Director of Economic Development

The Position

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…