA will also promote the City at relevant regional and national industry events and trade shows with contributions and support from the PIO and the Planning and Building Departments.
The EDA will oversee the City\'s affordable and multi-family housing programs including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program. The EDA will pursue and encourage increased development of new affordable and multi-family housing throughout the City, particularly in the Old Town area. The new administrator will also oversee the City\'s real estate portfolio including maintaining and managing City-owned properties and handling routine property acquisition and disposal. Additionally the EDA will facilitate and promote real estate development opportunities at the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA).
The EDA will also have oversight of the City\'s comprehensive homelessness solutions programs including the 170-bed City-owned Wellness Center. The City contracts with a third-party for Wellness Center management operations and services. The EDA will play an integral role in vendor and contract management for the Wellness Center, ensuring that services provided meet the City\'s needs and expectations. The EDA will foster high-functioning cross-departmental cooperation across the City in relation to the planning and successful execution of existing and new homelessness solutions programs.
Finally the EDA will be responsible for establishing a cohesive collaborative service-oriented culture in the Economic Development Division. The EDA will lead a team of ten dedicated City employees across economic development, housing, real estate management and homelessness solutions. The EDA will provide strategic direction to this group and facilitate cross-functional collaboration both within the Division and across the City.
Priorities
Build Strong Relationships in the City and the Victorville Community: Take deliberate intentional time to learn and understand the dynamics of the City and the Victorville community. Demonstrate skill in building relationships with elected officials, business leaders, community groups, managers, peers and direct reports within the City.
Secure New Development and Drive Revenue Growth: Launch a proactive targeted campaign to bring new retail, dining and entertainment options up the hill from San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This includes serving as the primary representative for the City in all economic development activities, actively building relationships with developers and investors and acting as the dealmaker for new projects that expand the City\'s property and sales tax base.
Establish a Cohesive Economic Development Division: Lead the Division in establishing a collaborative service-oriented culture and defining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all functional areas.
Lead Strategic Marketing and Branding Efforts: Collaborate closely with the Public Information Officer to develop and implement an annual City-wide marketing content plan. Leverage the upcoming 100-year anniversary of Route 66 as a major promotional opportunity and support and enhance existing local business promotion campaigns. Coordinate City presence at key industry events and trade shows throughout the year.
Ensure White Glove Service for New Development: Enhance the City\'s pro-business and pro-development reputation by ensuring developers and investors receive a white glove experience working with the City. When new development opportunities are identified drive critical early-stage coordination with key internal stakeholders in the Planning, Building, Fire and Engineering Departments to ensure developers experience frictionless handoffs as they move through the required reviews and approvals.
Drive Old Town Revitalization Efforts: Prioritize revitalization efforts and new development in the Old Town area to expand affordable and multi-family housing inventory and support community-desired redevelopment.
The Successful Candidate The ideal EDA is an outgoing, energetic, and highly effective leader with a talent for relationship-building, marketing and negotiating complex deals on behalf of the City. The successful candidate has their finger on the pulse of national and regional economic development trends and has demonstrated success applying new development strategies in a local government setting.
The successful candidate will be comfortable leading diverse teams and will naturally embrace challenges as opportunities. They will be a pivotal member of the City\'s leadership team where cross-departmental collaboration is both welcomed and expected and will be committed to working hand in hand with the PIO and Development Departments to achieve the City\'s broader economic development goals.
While direct experience managing homelessness solutions programs is not required, the ideal candidate will have a strong background in contract negotiations and vendor management. Similarly the new EDA must have demonstrated success in driving development of new affordable and multi-family housing stock but may not have deep expertise in managing ongoing housing programs. The successful candidate will understand that new development sometimes requires navigating complex dynamics in the community. The ideal EDA will be skilled at building consensus and ensuring that new development is considered through equitable and transparent review processes.
The successful candidate will be politically and technologically savvy, adaptable and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. They will be comfortable challenging the status quo and will be energized by the prospect of transforming the City\'s current economic development, homelessness solutions, real estate management and housing programs into a strategic proactive full-service Economic Development Division. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic growing community with a high-functioning supportive senior leadership team and City Council.
Qualifications Minimum requirements
include at least five (5) years of increasingly responsible economic development experience, preferably with a local government agency, including at least three (3) years of supervisory and/or management responsibility. A bachelor\'s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration or a closely related field is also required.
Preferred qualifications
include prior experience successfully negotiating complex development agreements, demonstrated expertise in developing and executing organization-wide strategic plans specific to economic development and/or marketing, and practical experience building consensus across community members, elected officials and business leaders for new development in a local government setting.
Inside The Organization The City of Victorville was originally incorporated as a general law city in 1962 and reorganized as a charter city in 2008. The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient implementation of Council policy and effective administration of all City government affairs. The elective officers of the City consist of a City Council of five members, one of which serves as mayor.
The City employs 570 full-time positions and is organized into 17 departments each responsible for managing its own operating budgets together with any assigned special funds or projects. Through these departments the City provides a full range of services including public safety, highways and streets, sanitation, parks and recreation, aviation, municipal utilities (water, electric and gas), public improvements, planning and zoning, community development and general administrative addition to these governmental activities the City Council has legal authority over the City\'s Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, Southern California Logistics Airport Authority, the Victorville Water District and the Victorville Library.
The City organization is focused on achieving the following strategic goals:
Financial Stability: Foster fiscal health through disciplined long-term planning, cost control, increased revenues and cost recovery.
Public Safety: Implement public safety strategies to support a thriving and growing community.
Community and Economic Development: Support the economic vitality and preservation of the community for all its members.
Reduce Homelessness: Implement effective solutions to reduce homelessness.
Invest in Infrastructure: Create a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City\'s assets through investment in infrastructure and innovations.
Community and Outreach: Build strong connections with community partners, residents and employees.
Organizational Effectiveness and Sustainability: Provide high-quality services through a commitment to local government best practices and employee development, support and retention.
The Community Victorville is a growing, vibrant city in Southern California at the high point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, serving as the center of both industry and retail in the High Desert region. It is home to approximately 140,000 residents and some of Victor Valley\'s largest employers. The City is conveniently located within a few hours of Southern California\'s beaches, mountains, lakes and other major attractions, with Ontario International Airport (ONT) approximately 45 miles away.
Victorville was incorporated in 1962 at 10 square miles and a population of approximately 8,110. Today the City sits at 74 square miles with a daytime population that reaches approximately 250,000. The City\'s history predates incorporation by more than 100 years, with its beginning around 1885. A portion of the famous U.S. Route 66 established in 1926 provided a major transportation corridor through Victorville. During World War II Victorville Army Airfield was constructed and after its deactivation was annexed into the City and renamed Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA).
Victorville is the economic engine of the Victor Valley and the largest commercial center between San Bernardino and the Nevada state line. The City boasts 20 parks, a municipal golf course and nearby desert, lake and mountain recreation options. Located at 2875 feet above sea level, the high desert climate provides a taste of all four seasons with hot sunny summers and winters with occasional light snow.
Compensation and Benefits The anticipated hiring range for the new EDA is $154,296 to $187,548 per year based on the candidate\'s experience and qualifications.
The City\'s extensive benefits include the following:
Membership in CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) 2% @ 62 (New Member) or 2.5% @ 55 (Classic Member)
Vacation Time 80 hours per year
Sick Leave 96 hours per year
Holidays 14 days per year
Executive Leave as determined by the City Manager
Health Insurance Allowances $1000 if enrolled in a City-provided medical plan or $400 if waiving City-provided medical benefits
Additional Benefits Expense Subsidy 50% of the total out-of-pocket cost of health insurance up to $1000 per month
City-Paid Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
9/80 work schedule with alternating Fridays off
Additional Benefits Auto Allowance, Cell Phone Allowance, Paid Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Stability Pay, Bilingual Pay and Tuition Reimbursement
How to Apply Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will remain open until filled with a first review of applications beginning November 10, 2025. Early application is encouraged.
Questions Please direct questions to Sarah Slegers, Serena Wright-Black, and Robert Colichio.
RECRUITMENT BROCHURE
Required Experience: Unclear Seniority
Key Skills: Athletics, Academics, Facility Management, Light Bus And Heavy Bus, Data Analysis, AutoCAD 2D
Employment Type: Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1
Monthly Salary: 154296 - 187548
#J-18808-Ljbffr