Project Coordinator Returnship

The City of Frederick is pleased to offer a 6-month returnship opportunity for experienced professionals re-entering the workforce. This Economic Development Returnship is ideal for individuals who have taken a career break and are looking to reengage their skills in a collaborative, mission-driven setting. This position is required to be onsite, and participants must be able to commute to City of Frederick.

Under the direction of the Manager of Economic Development, the Returnship Participant will assist in advancing strategic projects that promote business growth, workforce opportunity, and inclusive economic development. The position offers exposure to high-impact initiatives, cross-sector collaboration, and municipal project management in a flexible and supportive environment. Specific duties and responsibilities may shift based on departmental priorities and the individual's unique strengths and skills.

• Coordinates and supports multiple economic development projects from initiation to completion, ensuring timely communication, tracking, and follow-up.
• Assists in the development and implementation of strategic plans and initiatives aimed at business retention, attraction, and inclusive growth.
• Supports local and regional business outreach, including scheduling and facilitating meetings, stakeholder forums, and public-facing events.
• Works collaboratively to prepare professional presentations, reports, and marketing materials for internal and external use.
• Researches and analyzes economic trends, business activity, and development opportunities to inform strategy.
• Tracks project milestones and maintains accurate documentation, records, and economic development databases.
• Monitors and reports on business inquiries, development activity, and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborates with internal City departments and external partners to support minority, women, and disadvantaged business (MWBE) goals and workforce development efforts (e.g., the Office of Opportunity and Transformation).
• Delivers timely information and customer service to businesses and community organizations.
• Participates in occasional regional trade shows, events, or conferences to promote the City (with notice).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Must have a resume gap of at least six (6) months.
• Must work on-site and commute to the City of Frederick.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Professional experience in business development, marketing, community engagement, workforce development, or public or private administration.

REQUIRED SKILLS (Communication/Language; Mathematical; Computer; etc.):

• Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Comfort using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and online tools; database experience is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to move about in an office type setting, to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time, to compile and retrieve information from computers, telephones phones, etc., to draft and write, to handle paperwork and position self in the course of work. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Talking: The incumbent must have the ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately or quickly.

Hearing: The incumbent perceives the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITION: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to work in a typical office setting. The employee may be required to travel for events.

• Self-directed with a strong willingness to contribute meaningfully and learn.
• Prior experience in business, marketing, economic development, planning, workforce development, or nonprofit/community engagement.
• Interest in learning or reengaging with municipal economic development.
• Ability to engage respectfully and effectively with a wide range of businesses and stakeholders.