About usYork County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited that you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation for our success.
Mission Statement- York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.
Vision Statement - York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed.
Core Values - Excellence through Professionalism - Respect - respect builds bridges, not silos. How we live it? Golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.
- Dedicated- strong work ethic. How we live it? Persistence , reliability and commitment to do your best.
- Integrity- do the right thing instead of what is convenient. How we live it? Displaying strong moral principles.
- Knowledgeable- ready and able. How we live it? Having the right competencies necessary for achievement.
- Friendly- service with a smile. How we live it? Being respectful, pleasant and helpful to ALL.
About our opportunityThe Economic Development Department is seeking a dynamic Deputy Director of Economic Development to play a central role in driving York County’s most transformative initiatives. In this position, you will partner with the Director to manage the operations of the office and provide leadership in business recruitment, workforce development, marketing, and product development.
Beyond traditional responsibilities, this role will be deeply engaged in delivering the County’s capstone initiatives, such as trail-based quality-of-life investments (Project Trailmix), food systems innovation (Next Crop York), digital enablement for small businesses (Digital Main Street), and other strategic projects that position York County as a hub of innovation and growth in the Carolinas. The Deputy Director will bring creativity, strategic thinking, and project management expertise to ensure these initiatives are successfully executed while also supporting the broader mission of recruiting, retaining, and growing businesses.
The ideal candidate is more than just an experienced economic development professional — they are a strategic thinker, creative storyteller, and project manager who can bring York County’s bold vision to life. You are equally comfortable working with site location consultants as you are walking a trail with community stakeholders, pitching a food hub concept to state leaders, or helping a small business embrace digital tools.
Recruitment Video: https://econdevtalk.my.canva.site/deputydirector
Project Hiring Range/Pay Grade 129: $102,101.86 - $122,522.23 per year. Salary is determined based on experience and/or education.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (40 hours per week), occasional weekend and evening work required for special events.
Our Total Compensation Package: - Compensation - competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
- Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Parental Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Long-term disability
- Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
- 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
- Longevity Pay
- SC State Retirement Plan Pension
- Paid Vacation and Sick Time
- Sick Bank
- Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
- Wellness Screenings
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences
Duties and Responsibilities: - Provide leadership and oversight on the department’s capstone projects, for example:
- Provide leadership and oversight on the department’s capstone projects, for example:
- Project Trailmix - advancing trail-based development, quality-of-life enhancements, and mobility initiatives.
- NextCrop York - building York County’s position as the agri-food hub of the Charlotte region, including supporting food hubs, value-add agriculture, and agri-innovation.
- Digital Main Street - empowering small businesses with digital tools, training, and visibility to strengthen the local economy.
- Other innovation-driven initiatives tied to workforce development, wage growth, and regional competitiveness.
- Manage economic development projects from inception to completion, ensuring timelines, milestones, and community outcomes are met.
- Lead and/or support strategic planning, cross-departmental collaboration, and public/private partnerships to advance York County’s economic vision.
- Develop and implement policies, procedures, and processes that strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the office while aligning with capstone priorities.
- Assist in designing and executing comprehensive marketing, storytelling, and communications strategies that highlight York County’s business assets and innovation projects to consultants, prospects, and the community.
- Coordinate with the Director to pursue funding opportunities (federal, state, and philanthropic) to advance capstone projects and product development efforts.
- Build and maintain relationships with industry leaders, local and regional partners, site consultants, and community stakeholders to accelerate York County’s reputation as a forward-looking destination for business and talent.
- Supervise, mentor, and evaluate assigned staff; delegate responsibilities to ensure effective team performance while maintaining alignment with department priorities.
About youExperience and Education: - Bachelor’s Degree in Economic Development, Business Administration, Planning, Commercial Real Estate or related discipline.
- At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, business administration, planning, or related fields — with a proven record of delivering strategic projects that combine workforce, infrastructure, and community development.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-sector partnerships and managing complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
Certifications and Licenses: - Must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license.
- Certified Economic Developer (CED), South Carolina Certified Economic Developer (SCCED) preferred.
Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education may be considered Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer Physical Demands: Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.
- Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.
Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance: York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
Standard Clauses:May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the County. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Full-time employees are allowed to participate in group medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs offered by York County Government. If employees elect to secure dependent coverage, the employee should pay the additional costs for such coverage. All statements of insurance coverage are subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and other eligibility requirements that are set forth in various insurance plan documents.
Our full-time benefits through PEBA (South Carolina Retirement Systems and State Health Plan) include health insurance, prescription benefits, dental, vision, life insurance, MoneyPlus, Health Savings Accounts, retirement (Membership in the South Carolina Retirement System is mandatory for county employees), and deferred compensation. Making decisions about your insurance and retirement benefits can sometimes be complicated and difficult. The Navigating Your Benefits series provides common-language explanations and can help you find your way in the world of your insurance and retirement benefits: Navigating Your Benefits | S.C. PEBA (sc.gov)
Other full-time benefits include longevity allowance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, Sick Leave Bank, wellness benefits, Employee Assistance Program, etc. Please contact Human Resources at Human.Resources@yorkcountygov.com if you would like more information.
Longevity AllowanceFull-time regular county employees, elected officials, appointed officials, and judges with ten or more years of full time continuous governmental service are eligible to receive a monthly longevity allowance in addition to their regular compensation. Continuous service transferred from employment with another county, municipality, state or a political entity created by the State may contribute toward eligibility for the longevity allowance. Longevity allowances are paid according to the following schedule.
Longevity AllowanceYears of Continuous Service Monthly Longevity Amount10-14 Years $20.0015-19 Years $25.0020-24 Years $30.0025-29 Years $35.0030-34 Years $40.0035-39 Years $45.0040+ Years $50.00 Parental Leave
Employees that have been employed at least 12 months with the county may be eligible for up to 30 days of parental leave immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a legal dependent child.
Bereavement Leave
Three (3) days of bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member, which includes a spouse, parent, grandparent or child.
Annual LeaveProbationary and regular full-time county employees that work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave with pay. Employees in their new hire six (6) month probationary period shall not be able to use annual leave until they become regular county employees. Employees who are separating from county service shall be paid for all accrued, unused annual leave up to 360 hours provided they give York County as the employer the proper notice as required. Employees in their six (6) month New Hire probationary period who are terminated or separated from employment shall not be paid for accrued annual leave. The maximum amount of annual leave carried into each calendar year is 360 hours.
Earning Rate for Full-Time EmployeesFull-time employees with less than ten years of continuous service earn at the rate of eight hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve month period. Full-time employees with at least ten years, but less than twenty years of continuous service will earn at the rate of ten (10) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve-month period. Full-time employees with twenty or more years of service will earn at the rate of twelve (12) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve (12) months period.
Sick LeaveFull-time county employees may be entitled to earn sick leave with pay. Employees may accrue up to 1,440 hours of sick leave. Upon termination of employment with the County, employees may not be reimbursed for any unused sick leave. When a paid holiday occurs while an employee is on sick leave with pay, the day may not be charged as sick leave.
Earning Rate of Sick LeaveFull time employees will earn eight hours of sick leave per month of service during a twelve month period.
Paid Holiday’s The following days may be observed as paid holidays for York County Employees: January - December: 3 Optional Holidays per Calendar YearJanuary: New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Day
May: Memorial Day
June: Juneteenth Day
July: Independence Day
September: Labor Day
November: Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Friday after Thanksgiving
December: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Training: Quality training and educational programs are available at various times for county employees in order to support workforce development that is consistent with organizational objectives. Training topics may include driver training, CPR/first aid, communication, supervisor training, workplace violence, substance abuse, and various computer related classes.
Closing Date/Time: 10/29/2025 5:00 PM Eastern
