Economic Development Specialist

Location Type: On-site

Industry: Community Development; CD EconDevelopment

Company: City of Bellevue, WA

Salary : $90,045.00 – $124,303.50 Annually
Location : Bellevue, WA
Job Type: Regular
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 25-00078
Department: Community Development
Division: CD EconDevelopment
Opening Date: 02/24/2025
Closing Date: 3/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the “Hiring Process” section below to learn more.
Job Summary
Bellevue is a city transforming. As Seattle’s largest neighbor, we are a welcoming, multicultural, innovation-focused community that attracts technology pioneers, outdoor enthusiasts, and pragmatists from around the world. A truly international community, 42% of Bellevuers are foreign born. Major employers including Amazon, T-Mobile, The Pokémon Company, , and SAP Concur attract an international talent pool enriching our community and providing our economy with a global edge.

In the coming years the city will add more than 30,000 jobs and our first light rail line connection to Seattle, marking important milestones for our region. As the city grows, our workers, visitors, and residents are seeking more walkable neighborhoods, community-building experiences, and high-quality spaces. As part of the Cultural and Economic Development division (CED), the Economic Development Specialist will help us build meaningful relationships with our businesses across all sizes, geographies and industries to understand the challenges and opportunities of our businesses and collaborate on developing solutions that help our businesses thrive.

Working under general direction from the Business Development Manager, you’ll support business retention and expansion outreach efforts including scheduling visits to local companies and small businesses, meeting with company executives and small business owners, conducting interviews and focus groups, recording and analyzing feedback and data, and creating recommendations for program and policy development. Additionally, this position will serve as an internal subject matter expert on internal cross functional project teams.

Ideal candidates have strong skills in stakeholder engagement, project management, customer service, data analysis, public policy, and a spirit of creativity. We’re looking for an enthusiastic self-starter who can provide exceptional customer service and is detailed oriented in synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information for program and policy recommendations. Join us in building a diverse, resilient, and creative community in the heart of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Consider applying here, if you want to:

• Enjoy building meaningful connections with the business community.
• Collaborate with an innovative and solution-oriented team.
• Create programs that are on the leading edge for economic diversification , creative economy support and business retention
• Grow your skills in public sector economic development work.
• Attract new businesses into Bellevue

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Essential functions will include but are not limited to:

• Research and schedule visits with local companies and support business attraction efforts
• Support the 2025 update to Bellevue’s Economic Development Plan
• Conduct strategic interviews and focus groups
• Support & promote employer engagement in workforce development programming
• Formulate and implement business communication strategies
• Compile information and data to analyze for trends and opportunities
• Analyze and formulate recommendations for programs and policies including upcoming planning efforts and existing codes / policy and

• Coordinate with internal and external partners to achieve program development goals and resolve business issues
• Administer contracts with external business service providers
• Implement strategies within the Economic Development plan by coordinating interdepartmentally to recommend administrative process improvements, as well as policy, regulatory and code changes that remove barriers for small businesses and retail establishments.
• Make persuasive and informative public presentations to a variety of audiences including recommendations to leadership

• Facilitate connection that increases and encourages engagement in collaborative cultural and economic development work.
• Researches, develops, and recommends improvements to existing policies, processes, and procedures as well as outward facing marketing materials.

Qualifications
Education and Experience

• Three to five years of professionally related job experience.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a relevant degree.
• Familiarity with Office, Teams, Salesforce, Survey Monkey, and other digital tools.
• PMP, PgMP, ACP, Scrum Master, or similar certification is a plus.
• Fluency in languages prevalent in Bellevue or its top foreign markets such as Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish and/or another language is highly desirable.

Knowledge, skills, and competencies

• Customer Focus: We are focused on the needs of the customer, and on developing strong relationships with our customers.

• Business Insight: Uses knowledge of business drivers and how strategies and tactics play out in the market to guide actions

• Instills Trust: Through authenticity, integrity and honesty, we gain the trust and respect of all of those with whom we work.

• Communicates Effectively: We understand the need to develop multimode forms of communication to engage diverse audiences including co-workers, elected officials, and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds

• Cultivates Innovation: We are focused on generating new and creative ways for our organization to be successful.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization

• Ensures Accountability: Establishes explicit performance standards and feedback mechanisms
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies

Supplemental Information
Flexible/Hybrid Working:A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to department’s operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.
HIRING PROCESS
The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue, you’ll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. You’ll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It’s what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.
** Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.**
The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value!

Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law.

The following summary applies to fully benefited positions:
Medical
Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the City’s self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO).
Dental
Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers.
Vision
Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage.

Retirement Plans – Employees are offered three retirement plans:

• Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility.
• City of Bellevue Municipal Employee’s Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule.
• Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options.

Other benefits include:
More detailed information about our employee benefits is available at

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Survivor Income
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month)
• An ORCA Card bus pass
• On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options
• Career development and training programs
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Paydays – The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year).

Please note that the City does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program, and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan. Any social security benefits earned at other places of employment may be reduced because they are subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset.

NOTE: This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the City’s non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
01

Do you have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, finance, project management, engineering, urban planning or related field?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have three or more years of professionally related experience?

• Yes
• No

03

Please describe how you would approach translating feedback from a local business into meaningful city process improvements either related to land use code, permitting and licensing, policy, or another relevant subject matter area. Feel free to include specific experiences in your response.
04

Are you fluent in any of the prevalent languages in Bellevue (Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi, Russian or Spanish)? If so, please let us know which language.
05

Do you have any of the following certifications (PMP, PgMP, ACP, Scrum Master)? If yes, please say which.
Required Question