Business Development Manager (Economic Development Manager)

Salary : $70,486.56 - $118,089.57 Annually
Location : City of Norfolk, Norfolk, VA
Job Type: Unclassified
Job Number: 14328
Department: Development
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/25/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Description
The Department of Economic Development is seeking a knowledgeable and experienced professional in economic development or a closely related field to serve as the Business Development Manager (BDM), a key member of our Business Development team. The BDM will support business retention and expansion (BRE) efforts and business attraction strategies designed to strengthen Norfolk's economic competitiveness. This role will generate business investment interest in Norfolk from both existing companies and out-of-market prospects; pursue strategic attraction and expansion opportunities in high-value, targeted industry sectors that diversify the city's business base; support the growth of quality jobs for Norfolk residents; and enhance the city's fiscal position through increased net revenue.

Working collaboratively with the Business Development team, the BDM will support BRE and attraction programming, identify market and industry growth opportunities, assess and fill available real estate options within the city, and contribute to improving Norfolk's business climate and its competitive position within the region.

Departmental Hiring Salary Range: $70,486.56 - $80,884.94

Essential Functions

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Contributes to developing industry targets and participates in strategic planning.
• In collaboration with the lead Business Development Manager, leadership, and staff, the BDM will work to implement business programs aimed at targeted geographies, industries and businesses, driving new and existing business investment.
• Develops new business prospects leads for new and existing businesses considering expansion in the Norfolk market.
• Responds to internally generated and externally, partner-referred, prospect leads.
• Starts and nurtures prospect business relationships, providing information, resolving problems, and forming long-lasting professional relationships.
• Prepares and delivers responses to Requests for Information (RFI's) and follows-up through the appropriate channels.
• Prepares project pro-forma revenue calculations, identifies capacity for revenue sharing and assists in negotiating performance-based incentives if necessary to close on a project.
• Prepares City and Economic Development Authority paperwork, edits contracts and otherwise readies projects for approval.
• Supports the existing business community by listing their needs and removing barriers to business expansion and business retention.
• Supports new businesses by facilitating interactions between prospects and city departments, assisting in navigating city processes crucial to their establishing a presence in Norfolk.
• Coordinates a prospect businesses' successful landing in Norfolk through start of operations and by offering aftercare services to ensure long term business retention.
• Perform other duties as assigned; executes retention, expansion and business attraction related duties as needed and based on market conditions.

Education/Experience
Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent; or equivalent in number of years of related professional or military experience
Three years' experience in a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Additional Preferred Experience:

• Five years of economic development, marketing, and/or business development experience.
• Considerable executive level interaction and marketing experience in an economic development office or corporate business environment.

Preferred, not required training:
Completion of economic development courses, certificates, or training related to the economic development field.
Additional Information & Requirements

• A valid Virginia's driver's license and ability to obtain a passport (required)
• Domestic/international travel will be required as needed

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
  
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
  
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
  
• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01

Thank you for applying! Please answer the supplemental questions below. Please note: not having experience in a particular area will not automatically disqualify you. The Economic Development Department welcomes diverse candidates with varied backgrounds that can help achieve the goals of our Business Retention & Expansion Program. Please share all related experience.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

03

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
04

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
05

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• Less than High School Diploma/GED
• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Vocational/Technical Degree
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher

06

Do you have experience working in the economic development field?

• Yes
• No, but I have related experience
• No, I do not have experience in this area

07

If yes, or if you have related experience, please briefly describe your experience working in economic development or a related field that supports existing businesses within a community, including how many years of experience you have in each area mentioned or related experience. If no, type N/A.
08

Do you have experience building and managing a prospect / project new business pipeline?

• Yes
• No, but I have related experience
• No, I do not have experience in this area

09

If yes, or if you have related experience, please briefly describe your experience, including how many years of experience you have in each area mentioned or related experience. If no experience, type N/A.
10

Do you have experience interacting with city departments with regard to processes related to physical construction and other local issues (e.g., working with city staff on issues such as public land, leases, business parks, transportation, permitting, site plan, zoning, etc.)

• Yes
• No, but I have related experience
• No, I do not have experience in this area

11

If yes, or if you have related experience, please briefly describe your experience, including how many years of experience you have in each area mentioned or related experience. If no experience, type N/A.
12

Do you have experience collaborating with partners outside of your organization and stakeholders, vendors and government agencies.

• Yes
• No, but I have related experience
• No, I do not have experience in this area

13

If yes, or if you have related experience, please briefly describe your experience, including how many years of experience you have in each area mentioned or related experience. If no experience, type N/A.
14

Do you have experience structuring and negotiating economic development or other business deals?

• Yes
• No, but I have related experience
• No, I do not have experience in this area

15

If yes, or if you have related experience, please briefly describe your experience, including how many years of experience you have in each area mentioned or related experience. If no experience, type N/A.
16

Have you completed any economic development academic or professional association coursework, certificates, including training related to the economic development field or subspecialties, such as: (IEDC, BREI, or NDC, training courses and/or credentials: CEcD, BREC, BREP, EDFP, CWDP, etc.)

• Yes
• No, but I have related training
• No, I do not have trainings in these areas

17

If yes, or if you have related training, please briefly describe any training courses or certificates you have obtained. If none, please type N/A.
18

Can you please briefly describe your approach to building relationships with existing businesses (or existing customers), communicating appreciation, and encouraging additional investment within the community (or sales)? If no experience, type N/A.
19

Do you have any additional experience or training that you feel would make you effective in this position?

• Yes
• No

20

If yes, or if you have related experience, please describe your experience. If none, type N/A.
21

Please indicate your level of experience working in a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database to support the client's needs.

• No experience
• Novice (limited experience)
• Intermediate (practical experience)
• Expert (extensive experience and training)

22

What CRM system have you worked with in a previous position if any?

• None
• Hub Spot
• Salesforce
• Oracle
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Propertyware
• Other

23

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran
• I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question