Economic Development Analyst

Position Summary/Purpose: This part-time position provides research, data analysis, communications, and administrative support to the Old Lyme Economic Development Commission (EDC). The Analyst supports the implementation of the Old Lyme EDC Strategic Plan and the EDC’s mission to encourage economic investment, revitalize existing businesses, attract new commerce and cultural opportunities consistent with the community's character, and contribute to a diversified economic base that benefits residents, businesses, and visitors. The Analyst works under the general direction of the EDC Chair, in coordination with the First Selectman’s Office. Essential Functions/Duties: Tracks progress against the Old Lyme EDC Strategic Plan and prepares periodic implementation updates for the Commission, including indicators, milestones, and recommended adjustments. Researches and analyzes economic, demographic, real estate, tourism, and business data relevant to Old Lyme and the region; prepares written summaries, charts, and presentations for EDC review. Identifies and tracks grant and funding opportunities relevant to the Town’s economic development goals (including Advance CT, DECD, Connecticut Green Bank C-PACE, and similar programs); assists the Commission with selected applications as directed. Assists EDC chair and commissioners with meeting preparation, i.e., pre-meeting reminders on task commitments and agenda preparation; attend EDC meetings as required. Maintains current inventory of commercial properties, available sites, new businesses inquiring about coming to town, business openings, closings, and ribbon cuttings within the Town. Drafts periodic communications materials supporting business attraction and retention (such as newsletter content, business resource guides, and short marketing pieces) at the direction of the Commission. Provides content updates and analytics summaries for the Explore Old Lyme website (exploreoldlyme.com ); reports performance trends to the Commission. Day-to-day site administration and major redesign work are out of scope. Communicates with regional and state partners (such as Advance CT, RiverCOG, and area Chambers of Commerce) on behalf of the Commission, as directed. Provides background research and supporting materials for EDC events; the Commission and volunteers handle event planning and execution. Maintains accurate records, files, and databases for the Commission in accordance with applicable records retention requirements. Performs similar or related work as required, directed, or as the situation dictates. Continues training and professional development; keeps current with economic development trends, funding programs, and relevant State and Federal laws. Assists other Town of Old Lyme department staff as needed to promote a team effort to serve the public. Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of economic development principles and best practices, including business attraction, retention, and expansion strategies; research and quantitative analysis methods using demographic, labor market, and real estate data sources; marketing, communications, and digital content principles, including website content management, social media, and basic analytics tools; municipal government structure. Familiarity with state and regional economic development programs and funding sources, including DECD, Advance CT, the CT Small Business Development Center, and Connecticut Green Bank programs; knowledge of standard office software (Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace), and comfort with website CMS platforms, Google Analytics, and basic data visualization. Skills: Advanced proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and/or Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail), including the ability to move fluently between the two as needed. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel (and/or Google Sheets), including the use of formulas, pivot tables, charts, and data cleaning techniques to analyze economic, demographic, and business data. Demonstrated ability to produce polished, professional documents and reports in Microsoft Word (and/or Google Docs), including formatting, tables of contents, citations, and review/track changes. Demonstrated ability to develop clear, well-designed presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint (and/or Google Slides) for use by the Commission, the Board of Selectmen, and the public. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, may be required to support research, drafting, data analysis, and communications work. The Analyst is expected to use such tools responsibly, verify outputs for accuracy, and follow any Town policies governing the use of AI in public-facing work, the handling of non-public information, and the documentation of AI-assisted work product. Comfort learning and adopting new digital tools as they become relevant to the work of the Commission. Qualifications/Education: A bachelor’s degree in economics, Public Administration, Urban or Regional Planning, Business Administration, Finance, Data Analytics, or Economics or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience, with at least one to three years of experience in economic development, municipal planning, market research, marketing/communications, or a closely related field. Strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently with limited supervision are required. Special Requirements: Possession of a valid Connecticut driver’s license and ability to travel within the Town and region as required. Ability to attend evening meetings of the Economic Development Commission (currently held monthly) and occasional weekend or evening community events. Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check conducted consistent with Connecticut’s fair-chance hiring laws (including Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-51i), with an individualized assessment of any criminal history as it relates to the duties of this position. Hours and Compensation: This is a part-time, non-exempt position of approximately 8 hours per week, not to exceed 435 hours per fiscal year. Schedule is flexible and to be arranged with the EDC Chair and First Selectman’s Office, with the expectation of regular hours at Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall and attendance at EDC meetings, as required. The hourly rate is $23.00, consistent with the Town of Old Lyme wage scale. This position is not benefits-eligible. Reports To: EDC Chair, in coordination with the First Selectman. Application: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to: The Town of Old Lyme is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr