The Township of Georgian Bay is embarking on a Business Retention and Expansion project in the community of Honey Harbour and as a result is seeking a resourceful and innovative individual as the Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator. This exciting project will assess the business community's needs and identify opportunities to further support business sustainability and expansion. Information gathered will be used to address immediate problems and will also form part of a longer-term strategy for improving local conditions for business.

We are a water-based community located on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield and possesses a rich and rugged natural landscape of lakes, rock, forested and wetland areas. The northern part of the Township is traversed by the Muskoka River watershed while the southern boundary is formed by the Severn River watershed.

The close proximity of the Township to the urban population of Ontario has contributed to its historic and contemporary role as an important  cottaging, recreation and tourism destination. The Township has a permanent resident population of approximately 2,500 and an additional seasonal population of approximately 15,900. As part of the District Municipality of Muskoka, the Township is comprised of three urban communities–Port Severn, Honey Harbour and MacTier as well as waterfront and rural areas.

Key responsibilities:

• Engage with existing businesses to market the Business Retention and Expansion project.
• Assess the needs of existing businesses for retention and expansion purposes•
• Advise businesses of various market development, financing, workforce training, and business planning resources.
• Research online businesses operating in the local area to expand upon current inventory with a focus on the creative cluster of businesses
• Develop survey and implementation plan
• Develop project report card to gather and measure data
• Provide analysis of business/services in Honey Harbour
• Generate reports to confirm the needs of the community measured against the provincial survey results of business development to show strengths, weaknesses, uniqueness and opportunities for prosperity.

Qualifications:

• Recent graduate or current Masters Level student in the field of Business, Economics, Economic Development, Urban Studies, Environmental Studies (Business option) or Public Administration.
• Working knowledge of  small business communities preferred; experience with communities that are seasonal in nature, an asset
• Research experience including data collection management, analysis and reporting of findings
• Strong networking and relationship building skills
• Strong computer and data entry skills; detailed orientated
• Strong communication and public presentation skills
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule (evenings, weekends)

Hourly Rate: $25.00 per hour plus 4% vacation pay based on 35 hour work week.
Position to begin June 29th, 2015 for a 3-month contract. 

Interested individuals should forward their resume and cover letter by 4:00pm on June 16th to the attention of Human Resources jobs at gbtownship.ca or by fax# 705-538-1850. Accommodations for interview process available upon request.

We thank all applicants for their interest in the Township of Georgian Bay; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. In accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act, all information collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001, will be used only during the selection process for the subject of posting.