The Butler County Commission for Economic Development has posted a job description for its vacant director position.

The position has remained unfilled since the BCCED and former executive director Ricky McLaney parted ways in January. Greenville Mayor and BCCED Chairman Dexter McLendon has overseen the day-to-day operations of the BCCED in the absence of a director.

The BCCED is working with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama to fill the position.

“They come in and look at what kind of economic development director you need and help get a job description together,” McLendon said. “We’ve met with them and have a pretty good idea of what we’re looking for. We’ve posted the opening and now we’re waiting to see who applies.”

McLendon said the BCCED is looking for someone with “good people skills and good communication skills.” He said experience in economic development is not necessarily a requirement.

“It would be nice if they had experience in the area of economic development, but that’s not necessarily the most important thing,” he said. “It’s not something that would keep us from hiring someone if we felt like that person was the best fit for the job.”

In January, McLendon said he hoped to have the position filled by October. On Thursday he said there was no timetable in place for making the hire.

“We don’t have a timetable right now,” he said. “We just want to make sure we get the right person. I hope we can have that person in place by Oct. 1, but that’s probably a pretty fast pace. I’d be real happy if we had someone hired by Jan. 1.”

McLaney, who was instrumental in attracting Hwashin America, Hysco America Company and Coastal Forest Products to Butler County, had led the BCCED for more than a decade.