ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Salary : $84,884.80 - $127,296.00 Annually
Location : Surprise, AZ
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 27-00100
Department: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Opening Date: 10/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/26/2026 11:59 PM Arizona

SUMMARY
The Economic Development (ED) Coordinator supports the daily operations, programming, and customer experience of Spark Surprise, the City of Surprise's entrepreneurship, small business, and workforce development hub. The Spark Surprise-based ED Coordinator serves as a primary point of contact for businesses, entrepreneurs, job seekers, partners, and visitors; coordinates programs, events, workforce initiatives, and facility operations; supports business retention and expansion activities; and connects customers with City and regional resources. The position requires exceptional customer service, initiative, organization, relationship-building and follow-through to help ensure Spark Surprise remains a welcoming, responsive and highly visible resource for the Surprise business community. Incumbents must have the ability and willingness to travel occasionally and work outside of normal business hours as needed to meet the needs of the position.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, economic development, communications, hospitality, marketing, event management, or a related field, and three or more years of progressively responsible experience in customer-facing service, business assistance, economic development, small business or entrepreneurship support, program coordination, event management, hospitality, community engagement, or a related area; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Additional education cannot be substituted for experience.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
None.

SELECTION PROCESS
Applicants whose education, training, and experience most closely meet the needs of the position may be invited to participate in a selection process to include a panel interview.

Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include:

• Fingerprinting
• Criminal Background screening
• Education and Experience Verification
• E-Verify

To view the full job description, including work environment and physical demands, click
01

I understand all criminal convictions (felonies and/or misdemeanors including DUIs) that occurred as an adult (age 18 or older) must be disclosed when answering Question 7 and disclosed in full detail in Question 8 in the Agency-Wide Questions section of this application. I also understand my failure to disclose a conviction as outlined in Question 8 may be grounds for elimination of further consideration and/or a job offer to be rescinded.

• I acknowledge the above statement.

02

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

• Yes
• No

03

Are you currently employed by the City of Surprise?

• Yes
• No

04

Select the option that applies to your highest level of education completed:

• Master's Degree, or higher in business administration, public administration, economic development, communications, hospitality, marketing, event management, or a related field
• Bachelor's Degree in business administration, public administration, economic development, communications, hospitality, marketing, event management, or a related field
• Associate's Degree
• High School diploma or G.E.D. awarded
• None of the above

05

How many years of progressively responsible experience in customer-facing service, business assistance, economic development, small business or entrepreneurship support, program coordination, event management, hospitality, community engagement, or a related area do you possess?

• 7 years or more
• 5 years to less than 7 years
• 3 years to less than 5 years
• Less than 3 years
• None of the above

06

I understand this position serves as a primary, frontline representative of Spark Surprise and is expected to work in person at Spark Surprise during established business hours to assist walk-in customers, support daily facility operations, and coordinate programs and events. This is not a remote or primarily virtual position. Occasional evening or weekend work may also be required for events and programs.

• I acknowledge and understand the above statement

07

Please describe your experience starting, owning or operating a business and/or directly assisting entrepreneurs or small businesses with starting, operating, growing or overcoming business challenges. Please describe your role, the type of assistance you provided and, where applicable, the outcome(s).
08

Please describe your experience working in a highly customer-facing environment. Who were the customers or clients you served, what types of needs or requests did you regularly address, and how did you help create a positive customer experience?
09

Please indicate the types of programs or events you have personally helped plan, coordinate or deliver. Select all that apply:

• Workshops or educational programs
• Job fairs or workforce events
• Networking or business events
• Community events
• Ribbon cuttings, grand openings or business celebrations
• Meetings or events involving multiple partner organizations
• Facility/meeting-room scheduling and coordination
• Other
• I do not have direct experience in these areas

10

If you personally helped plan, coordinate, or deliver any of the types of programs or events listed in the question above, please briefly describe your level of responsibility. If you have no direct experience in these areas, enter N/A.
11

Spark Surprise is designed to be a welcoming resource where entrepreneurs, small businesses, job seekers, employers and community partners can connect with programs, people and resources that help them succeed. What interests you most about serving in this type of highly visible, community-facing role?
Required Question