Director of Economic Development

City-of-Sacrament; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Sacramento seeks a bold Director of Economic Development to plan, organize, and direct activities that attract, retain, and expand business, promoting equitable growth and a vibrant economy.

The ideal candidate will modernize permitting and development review, engage with businesses, developers, and officials, and build workforce pipelines with schools and employers to prepare residents for emerging industries and high-quality careers.

Qualifications

• Eight years of professional experience in real estate development, economic development, redevelopment, planning, business administration, or related field.
• Must have three years leading programs, projects, or units with planning, organizing, and oversight.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct goals, objectives, and work standards for the Economic Development Department.
• Lead budget preparation, project management, and coordination with city departments and external partners.
• Represent the city in public meetings, legislative processes, and with regional agencies to advance economic development priorities.

Skills

Economic development

Public finance

Project management

Policy analysis

Leadership

Budgeting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning / finance / real estate / public administration

Tools

Office software

Job description

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The next Director of Economic Development will be a bold and energetic leader who will not only build a high performing department but also champion a new identity for Sacramento, one recognized for innovation, investment, and exceptional service.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished relationship builder who combines long-range vision with a commitment to action, fostering partnerships, navigating complex public and private interests, and removing barriers to investment to deliver meaningful economic growth and revitalization.

The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate genuine commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses by understanding their unique challenges, improving access to capital and resources and recognize that responsive government and streamlined processes are critical to creating economic opportunity throughout the community.
• Have experience modernizing permitting, entitlement, and development review processes to reduce unnecessary delays, improve customer experience and the collaborative instincts to advance that work through the departments that own it. A leader who creates a culture focused on timely execution and exceptional customer service.
• Be a highly visible and collaborative leader with demonstrated success engaging businesses, developers, investors, chambers of commerce, regional agencies, and elected officials, to advance economic development priorities, navigate complex political environments, and serve as a credible ambassador for the City.
• Demonstrate experience developing workforce strategies and talent pipelines in collaboration with K-12 school districts, community colleges, universities, employers, labor partners, and workforce development organizations to prepare residents for emerging industries and high-quality careers.
• Be a forward-thinking executive who combines data-driven decision-making with practical, on-the-ground knowledge of community needs. Able to establish a clear vision, set measurable goals, build organizational accountability, and consistently deliver results that improve Sacramento’s competitiveness and quality of life.
• Bring fluency in public finance and project capital structures in enhanced infrastructure financing districts, tax increment, affordable housing capital stacks, and competitive state and federal funding and the discipline to pursue growth while protecting the City’s General Fund.
• Be effective in the legislative arena, able to identify the policy changes and what economic strategy actually requires, build the case for them with the Mayor and City Council, and advance the City’s interests with the Legislature, State agencies, and the congressional delegation in partnership with government affairs staff and advocates.
• Bring experience delivering housing and homelessness response outcomes in partnership with a housing authority, county, and community-based providers, including administering restricted funding to a high compliance standard.
• Be an inspiring leader who embraces innovation, challenges outdated processes, and creates a high-performing organization focused on collaboration, accountability, and execution. Brings the courage and resilience necessary to lead organizational change while fostering a culture where staff are empowered to solve problems, expedite approval processes, and achieve meaningful outcomes.

The purpose of this position is to plan, organize, coordinate, and direct the activities of the Economic Development Department. Under administrative direction of the City Manager, plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs activities of the Economic Development Department. This position is responsible for advancing the City’s economic vitality by attracting, retaining, and expanding businesses; promoting equitable economic growth; and implementing strategies that align with the City’s goals and priorities.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Director of Economic Development is a single-position executive management-level classification. The incumbent is responsible for extensive contact with public officials, business leaders, developers, organizations and the public to support and advance critical economic development goals and growth initiatives.

The Director of Economic Development is responsible for overall development of economic policy, program planning, fiscal management, and operatorial oversight of economic development programs and initiatives for the City of Sacramento. The Director of Economic Development performs work that is of high complexity and often requires the ability to reason through and solve complex economic development problems to allow the City of Sacramento to achieve its critical economic development goals and objectives. The incumbent operates with a high degree of independence, political acumen, accountability, and plays a key role in shaping the City’s economic future. This classification is distinguished from the next lower-level classification of Economic Development Manager in that the latter directs, assigns, plans, and organizes a major division of the Economic Development Department.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Executive direction is provided by the Assistant City Manager or higher-level personnel. Directly and indirectly supervise lower-level personnel.

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the classification. The list of essential functions below does not identify all duties performed by any single incumbent in this classification.

• Develop and direct the implementation of goals, objectives, policies,procedures, and work standards for the Economic Development Department in alignment with the City’s vision, goals and objectives.
• Plan, organize, and manage the work of personnel performing the activities and operations of the assigned function through prioritizing, assigning, and reviewing the work.
• Review and oversee the work of project management staff and contractors to ensure adherence to contractual obligations and project scope requirements.
• Review and update project plans; coordinate and assist other agencies in securing grants and/or funding.
• Plan, organize, and direct the project and program activities of the Economic Development Department and brief the City Manager's Office and City Council on project and program status.
• In collaboration with division managers, develop and establish the division and department mission, vision, goals, objectives, and priorities. Develop and implement supporting guidelines, policies, and procedures to ensure alignment and execution.
• Meet with organizations, developers, existing and prospective businesses, City departments, City officials, and government agencies to coordinate projects and programs, support business development and site location efforts, and develop service-related activities.
• Serve as lead on proposed and referred development projects, answer development questions, handle issues; track and respond to project proponents.
• Serve as liaison and make public presentations to other city/county departments, regional agencies, state/federal agencies, legislative agencies, private business firms, developers, brokers, potential investors, local organizations, property owners, and the general public as appropriate on matters relating to the economy and economic development.
• Establish, maintain, and improve department relationships with external organizations and the City's institutional partners and serve as the media contact for the Department.
• Research and prepare reports, annual work plans, and other written materials and correspondence.
• Direct and participate in the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of department budget.
• Prepare complex statistical and narrative reports, correspondence, and other documents.
• Perform related work of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and implementation of economic development, including business attraction, retention, and expansion; community and business development; redevelopment; innovation and entrepreneurship; international trade; local government financial incentives; and workforce development.
• Real estate development finance and financial analysis;
• Current market trends in real estate development;
• Structuring public-private partnerships;
• Principles and practices of marketing;
• Business community and neighborhood outreach and processes;
• California land use planning entitlement law and regulations including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and general nature of building codes;
• Planning entitlement codes and process; applicable zoning ordinances and entitlement processes;
• Urban studies and market impacts of economic and social public policy;
• Principles of urban and regional design and planning;
• Public administration, budgeting principles, public policy analysis, and economics;
• Project management and project/problem resolution and concepts of effective team building.

Skill in:

• Developing, implementing and evaluating complex economic development programs, related to such areas as business development, real estate development and employment development;
• Coordinating and serving as a liaison among various agencies and organizations;
• Organizing work, setting priorities and exercising sound independent judgment within established guidelines;
• Interpreting and applying complex rules, regulations, laws and ordinances;
• Making persuasive oral presentations;
• Maintaining accurate records and preparing clear, concise and effective correspondence, media materials, public and educational materials, reports and other written materials;
• Providing technical assistance and staff leadership to various boards and commissions;
• Use of modem office equipment including computers, computer applications, and software, to accomplish a variety of tasks.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Experience:

Eight (8) years of professional experience in real estate development, economic development, redevelopment, planning, business administration, or a closely related field, of which must have included three (3) years of managing programs, projects, or operational units with responsibility for planning, organizing, and overseeing work.

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in urban or regional planning, finance, real estate financing and development, public administration, business administration, political science, economics, or a closely related field.

Substitution:

Additional experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Driver License:

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License is required at the time of appointment.

Certification/License:

None

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

first review date is August 28, 2026.

Resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure.

Candidates deemed to have the most relevant qualifications will be invited to interview with the consultant. CPS HR Consulting will report the results to the City of Sacramento. The City will then select candidates to be interviewed, Additional and final interviews may be scheduled for selected candidates along with reference and background checks.