Industrial Development Manager (Project Manager) - The Port

The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority (The Port) is seeking an Industrial Development Manager (Project Manager) to assist in strategically assembling land in industrial corridors within Hamilton County to create attractive development sites for manufacturing companies. The Industrial Development Manager will be The Port’s primary point person for due diligence, remediation, demolition, and site work on multiple industrial sites. This position reports directly to the Executive Vice President.

The Organization.  Established in 2000 as the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, The Port is an economic development agency that initiates projects to improve property value and promote job creation throughout Hamilton County. The broad development-related powers granted under Ohio Revised Code 4582, as well as the extensive expertise of staff, allow The Port to take on complex projects that catalyze private investment.

The organization focuses on three key strategies – industrial revitalization, neighborhood revitalization, and public finance. In support of these initiatives, The Port offers partnerships, programs, and services to support the advancement of Hamilton County. The programs and services are available to small businesses, developers, homebuyers, and neighborhood advocates.

The Port is considered a “body corporate and politic” (Chapter 4582 of the Ohio Revised Code) and, for some purposes, a political subdivision. The Port is governed by a ten-member Board of Directors that has authority over all aspects of The Port’s management.

The Port receives its funding from Hamilton County, the City of Cincinnati, and charges for service. The Port’s operating budget for FY2018 was just over $8 million. The organization has 29 staff members and is led by the President and CEO, who reports to the Board of Directors.

Industrial Business Line. The Port’s industrial revitalization strategy includes the identification, evaluation, acquisition, redevelopment, and disposition of largescale industrial assets. This includes identifying sources of capital, solving for regulatory requirements, providing long-term holding and maintenance needs, and community engagement.

The Industrial Team manages the Greater Cincinnati Foreign Trade Zone, Greater Cincinnati Development Corporation, and the Patient Capital Noteholder investors. In addition, staff also support large-scale strategic redevelopments (including 435 Elm and the Millennium Hotel), primarily in physical or structural evaluations or redevelopment, and often provide project management assistance to external partners.

The Ideal Candidate. The Port is seeking an experienced Industrial Development Manager who is collaborative in nature and passionate about providing high-quality services to the community. The ideal candidate is a multi-tasker, has field experience, and demonstrates a high level of ethics and emotional intelligence.

The Manager is a proactive problem-solver who is personable, responsive, and innovative. He or she has strong project and time management skills and a demonstrated aptitude for managing multiple projects and deadlines. The successful candidate is comfortable operating in both the administrative and technical aspects of the position.

The Industrial Development Manager is a keen researcher and adeptly conducts due diligence on potential acquisitions, including title work, survey, environmental considerations, required infrastructure, and necessary site work. He or she is analytical and understands the importance of compliance and works with government agencies to ensure timely approval of all zoning changes, permits, and other compliance matters.

The successful candidate is detailed oriented and experienced in budget and financial management as well as grant administration. He or she is experienced in writing requests for proposals, awarding bids, managing contracts, and can market sites to end-users. The Manager demonstrates sound judgment and effective decision-making and provides thoughtful recommendations to leadership.

The next Industrial Development Manager is a strong communicator who engages successfully with different audiences and is resilient and calm in the face of controversy. This individual has a background in community outreach and is accessible, responsive, and transparent.

Experience and Education.  The minimum qualifications for this position are a bachelor’s degree in business, urban planning, civil engineering, construction engineering, or a closely related field and at least seven years of professional experience in construction and/or project management. Candidates should have familiarity with construction materials, methods, and processes in Ohio and be able to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications and identify discrepancies or conflicts within the documents.

Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree, Project Management Professional Certification (PMP), and ten (10) years of professional experience. Experience with large-scale demolition and environmental remediation and the ability to effectively communicate with construction contractors, engineers, and certified professionals is also preferred.