Economic Development Director

International Economic Development Council; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Wichita seeks an Economic Development Director to chart the city's economic future and serve as the chief strategist bridging City Hall with the business community and regional partners.

The successful candidate will lead recruitment, retention, redevelopment, and investment efforts, driving collaborative, data-driven decisions with integrity and hustle. Review of applications begins Sept 18, 2026.

Qualifications

• Four-year college degree in business or public administration, finance, economics, urban planning, or related field.
• Ten years of economic development experience in public or non-profit sector, with three years in a director role.
• Five years experience in public or private financial management and analysis, preferably related to urban development.
• Knowledge of Kansas Economic Development incentives (STAR bonds, TIF, CID, tax abatements, infrastructure investments)

Responsibilities

• Formulates goals and policies for the Economic Development Division.
• Oversees incentive proposals and public/private partnerships for recruitment and redevelopment.
• Maintains relationships with key economic development partners and stakeholders.
• Performs due diligence analysis of prospective projects and reports results.
• Advises City Manager, City Council and departments on development matters.
• Represents the city in presentations to boards, agencies and the public.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Economic development

Public funding knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Communication & presentations

Team supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/public administration/related field

Job description

Distinguishing Features of WorkThe City of Wichita seeks a dynamic, forward-thinking leader to boldly chart the City's economic future as its Economic Development Director. The successful candidate will be an experienced leader who's ready and able to push the largest city in Kansas toward what's next. As the City's chief economic development strategist, the director will collaborate with development professionals to set the vision for business recruitment, retention, redevelopment, and investment by turning ambitious goals into tangible results, and turning relationships across the community into momentum.This is a role built on connection. The director will be the trusted bridge between City Hall and the business community, elected officials, developers, and the region's key economic partners. The ideal candidate will lead with integrity and sound judgment, but also with hustle: a leader unafraid to seek out partners, test new approaches, and champion the kind of collaborative, continuous-improvement culture that's already part of Wichita's leadership team.Paramount to this role is a keen understanding of economic development principles, including background with incentives, and thorough knowledge in building the economic development ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship, small business development and existing business retention and expansion. Familiarity with municipal financial structures, public funding sources, and urban development principles is a must. Wichita has seen significant economic activity over the past five years, particularly in aviation, biomedical, music, tourism and digital arts with more planned in the next three years. This position will help unlock new possibilities, fuel investment, and build an even stronger economic future for Wichita.Collaborating with the City Manager and reporting to the assistant city manager for development services and quality of life, the director will be challenged to expand the City's tax base, create jobs, revitalize commercial corridors, and encourage investment across every corner of the community. The director will bring a tested command of leading economic development initiatives and creatively generating investments in the community. This is a chance to help write the next chapter of Wichita's Strategic Plan with the long-term vision, moxie, and mandate to make the City think bigger. First review of applications will be September 18, 2026. Posting may remain active until position filled.

Examples of Work Performed

• Formulates and establishes work goals, policies and procedures for the Economic Development Division.
• Formulates responsive but consistent criteria for City involvement in economic development and redevelopment projects.
• Develops, recommends, implements, and updates the City's Economic Development guidelines.
• Oversees financial analysis and implementation of economic development and redevelopment projects.
• Prepares economic development and redevelopment incentive proposals and public/private partnerships for business recruitment and expansion.
• Maintain positive and productive relationships with the City's key economic development partners, including the Greater Wichita Partnership, Wichita Chamber of Commerce, Visit Wichita, Downtown Wichita, and Kansas Department of Commerce.
• Oversees monitoring of local business having received financial incentives/assistance from the City.
• Oversees management of City-owned real estate, including parking resources.
• Oversees coordination and improvement of City services to the real estate, development and general business communities.
• Develops, implements, and coordinates a robust business retention and expansion program to support the continued growth and investment of local businesses.
• Conducts research to produce reports for internal departments, policy-making bodies, citizen groups and/or representatives of other agencies.
• Oversees grant management.
• Advise the City Manager, City Council and City departments on economic development matters relating to City programs and services.
• Serves as liaison and makes presentations to City departments and other agencies, councils, boards, commissions, the media, the development community, elected officials and the general public.
• Participates in a variety of teams, groups and meetings.
• Conducts due diligence analysis of prospective projects and/or programs.
• These examples are not intended to be all inclusive.
• Other related duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements of Work

• Thorough knowledge of municipal financial structures and political processes
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of and options for economic development and redevelopment projects
• Knowledge of the principles of economics, organization and management.
• Develop a comprehensive and robust economic development program to grow the tax employment base in the city.
• Develop a multi-faceted economic development program that focuses on business recruitment, as well as business expansion, entrepreneurship and small business formation and growth.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations
• Knowledge of public funding sources.
• Ability to plan, organize and supervise the work of other department employees
• Ability to use a computer to access, record and interpret information, and for electronic spreadsheet development, using complex mathematical and statistical operations.
• Ability to review financial/accounting procedures, perform administrative analysis and report results.
• Ability to create and review financial proformas with multiple year financing and forecasting models.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees of other departments, representatives of other organizations and other stakeholders in urban development activities
• Ability to read and interpret maps, plans and specifications, including zoning maps and plats.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to facilitate meetings and make presentations
• May require ability to acquire and maintain a valid Kansas's driver's license.

Required Experience and Training

• Four-year college degree in business or public administration, finance, economics, urban planning, or other field closely related to the job responsibilities.
• Ten years of economic development experience in public or non‑profit sector, with three years in a director role.
• Five years experience in public or private financial management and analysis, preferably related to urban development.
• An understanding of Kansas Economic Development incentives (STAR bonds, TIF, CID, tax abatements, infrastructure investments)

Preferred Experience and Training

• Master's degree in a related field
• Certification in Economic Development CEcD

Offers of Employment

• Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre‑employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.