For information contact:Marla Flentje, Recruitment Advisor

The Austin Peters Group, Inc.Phone 316-250-1344 • Fax 913-851-7529

ECONOMICDEVELOPMENTDIRECTOR

Ap

ril 9, 2018

Recruitment Profile • City of Salem, Missouri

www.salemmo.com

To apply, send one integrated Word or PDF file that highlights preferred qualifications in cover letter, along with resume and

salary history, by May 9 to: mflentje@austinpeters.com.

for commerce and tourism. Four state highways intersect Salem. A short drive north gives businesses two-hour interstate access to St. Louis and Jefferson City to the northeast and Springfield to the southwest.

Master’s Industrial Park hosts six businesses and has room for several more. Lots are available to new businesses in exchange for job creation. Enhanced Enterprise Zone tax benefits also are available.

The Salem School District provides K-12 education at two elementary schools, one middle school and one senior highschool. An average classroom size of 18 students provides a foundation for quality instruction. Graduation rates exceed state averages, and Salem students are frequent winners of academic competitions.

Access to numerous postsecondary institutions is available. Southwest Baptist University offers studies in nursing and liberal arts programs. Nearby, residents may attend programs from Missouri University of Science and Technology, East Central College, Webster University, Drury University, and Rolla Technical Institute.

The abundance of green space in and around Salem including scenic riverways and highways, national forests, lakes, parks and conservation habitats presents innumerable choices for outdoor recreation: canoeing, trout fishing, hiking, wild game hunting, horseback riding and camping.

Other nearby attractions include the Ozark National and Cultural Resource Center, and numerous historic sites and museums. Golf enthusiasts have access to the nine-hole Spring Creek Golf Club. The City is notable for its parks and recreation facilities, which offer swimming, playgrounds, picnicking, youth sports leagues and facilities for festivals.

Leadership OpportunityCity government seeks to recruit an Economic Development Director to serve the community with a collaborative and innovative approach. Salem (population 5,000) is located in the heart of South Central Missouri, and surrounded by spectacular scenic beauty and countless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Local government professionals will find that Salem combines the best features of a small-town, family-friendly way of life with the benefits of a flourishing regional economy and nearby urban amenities. n

The Salem CommunityLocated 25 miles south of Interstate-44, Salem is equidistant from St. Louis and Springfield, enabling easy access to the assets of large urban centers. As the county seat of Dent County, Salem is notable for its iconic Victorian courthouse in the town center. The National Ozarks Scenic Riverways Park, Echo Bluff State Park, and Montauk State Park with their world-renowned trout fishing are a short drive from City limits.

Mining support, food distribution and raw wood products are mainstays of the local economy. Retail business to support the sizeable number of tourists drawn to regional

outdoor activities is also an important sector. Salem is the regional retail hub for residents living south and east of the City.

Good highway options exist

The Salem community

prides itself on strong ties

to family and neighbors,

lively civic involvement

and stewardship of

natural resources.Photo courtesy of The Salem News.

Salem residents have convenient access to quality health care services:

• Localfamilypracticephysicians• TheSalemMemorialDistrictHospital• Choicesfordentists,optometry,chiropracticand

other medical specialties and pharmaciesWhen asked to volunteer most residents say “yes!” Their community allegiance is impossible to miss, evidenced by over 60 volunteer organizations. This astonishing number of organizations contributes to community life in numerous ways including preserving community heritage, hosting celebrations, enabling charitable giving and sponsoring worthy projects. n

City GovernmentSalem is governed by a Mayor and a four-member Board of Aldermen. The Mayor has veto authority but does not vote except in case of a tie. All elected positions are for two years, and there are no term limits. The Mayor and two Alderman seats are up for election in April, 2018.

The City provides a full range of municipal services in addition to economic development including law enforcement, code enforcement, street maintenance, planning and zoning administration, water and wastewater, electric power distribution, parks and recreation, election administration and solid waste. City services are delivered through seven administrative departments.

The City’s 2017-2018 total budget is $12.5 million with budgeted general fund expenditures of $2.7 million. Sales and property taxes are the primary general fund revenue sources. The City levies a local one cent sales tax for general government purposes. The City levies an additional one-half cent sales tax for capital improvements, and also a 3/8 cent sales tax for parks and recreation.

Total assessed valuation for the most recent year is$47,515,607, and the property tax rate is $0.6533 on every$100 of assessed valuation. Among cities in Missouri, Salem’s property tax rate is considered low. At present, the City has no bonded indebtedness.

Salem has 57 full-time employees. Employee benefits include group health insurance provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Employee-only health insurance premiums up to $550 per month per employee are paid by the City. Additional premium cost for employee coverage exceeding $550 per month or family members’ health insurance coverage is paid by the employee.

Employees receive retirement benefits through the Local Area Government Employee Retirement System (LAGERS L-6). Employees contribute four percent of their grosssalary toward retirement and are vested after five years ofemployment. n

Opportunities and ChallengesThe Mayor and Board have identified immediate projects and issues that will require the next Director’s attention and resourcefulness: 1. Recommend strategic priorities. Within the first sixmonths, the new Director should meet with all existingbusinesses to learn their interests, needs, and advice forenhancing the economy. The Director should also solicitadvice from other stakeholders including the SalemChamber of Commerce and Dent County. The Mayor andBoard will seek the Director’s lessons learned and proposalfor the City’s strategic priorities.2. Develop recommendations for a mission, structure,and appointment of an Economic Development AdvisoryBoard. The Mayor and Aldermen recognize a need to focussustained stakeholder advice on how the City can best targetits resources for economic growth. Elected leaders will lookto the next Director to provide expertise and facilitationtoward this end.3. Update and enhance the City’s marketing tools. Thispriority on economic promotion includes refreshing theCity’s demographic and socioeconomic data, and enhancingthe information quality and visual appeal of the City’swebsite and related written materials.

4. Provide collaborative leadership for economicdevelopment partnerships. Salem and its region haveabundant public, nonprofit, and private entities witha primary interest in economic development. All arechallenged with stretching scarce resources in pursuit oftheir common interest in the economy. City governmenthas untapped potential for greater coordination and expectsits Director to provide facilitation to strengthen unity ofpurpose and action.n

Position Duties The City first created the position of Economic Development Director by ordinance in 1997.

The department-level position is appointed by the Mayor, with consent of the Board of Alderman, and supervised day-to-day by the City Administrator. Major duties are:

1. Recommend, and upon approval by the Board ofAldermen, implement an annual program plan for thesustained vitality and expansion of the local economy.

2. Propose, and upon approval by the Board of Aldermen,oversee an annual budget to fund the economicdevelopment plan.

3. Provide leadership for marketing initiatives to promotebusiness and industrial development. Serve as a primarypoint of contact for business development contacts.

4. Maintain regular, interpersonal contact with businessowners to remain current on their needs and interests.

5. Actively cultivate leads to expand local businesses, andrecruit new businesses and industry.

6. Sustain positive relationships with business and civicleaders, and serve as a liaison with state, regional, and localeconomic development partners.

7. Maintain a current profile of Salem and its region as aresource for existing and prospective business and industry.

8. Prepare an annual report on the City’s economicdevelopment program for City and community leaders.Provide quarterly reports of work activity for the Mayorand Board.

9. Advise the Mayor, Board, and City Administrator on Citypolicies, incentives, and infrastructure needs to promoteeconomic development.

10. Attend regional and state learning programs related toeconomic and business development.

11. Participate as a department director in the CityAdministrator’s management team.

An additional expectation of the Economic Development Director is that he or she will establish residency in Salem or another area of Dent County. n

Qualifications A competitive candidate should address these qualifications in a cover letter and resume.

Minimum: 1) evidence of stable employment history and career advancement; 2) unblemished record of ethical conduct; and 3) bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field from an accredited university.

Preferred: 1) experience directing community or economic development in a municipal government setting; 2) master’s degree in business administration or related field from an accredited university; 3) previous personal or professional experience with a rural community; 4) experience in community marketing; and 5) Economic Developer Certification (CEcD) or related credential. n

Compensation The Mayor and Board of Aldermen are committed to providing salary and benefits that are competitive with similar cities in their Missouri region and commensurate with the experience and education of its preferred candidate. The low end of the position’s salary range is $50,000. Benefits to the position may include a technology allowance and automobile for work-related travel.

The City provides employee benefits that include group health insurance and retirement benefits through LAGERS L-6. Other benefits include life insurance, paid vacation,and holiday and sick leave. n

Recruitment Timetable The City hopes to interview candidates in May and make an appointment in June. n

Application ProcessQualified persons invited to apply by May 9, 2018.Please send one integrated Word or PDF file that highlights preferred qualifications in cover letter, along with resume and salary history, to mflentje@austinpeters.com.

For more information contact:Recruitment Advisor

Marla FlentjeThe Austin Peters Group, Inc.

(316) 250-1344

Recruitment Profile developed by The Austin Peters Group, Inc.

Photo courtesy of The Salem News.