Community & Economic Development Director – City of Chowchilla – PublicCEO

Report on Job Vacancy: Community & Economic Development Director, City of Chowchilla

Position Overview and Strategic Alignment with SDGs

The City of Chowchilla has announced a recruitment for the senior executive position of Community & Economic Development Director. The role reports directly to the City Administrator and is pivotal in steering the city’s development strategy. The Director will be instrumental in advancing the city’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in fostering economic prosperity and building resilient, sustainable communities.

This position is tasked with overseeing the development of significant land assets at the intersection of major transportation corridors. The core objective is to create a coordinated, city-wide economic development strategy that aligns with principles of sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term growth, directly contributing to several key SDGs.

Core Responsibilities and Contribution to Sustainable Development

The Director will manage a comprehensive portfolio of duties that directly support the achievement of specific Sustainable Development Goals:

• Economic Growth and Infrastructure (SDG 8 & SDG 9): Plan, organize, and direct the city’s community and economic development programs. This includes managing the development of industrial and commercial land to foster decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and build resilient infrastructure and promote sustainable industrialization (SDG 9).
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11):
  • Lead the downtown renovation program and address growing housing demands, contributing to inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban development (SDG 11.1, SDG 11.3).
  • Manage critical municipal functions including permit processing, planning, building plan checks, code enforcement, and development engineering.
  • Oversee historic preservation efforts, directly supporting the goal to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural heritage (SDG 11.4).
• Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17):
  • Act as the primary city representative in economic development matters, negotiating agreements with developers for commercial and industrial projects.
  • Serve as a liaison with local, state, and federal economic development agencies to build effective public partnerships.
  • Chair inter-departmental committees to ensure a coordinated response to development needs.

The incumbent will also serve as the Executive Director of the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, acting with a high degree of independence to achieve policy objectives and deliver measurable outcomes.

Ideal Candidate Profile: Driving Sustainable Growth

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished professional capable of leading initiatives that promote sustainable urban living and economic vitality. Key attributes include:

• A proven background in business retention and expansion, real estate, and downtown revitalization, with a focus on placemaking and promoting the local economy in line with SDG 8 and SDG 11.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build collaborative and sustainable relationships with the City Council, community groups, developers, and other stakeholders, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• The ability to be politically astute yet apolitical, delivering measurable results that enhance the community’s social and economic fabric.

Qualifications and Prerequisites

1. Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, urban planning, economics, or a related field is required. A master’s degree is desirable.
2. Experience: A minimum of three years of increasingly responsible managerial-level experience in economic/business development and municipal services.
3. License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record.

Compensation and Benefits Package

• Salary: $134,700.80 to $172,411.20 per year, dependent upon qualifications.
• Work Schedule: 9/80 work week.
• Retirement: CalPERS 2%@60 Plan for “Classic” Employees or 2%@62 for “New” employees, per PEPRA. The City does not participate in Social Security.
• Insurance: Health, dental, and vision insurance options with a shared cost. A health allowance is available for those with other coverage. Life insurance of $100,000 is provided. Pet insurance is also available.
• Leave: 280 hours of annual executive leave, 12 days of annual sick leave, and 13 paid holidays per year (11 fixed, 2 floating).
• Other Benefits: Longevity pay, deferred compensation (457 Plan), and potential for education incentive pay.

Application Procedure and Commitment to Equality

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of five work-related references. The application deadline is Friday, September 5, 2025.

• Submission Email: HR@cityofchowchill.org

The City of Chowchilla is an Equal Opportunity / ADA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, sex, or age. This commitment aligns with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by ensuring fair and inclusive recruitment processes.

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article is a job posting for a “Community & Economic Development Director” whose primary role is to foster economic growth. The position focuses on “industrial/commercial development,” “business support,” “retention and expansion,” and promoting the “local economy.” The job itself offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, which aligns with the “decent work” aspect of this goal.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The role involves overseeing the “industrial/commercial development of hundreds of acres of land” and managing “developmental agreements for commercial and industrial projects.” This directly relates to building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article explicitly states a non-discrimination policy: “The City of Chowchilla does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, sex or age…” and identifies the city as an “Equal Opportunity / ADA Employer.” This commitment directly supports the goal of reducing inequalities and ensuring equal opportunity for all.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  A significant portion of the director’s responsibilities involves making the city more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This includes leading a “downtown renovation program,” addressing “growing housing demands,” managing “historic preservation,” and overseeing city “planning, building plan checking and inspections.”

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The position requires extensive collaboration. The director must act as a “liaison with local, state and federal economic development agencies” and work in “collaboration with other key regional economic development and city planning stakeholders,” which is the essence of building partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.

Specific Targets Identified

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The entire role is designed to achieve this by creating a “coordinated and planned economic development strategy” that includes “business support” and “existing business expansion.”
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… The job posting itself represents the creation of a decent work opportunity, with a stated salary range, a 9/80 work week, and benefits like “CalPERS” retirement, “Health, Dental and Vision Insurance,” and paid leave.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization. The responsibility to “oversee the industrial/commercial development of hundreds of acres of land” directly contributes to this target by expanding the city’s industrial base.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. The article’s statement that the “City of Chowchilla does not discriminate” and is an “Equal Opportunity / ADA Employer” is a direct implementation of this target.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing. The ideal candidate is expected to “focus on a growing housing demands in the city.”
   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The role involves managing “permit processing, planning, building plan checking,” and leading the “downtown renovation program,” all of which are core activities for sustainable urban planning.
   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. This is directly addressed through the duty of managing “historic preservation.”

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The director is expected to serve as a “liaison with local, state and federal agencies” and work in “collaboration with other key regional economic development and city planning stakeholders.”

Implied Indicators for Progress

1. For SDG 8 & 9:

   • Number of acres of land developed for commercial and industrial use.
   • Number of developmental agreements negotiated and finalized.
   • Metrics related to business retention and expansion (e.g., number of businesses retained, new jobs created by existing businesses).
   • Creation of full-time, high-paying jobs with comprehensive benefits packages.

2. For SDG 10:

   • The existence and enforcement of a formal non-discrimination policy.
   • Maintenance of the “Equal Opportunity / ADA Employer” status.

3. For SDG 11:

   • Progress and completion of the “downtown renovation program.”
   • Policies developed or actions taken to address “growing housing demands.”
   • Number of sites or properties managed under the “historic preservation” program.
   • Efficient management of the city’s planning and permit processing system.

4. For SDG 17:

   • Number of meetings attended with local, state, and federal agencies.
   • Establishment of committees and collaborative projects with regional stakeholders.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: publicceo.com