Economic Development Director

Confidential; Brea (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential seeks a Director of Economic Development Services to provide strategic leadership, partnering with municipal clients to advance economic vitality and community investment. This role oversees engagements, drives growth, develops new services, and leads a team of economic development professionals.

The position emphasizes client relationship management, business development, and thought leadership, with a focus on leveraging data analytics and AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes and

Qualifications

• 10+ years in economic development or related field.
• Minimum 5 years leading teams, budgets, and client engagements.
• Proven success in business development and organizational growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Economic Development Services and partner with municipal leaders.
• Manage client relationships as primary advisor for public agency clients.
• Lead business development initiatives and growth through proposals, presentations, and networking.
• Represent as a thought leader at industry conferences and publish content using data analytics and AI tools.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client relationship management

Business development

Public sector consulting

Team leadership

Data analytics

Tools

AI tools

Data analytics tools

Job description

The Director of Economic Development Services provides strategic leadership for Economic Development practice, partnering with public agency clients to advance economic vitality, community investment, business attraction and retention, workforce development, and long-term economic resilience. This role serves as a trusted advisor to municipal leaders, oversees client engagements, drives business growth, develops innovative service offerings, and leads a team of economic development professionals.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the strategic vision and long-term growth plan for Economic Development Services practice.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify opportunities for service expansion, innovation, and market growth.
• Establish annual departmental goals, KPIs, and operational objectives aligned with organizational priorities.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary relationship manager for municipal and public agency clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with city managers, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
• Lead client presentations, strategic planning sessions, workshops, and public meetings.

Business Development & Growth

• Support business development initiatives through proposal development, client presentations, and strategic networking.
• Identify opportunities to expand services within existing client accounts and develop new client relationships.
• Partner with Sales and Executive Leadership to pursue growth opportunities and achieve revenue objectives.

Thought Leadership & Innovation

• Represent as a subject matter expert at industry conferences and public forums.
• Develop articles, presentations, and thought leadership content.
• Leverage data analytics and AI-enabled tools to improve client outcomes and operational efficiency.

Enhanced Experience Requirements

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, public sector consulting, municipal government, community development, urban planning, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing teams, budgets, projects, and client relationships.
• Demonstrated success in business development, client management, and organizational growth.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
• Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP)