Director of Economic Development

About the Role

The San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) seeks an experienced and entrepreneurial Director of Economic Development to lead its economic development programs and strategy. This is a role with significant scope and visibility, serving as the primary staff officer responsible for developing and executing an economic development strategy to attract businesses and anchor institutions to downtown San Francisco while also managing and growing the Downtown Business Fund, DDC's flagship grant, loan-referral, and technical-assistance program for storefront businesses.

The Director should be an outcomes-oriented professional capable of managing complex multi-stakeholder programs, cultivating funding relationships, commissioning and synthesizing economic analysis, and building DDC's long-term capacity as a center of gravity for downtown economic development.

Key Responsibilities

• Economic Development Planning & Analysis
  • Develop and manage a comprehensive economic development plan for downtown San Francisco, integrating market data, corridor analysis, and stakeholder priorities.
  • Commission, oversee, and synthesize economic research and impact studies, including sectoral economic impact analyses, market gap assessments, and corridor activation studies, working with consultants and research partners.
  • Identify and develop strategies to attract anchor institutions and non-traditional users to downtown including educational institutions, healthcare operators, cultural organizations, and public-sector tenants in coordination with city economic development stakeholders.
  • Coordinate across downtown stakeholder groups, including the City agencies, community benefit districts, SF Travel, and others, to align economic development strategy and avoid duplicative efforts.
  • Track and communicate market trends, policy developments, and peer-city best practices relevant to downtown economic development; prepare materials for the CEO and board.
• Business Attraction & Retail Strategy
  • Design and lead a comprehensive business and retailer attraction strategy for downtown San Francisco, establishing DDC as a proactive intermediary between business operators and downtown opportunities.
  • Identify target business types, sectors, and operators that align with DDC's corridor priorities; develop tailored outreach, incentive packaging, and relationship cultivation strategies.
  • Build and manage a pipeline of prospective businesses, from initial contact through site identification, lease negotiation support, and DBF application.
  • Represent DDC at industry events, trade shows, and sector convenings to position downtown SF as a destination for business growth.
• Downtown Business Fund (DBF)
  • Manage DDC's relationships with banking partners and co-administrator SF New Deal, ensuring alignment across program operations, portal functionality, and participant referrals.
  • Prepare regular reporting to the DDC executive management and board on program pipeline, awards made, capital deployed, and economic impact metrics; serve as the primary internal subject-matter expert on DBF operations.
  • Oversee day-to-day administration of the DBF, including application intake and review, applicant scoring, award determinations, disbursement coordination, and ongoing program monitoring.
  • Coordinate with outside legal counsel on compliance, program documentation, and program evolution.
  • Direct outreach, marketing, and prospecting efforts to identify and recruit qualified applicants to the program, in partnership with program staff and outside partners.
  • Work with program staff to maintain and update the landlord and storefront database; build and sustain working relationships with downtown property owners, brokers, and real estate intermediaries.
• Downtown Business Fund — Growth & Capital Strategy
  • Develop and execute a long-range capital strategy for the DBF, including identifying and pursuing new funding partnerships.
  • Evaluate and advance opportunities to expand DBF into direct lending, including through partnership with a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and potential establishment of a revolving loan fund.
  • Lead cultivation and stewardship of existing and prospective program funders; prepare high-quality proposals, reports, and presentations for institutional funders, foundations, and government grant programs.
  • Monitor and evaluate program performance against defined impact metrics; refine program design, eligibility criteria, and award structures in response to market conditions and stakeholder feedback.
• Organizational Leadership & Coordination
  • Manage and mentor program staff and coordinate with DDC's program manager and other team members on cross-functional deliverables.
  • Operate with a high degree of autonomy and independent judgment; proactively manage workload, timelines, and external partner relationships with minimal day-to-day supervision.
  • Contribute to DDC board presentations and strategic planning processes; serve as a credible organizational spokesperson in stakeholder and public settings.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, community development finance, commercial real estate, urban planning, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing grant, loan, or economic development programs in a private, nonprofit, quasi-public, or government setting.
• Experience with and supervision of complex stakeholder management and board or senior leadership reporting.
• Proven ability to identify, pursue, and secure external funding, including government grants, philanthropic capital, and corporate partnerships.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with economic and financial data; ability to commission and critically evaluate third-party research.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce polished board materials, funder reports, and public-facing strategy documents.
• Knowledge of the San Francisco commercial real estate market, downtown business corridors, and the city's economic development and regulatory landscape.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in retail or commercial business attraction, business improvement district management, or downtown revitalization program administration.
• Deep familiarity with community development finance tools, including grants, loan guarantees, CDFIs, New Markets Tax Credits, revolving loan funds, or comparable instruments.
• Experience working with legal counsel on financial program documentation, compliance frameworks, or financing structures.
• Advanced degree in public administration, urban planning, real estate, economics, or a related field.

Benefits

• Salary range: $170,000–$200,000 annually.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• 401k employer match.
• Generous PTO policy.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
• A collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Location

This role will be based in San Francisco, with a minimum of three days per week in-person at our downtown office, in alignment with the organization's mission.