Restaurant Liaison (Strategic Advisor 1 -Exempt)



Restaurant Liaison (Strategic Advisor 1 -Exempt)

Salary

$38.06 - $57.09 Hourly

Location

Seattle, WA

Job Type

Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time

Job Number

2014-00801

Department

Office of Economic Development

Opening Date

07/16/2014

Closing Date

7/29/2014 4:00 PM Pacific

Position Description

The Office of Economic Development is one of the Mayor’s Executive Offices and assists the Mayor and City Council in developing, analyzing and implementing policies and programs that represent the City’s economic development agenda.
 
This position serves as a member of the Business Services Team and is focused on supporting creation and expansion of businesses in Seattle’s vibrant food and restaurant industry. This position’s work will require internal coordination across City departments and external relationships and coordination with government and community stakeholders. The initial focus of the work will be on making it easier for early stage restaurant startups to navigate the multiple state, county, and local regulatory processes that are required by offering a business assistance service. This position will formalize and expand the initiatives of the recently formed interagency restaurant taskforce with which this position will work to address choke points in the current process and recommend appropriate policy and regulatory changes. The taskforce is made up of senior staff from City of Seattle, State of Washington, Public Health Seattle-King County, and the Washington Restaurant Association.
 
The purpose of the position’s business assistance service is three-fold:
  • Transactional. To provide a single contact number for restaurateurs to connect with a person to help them when they encounter problems, confusion, or other issues that affect their ability to navigate through the process of starting a restaurant in Seattle.
  • Proactive Outreach. To provide outreach and visits to restaurants and aspiring restaurateurs to better understand their issues and then designing responses to address hurdles in the process.
  • Policy Review. Serves as key advisor to senior management to help shape significant City policies or programs concerning the restaurant permitting and regulations, which cross several City departments.
     

Job Responsibilities

The primary initial focus of the position is to identify and follow up on ways to streamline restaurant permitting processes across City, King County, and Washington State agencies. Other responsibilities are to provide individual assistance and outreach to the restaurant industry as well as support as appropriate industry-led initiatives to improve the marketing and operations of Seattle-based businesses. Roles and responsibilities of this position will include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
Business Assistance
  • Assist businesses with navigating the web portal/online guide website and help identify what action is needed, connecting businesses to the appropriate resources/staff, as needed;
  • Develop and conduct outreach and marketing activities to the restaurant business community, connecting them to appropriate resources;
  • Make focused outreach efforts to minority and immigrant businesses, especially those in low-income communities and underrepresented populations; and
  • Utilize OED’s contacts management database (Executive Pulse) to track issues and business contacts.
Policy Analysis and Process Improvement
  • Track issues and problems raised to identify recurrent hurdles and opportunities for improvement (to be reviewed by the restaurant taskforce);
  • Provide policy recommendations on process improvements and regulations concerning the current permit and regulatory practices;
  • Provide information and advice to the restaurant industry about compliance with labor standards;
  • Lead policy development, coordinate feedback and vetting of policies with relevant stakeholders; and
  • Coordinate the implementation of policy changes and process improvements with relevant stakeholders.

Coordination and Partnerships

  • Maintain effective working relationships with local, state, and federal agencies;
  • Serve as the liaison to industry stakeholders, including restaurant associations;
  • Coordinate changes to restaurant regulations and processes among relevant stakeholder agencies; and
  • Participate on the restaurant task force, lead project teams as appropriate.

 

Communications
  • Represent the department at various internal and external meetings;
  • Prepare and deliver presentations to senior management within the City, City Council and external stakeholders;
  • Prepare a variety of written materials including: correspondence, reports, briefing papers;
  • Inform and connect with stakeholders through the use of web based and social media communication tools;
  • Coordinate changes and updates to the restaurant portal website/online guide; and
  • Manage ongoing communications strategy for promotion of the restaurant reform efforts.
 
Evaluating Program and Impact
  • Collect and analyze key data to refine strategies and measure success, including tax data, website metrics, business licensing data, and other measurements recommended by the restaurant task force; and
  • Synthesize program outcomes, design and create reports for use in briefings and external communications.
Other Responsibilities
  • Lead consultant selection process and coordinate consultant activities, as needed;
  • Coordinate with community groups, City departments and private businesses to resolve complex and politically sensitive issues, as needed;
  • Plans and conducts industry sector research projects and analyzes and evaluates a variety of issues;
  • Develop City-sponsored, industry sector events coordinated with appropriate City departments and other agency stakeholders;
  • Participate on OED’s Business Services Team to support small business development aligned with its various programs; and
  • Provide staff support to the Economic Development Commission as it relates to industry sectors work.
General working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A flexible schedule is required for off-site meetings that may occur during evenings and weekends. The job takes place in an office setting, but visits to businesses and community locations are required.

 

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, planning, finance, economics, business, or a related field and at least three years of progressively responsible experience in the restaurant industry, business development, economic development, or a related field.  Demonstrated experience in outreach and communications, collaboration with various stakeholders, and planning, developing and implementing policy recommendations.  Experience evaluating projects using quantitative and qualitative data. Strong written and oral communication skills. Must have strong working knowledge of current Office applications and social media.

The most successful candidates will have exceptional customer service, an enthusiastic commitment to public service and the ability to work across all levels of the organization and a commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity. Managerial experience and relationships within the food service sector preferred.  Foreign language skills desired.

Additional Information

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: http://www.seattle.gov/jobs/benefits.asp

01
Please select the option that best describes your highest level of education
  • High School Diploma/GED
  • Some College
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree
  • J.D.
  • Ph.D.
02
Do you have a degree in economics, public administration, business, finance or a related field?
  • Yes
  • No
03
Select the option that best describes your experience in the restaurant industry, business development, economic development or a related field.
  • No experience
  • less than 3 years
  • At least 3 years but less than 5 years
  • At least 5 years but less than 7 years
  • 7+ years
04
Select the option that best describes your experience working in or with retail food establishments.
  • No experience
  • Less than 3 years
  • At least 3 years but less than 5 years
  • At least 5 yeras but less than 7 years
  • 7+ years
05
What was your primary role in the retail food establishment referenced in your answer to #4 above?
06
Do you have experience performing quantitative and qualitative analysis on a program or project?
  • Yes
  • No
07
Do you have a current Washington State Driver License?
  • Yes
  • No, but I can obtain one by the time of hire
  • No
08
Are you famaliar with Executive Pulse or any other Contact Management database?
  • Yes
  • No
09
Please select social media you have experience using professionally for community organizing, business support or marketing?
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Other social media
  • No professional experience with social media
10
Please select the software program(s) you have professional experience using.
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Excel
  • Word
  • Access
  • Power Point
  • Outlook
11
Do you have managerial experience?
  • No
  • Yes
12
Select the option that best describes your experience preparing and delivering presentations to senior management, business executives or stakeholders.
  • No experience
  • Less than 3 years
  • At least 3 years but less than 5 years
  • 5+ years
13
Where did you gain your experience most relevant to the work of this Restaurant Liaison position?
14
Did you attach a cover letter and resume with your application?
  • No
  • Yes
15
How did you hear about this job?
  • City of Seattle website
  • NW Jobs
  • OED Daily Digest
  • Linked In
  • Colors NW
  • NW Asian Weekly
  • Seattle Medium
  • Other

Required Question

Agency
City of Seattle
Address
Seattle Municipal Tower
700 5th Avenue, Suite 5500
Seattle, Washington, 98104