BIDA Executive Director

JOB DESCRIPTION

CONTRACT POSITION:            Executive Director

ORGANIZATION:                     College Park Business and Industrial Development Authority

SALARY RANGE:                      $90,000 to $120,000

FLSA STATUS:                         Exempt

 

Position Overview

 

This position is established by the College Park Business and Industrial Development Authority (BIDA), a public authority of the State of Georgia created by local constitutional amendment. This is not a position with the City of College Park. The selected individual will serve under contract with BIDA, report directly to BIDA’s seven (7)-member Board of Directors, and serve at the pleasure of the Board.

 

The College Park Business and Industrial Development Authority (“BIDA” or “Authority”) is seeking a highly qualified Executive Director to serve as the Authority’s chief administrative officer and provide executive leadership for BIDA’s economic development, redevelopment, financing, and reinvestment activities.

 

The Executive Director is responsible for advancing BIDA’s economic development and reinvestment initiatives, as directed by the Board, through the exercise of the Authority’s financing, development, and partnership powers to facilitate investment, support redevelopment, and expand economic opportunity within the City of College Park. The position requires sound executive judgment, strong public-sector experience, and the ability to manage programs involving public funds, enforceable agreements, redevelopment initiatives, and public-private partnerships.

 

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Executive Director will maintain a collaborative and coordinated working relationship with City leadership, the City’s Economic Development Department, and related staff to support alignment of development strategy, project implementation, and stakeholder engagement, while remaining accountable to the BIDA Board of Directors.

 

About BIDA

 

The College Park Business and Industrial Development Authority is a long-standing public authority of the State of Georgia, created by local constitutional amendment in 1980 to promote economic development within the City of College Park. For more than four decades, BIDA has served as a public-purpose development authority focused on trade, commerce, industry, employment opportunities, redevelopment, reinvestment, and the general welfare of the community.

 

BIDA owns and manages significant real property assets within College Park, including developed and undeveloped properties. Through its charter and governing authority, BIDA is empowered to acquire and dispose of property, enter into contracts and leases, structure financing and incentive programs, issue revenue bonds, accept grants and funding, and employ professional staff and advisors to carry out its public mission.

 

Mission and Role

 

As a constitutionally established development authority of the State of Georgia, BIDA performs an essential governmental function in advancing the public welfare of the City of College Park. Through its mandate, BIDA promotes trade, commerce, industry, employment opportunities, and redevelopment, while addressing blight, underutilization, and economic stagnation to support long-term economic stability and growth.

 

To fulfill this mission, BIDA is vested with broad powers, including the power to:

·         Acquire, develop, manage, and dispose of real and personal property;

·         Structure and administer financing and incentive programs;

·         Enter into contracts, leases, and public-private partnerships;

·         Enter into agreements with the City, the State, and other governmental entities;

·         Borrow funds and issue revenue bonds to support development initiatives;

·         Accept grants and other public or private funding; and

·         Employ professional staff and advisors necessary to carry out its purpose.

Through the disciplined and responsible use of these powers, BIDA serves as a key economic development partner, working in coordination with the City and other stakeholders to facilitate impactful projects, promote reinvestment, and strengthen the City’s economic foundation. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, and execution of the Authority’s mission and programs.

BIDA Governance

 

BIDA is governed by a seven (7)-member Board of Directors. Five (5) members are citizen appointees appointed by the City’s governing authority, and two (2) members are elected officials of the City of College Park. The Board establishes policy direction, approves projects, and oversees Authority operations in support of BIDA’s public mission and coordinated economic development priorities.

 

The Board establishes policy direction, approves projects, and oversees Authority operations in furtherance of BIDA’s public mission and coordinated economic development priorities. 

 

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

·         Develop and implement long-range and annual strategic plans consistent with BIDA’s mission and Board directives.

·         Identify, design, and administer economic development, redevelopment, reinvestment, and public-private partnership initiatives.

·         Ensure BIDA programs are policy-driven, transparent, and defensible as serving valid public purposes.

Financing and Incentive Programs

·         Administer BIDA financing, loan, and incentive programs in accordance with Board-approved policies and program requirements.

·         Advise on underwriting, collateral management, compliance monitoring, and performance verification.

·         Ensure financing and incentive transactions are properly documented, lawfully structured, appropriately secured where required, and consistent with Board directives.

Board Governance and Support

·         Serve as the principal professional advisor to the BIDA Board of Directors.

·         Prepare agendas, staff reports, resolutions, policy recommendations, and supporting materials.

·         Implement Board-approved actions faithfully and accurately.

·         Maintain a clear distinction between Board governance and executive administration.

Legal, Constitutional, and Policy Compliance

·         Ensure BIDA activities comply with its constitutional charter, bylaws, resolutions, policies, and applicable law.

·         Work closely with Authority legal counsel to manage legal risk, maintain defensible legislative records, and support constitutional compliance.

·         Support compliance with Georgia open meetings and open records requirements.

Financial Management and Fiduciary Responsibility

·         Oversee preparation and administration of BIDA’s budget.

·         Support proper accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, and audit readiness.

·         Safeguard public funds through prudent financial management and oversight.

·         Coordinate audits and respond to audit findings or recommendations.

Economic Development and Redevelopment Activities

·         Identify and pursue redevelopment opportunities consistent with Board priorities.

·         Engage developers, property owners, lenders, investors, and public-sector partners.

·         Negotiate development agreements, incentives, and financing arrangements, subject to Board approval.

·         Coordinate redevelopment initiatives with the City of College Park while preserving BIDA’s separate authority and Board-directed mission.

Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Relations

·         Serve as BIDA’s principal liaison with City officials and staff, other public authorities, state and regional economic development organizations, community stakeholders, and business partners.

·         Maintain a collaborative and coordinated working relationship with the City’s Economic Development Department and related staff.

·         Represent BIDA in a professional, credible, and non-political manner.

Transparency, Public Accountability, and Communications

·         Promote public understanding of BIDA’s role, authority, and programs.

·         Ensure BIDA activities are conducted transparently and documented appropriately.

·         Support public communications and outreach related to economic development initiatives.

·         Respond professionally to public inquiry and scrutiny. 

Staff and Operational Management

·         Supervise Authority staff, consultants, and professional advisors, if any.

·         Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.

·         Ensure efficient, ethical, and professional administration of Authority operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·         Strong understanding of development authority powers and limitations.

·         Knowledge of economic development, redevelopment, public finance, and incentive structures.

·         Ability to evaluate projects for public benefit, financial feasibility, legal compliance, and risk.

·         Ability to manage complex projects involving public boards, private partners, public funds, and regulatory requirements.

·         Strong written and oral communication skills.

·         High degree of professional judgment, integrity, discretion, and political sensitivity.

·         Ability to work collaboratively with public officials, staff, developers, lenders, and community stakeholders.

Qualifications

·         Bachelor’s degree in public administration, finance, economics, law, urban planning, business administration, or a closely related field.

·         Advanced degree (JD, MPA, MBA, or equivalent) strongly preferred.

·         Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, redevelopment, real estate development, public finance, incentives, development authority operations, or a public-sector or quasi-public environment.

·         Demonstrated experience working with public boards, public funds, budgeting, accounting, or relevant legal and regulatory frameworks preferred.

Preferred Competencies

·         Experience administering public-sector bond financing or economic development incentive programs.

·         Experience with redevelopment or blight-reduction initiatives.

·         Familiarity with Georgia development authority law, zoning, land use, or public finance.

·         Ability to manage politically sensitive issues while remaining non-partisan, professional, and policy-focused.

Supplemental Information

Compensation and contractual terms will be set by the BIDA Board of Directors and formalized through a written agreement.

 

The selected candidate will operate in a high-responsibility, public-facing environment involving public investment, redevelopment projects, financing tools, public accountability, and coordination with multiple stakeholders. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.

 

Application

 

Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:

·         A cover letter addressed to the BIDA Board of Directors expressing interest in the position;

·         A resume or curriculum vitae outlining qualifications and relevant experience; and

·         A list of professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

 

All application materials must be submitted electronically to the City of College Park Human Resources Director, Attention: BIDA c/o Christa Gilbert at christa.gilbert@collegeparkga.gov. Submissions shall include the subject line: Application – BIDA Executive Director Position. No phone inquiries, please.

 

Only applicants selected for further consideration will be contacted.

 

Equal Opportunity Statement

 

The College Park Business and Industrial Development Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.