Deputy Director of economic Deveolpment at Downtown Houston +

Role Overview

The Deputy Director of Economic Development is a visionary leadership role responsible for amplifying the economic, demographic, and social context of Downtown Houston.

This position serves as the organization’s primary architect for research-driven strategy, ensuring that every economic initiative—from retail recruitment to space activation—is backed by robust data and a commitment to inclusive growth.

This role is not only a steward of the internal project pipeline but a prominent public-facing spokesperson dedicated to building a resilient, equitable, and human-centric urban core.

Key Responsibilities

1. Departmental Leadership & People Management

● Strategic Team Management: Directly manage and provide policy, operational, and strategic direction to two key departmental pillars:

○ The Small Business Manager: Direct the strategic focus and policy framework for small business grants (Thrive, Al Fresco, Façade) and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

○ The Research Manager: Oversee the tracking of market intelligence, real estate analytics, and district metrics, turning raw data into actionable economic strategies.

● Pipeline Integration: Align research-driven insights with storefront execution, ensuring that small business assistance directly targets identified market gaps and structural vacancy priorities.

2. Market Repositioning, Incentives & Project Support

● Asset Repositioning & Market Incentives: Provide strategic support on high-impact adaptive reuse projects and building modernizations as needed. Collaborate with TIRZ leadership, public agencies, and private developers to explore creative financing tools, public-private incentive structures, and economic mechanisms that lower barriers to district reinvestment.

● Retail & Ground-Floor Performance: Partner with the Planning & Urban Design team to advance street-level vibrancy, building a resilient and contiguous ground-floor retail environment that serves workers, residents, and visitors alike.

● Public Realm Monetization: Coordinate with planning efforts ( Public Realm Action Plan, Cool + Connected Corridors) to turn improved streetscapes, activated plazas, and underutilized parcels into economically viable spaces for micro-retail, creators, and local entrepreneurs.

● Industry Mix Resiliency: Actively strategize to future-proof downtown’s tenant mix, shifting recruitment efforts to include diverse services, grocery/fresh food development, and evening/weekend economy drivers.

3. Community Influence & Thought Leadership

● The "State of Downtown" Narrative: Oversee the creation and publication of high-level economic reporting, annual market reviews, and investment maps that position Downtown Houston as a premier destination for regional and national capital.

● Relationship Stewardship: Serve as the primary, relationship-based liaison to the brokerage, development, and investment communities to foster property recruitment and collaborative space-sharing models.

● Public Spokesperson: Act as a key organizational voice at industry events, panels, and media briefings, translating planning metrics into value-driven economic stories.

4. Board & Stakeholder Engagement

● Executive Advisory: Author "decision-ready" technical briefs and performance dashboards for executive leadership and the boards of Central Houston, Inc., the Houston Downtown Management District (HDMD), and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA).

Requirements & Qualifications

● The "Dual-Lens" Professional: Deep, expert-level understanding of the intersection of Urban Planning and Economic Development, with a clear perspective on how streetscape comfort, walkability, and design drive private investment and property value.

● Experience: 8–10+ years of professional experience in urban leadership, real estate strategy, economic development, or a Business Improvement District (BID) / place management organization.

● Proven Management: A track record of successfully managing high-performing specialist teams (such as research and program administration staff) and working seamlessly across cross-functional departments.

● Houston Context Fluency (Preferred): Familiarity with the unique dynamics of Houston’s real estate market, public-private funding tools (TIRZ/redevelopment authority frameworks), and downtown stakeholder networks.

● Communication Master: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex real estate data, corporate metrics, incentive structures, and planning concepts into accessible, persuasive narratives for public presentation and executive boards.

● Education: Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Business Administration (MBA), Public Policy, or a related field.

Salary: Commensurate with the senior management and strategic oversight responsibilities of the Deputy Director role.

Downtown Houston+ is an Equal Opportunity Employer.