Existing Business Consultant

Purpose

This position is responsible for creating jobs by helping existing Memphis companies grow and expand by connecting them to resources and information.

The successful candidate must be able to: 

• Establish and maintain relationships with businesses throughout the Memphis region.
• Identify opportunities that exist to assist businesses interested in growth and expansion.
• Lead efforts to address issues/concerns that may prevent businesses from surviving or expanding.
• Serve as a resource for local government coordination and will develop and maintain appropriate databases to support Economic Development activities as needed.
• Ability to multitask and work effectively as part of a cross-functional team.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary point of contact for business retention and expansion outreach.
• Conduct existing industry visits to discuss potential expansions, gather feedback on any issues a company may be facing that are hindering growth, and learn about challenges they face such as workforce readiness.
• Develop strong community relationships by meeting with economic development stakeholders such as EDGE, Greater Memphis Workforce Development, the Tennessee Valley Authority and other local economic development organizations, county and municipal mayors, small business and entrepreneurship partners, universities and community colleges, and other community based economic development partners so that they can assist with business growth and expansion in the region.
• Identify potential sites and/or buildings, coordinate and/or write RFI responses, coordinate and participate in site visits, coordinate incentive applications, and deliver incentive letters, as well as assisting with other activities for companies seeking relocation to the region or expansion.
• Explain all incentive programs available to companies relocating or expanding in Tennessee including federal, state, and local incentive programs such as tax abatements, grants, or workforce programs.
• Be knowledgeable and provide support of programs such as International Trade, Federal Grant Programs, LaunchTN, and other initiatives as they are introduced.

Other Functions

• Identify targeted businesses to visit, scheduling of company visits, identification of business assistance needs, and execution of full scope of services needed for assistance, utilizing a customer relationship management system to track visits and business trends. This includes:

1. 1. Conducting a minimum of fifteen company consultations per month.
   2. Setting and attending weekly company appointments.
   3. Visiting a minimum of fifteen companies per month.
   4. Managing and achieving required key performing indicators (KPI) goals quarterly.
   5. Reporting quarterly the total companies visited, contact person, results, and next steps.

• Responsible for helping launch industry-specific advisory groups to develop competitiveness agendas to drive key sectors forward.
• Assist with coordination of these meetings, communications to stakeholders and updates to internal partners about agenda priorities. This includes:

1. 1. Targeting a unique sector per quarter.
   2. Arranging and coordinating industry council meetings.
   3. Presenting the Existing Business Services to the industry.

• Manage existing business projects from start to finish, facilitate all required meetings and events during visits, as well as follow up.

• Coordinate all aspects of retention and expansion projects with various government agencies, areas businesses, educational institutions and utilities as needed. Stay up to date on the industry trends and news as it pertains to assigned target industries.

• Serve as a resource to Membership staff and other divisions of the Chamber regarding business needs and assistance provided by the Economic Development division.
• May also collaborate with other staff members on marketing projects.
• Must perform other related duties as assigned or required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.  Prior work experience in economic development and/or sales preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A versatile self-starter that can execute high-level research strategies while analyzing and translating data into actionable insights.
• Proficient in client management software, including CRM.
• Strong skills with MS Office products, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Project management skills and detail oriented.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English.

Environmental Requirements

• Most work is conducted in a typical indoor office environment. 
• The position may require work on some nights and weekends. 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is: 

• Frequently required to sit, talk, and hear. 
• Occasionally required to walk. 
• Extensively uses hands and fingers to feel, manage, or operate objects, tools, or controls. 
• Constantly reaches with hands and arms. 
• Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to thirty pounds. 
• Extensively uses close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.