[Hiring] Neighborhood and Business Districts Manager @City of Seattle

Role Description

The Office of Economic Development works to shape a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving economy by increasing access to economic opportunities, reducing racial inequities, and supporting community-centered growth. We are seeking a forward-thinking, strategic, and outcomes-focused Neighborhoods and Business Districts Manager to advance a strategic shift in how the City makes investments and drives economic impact for neighborhood districts.

This role sets citywide strategy, strengthens operational systems, directs district-level and cross-district investments, and develops timely policy solutions that respond to Seattle’s changing economic landscape.

In this role, you will lead the Business Districts team that sits at a unique intersection of economic development, policy, district investment, budget strategy, and cross-departmental collaboration. It is a high-impact role for a leader who envisions the big picture, establishes data-driven goals to meet City priorities, operates cross-departmentally and across districts, and is a proactive, leading collaborator to drive sustained, long-term economic outcomes for Seattle’s business districts and local economy.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop Seattle’s 2027 Business District Strategy based on economic research, citywide priorities, and analysis of district conditions.
• Lead the Business Improvement Area (BIA) formation initiative, including driving implementation and achieving milestones, establishing readiness and feasibility, investment approaches, governance, strategic frameworks, and stakeholder participation.
• Rebuild team operations to establish project management systems, KPI tracking, assignment frameworks, and district investment analysis.
• Supervise up to six staff across policy, advocacy, advisory, and program areas.
• Provide strategic assignments, performance management, coaching, and workflow leadership.
• Support recruitment efforts and ensure operational alignment across the team.
• Use landscape analyses, needs assessments, and measurable indicators to identify opportunities and challenges across districts.
• Build strategic frameworks, produce recommendations and scenarios, and lead implementation planning.
• Transition the team from a grant-focused operating model to a comprehensive district investment and partnership approach including policy assessment and actions, facilitating multi-department collaborations, and special initiatives.
• Direct BIA exploration, formation, and growth efforts, including policy development and legislative coordination to unlock greater BIA potential to stimulate economic growth in business districts.
• Strengthen the City’s BIA landscape and network by establishing and driving key strategic priorities across BIAs that intersect with the City’s priorities.
• Manage team budgets, district investment strategies, forecasting, compliance, and financial reporting.
• Oversee contract management systems and personally manage key contracts and consultants.
• Ensure district projects align with strategy, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
• Represent OED in collaborations with departments such as Budget, Finance, DON, and Law.
• Provide briefings and strategic materials for City leadership including the Mayor’s Office and City Council.
• Prepare evaluations, legislative materials, investment reports, and other executive-level documentation.
• Establish new operating systems and tools that support project management, outcome tracking, and workflow coordination.
• Integrate or create systems that track improvements in district conditions year-over-year.
• Align team roles and assignments with classification, capacity, and strategic needs.

Qualifications

• Progressively responsible experience and skills in team and people management.
• Strategy development, implementation, and evaluation in economic development and/or business districts.
• Policy development and implementation.
• Project management and adoption of organizational systems and tools.
• Program management, including scoping, scenario development, planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Budget management, including forecasting, compliance, and investment modeling.
• Cross-department collaboration and partner engagement with measurable outcomes.
• KPI and goal development and performance tracking.
• Managing complex operational dynamics and resolving conflicts across stakeholders.
• Communicating effectively with executive stakeholders and diverse external partners.

Requirements

• Ability to lead an organizational pivot and establish new structures and systems using change management techniques and tools.
• Center the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) as a guiding principle when shaping strategy, evaluating district conditions, and designing investment and policy frameworks.
• Build trust, foster relationships, and navigate complex community and political dynamics with maturity, diplomacy, and cultural humility.
• Identify and leverage City policy and operational tools to influence district outcomes.
• Synthesize data, district insights, City priorities, and research into actionable strategy.
• Plan and facilitate decision-making among City leadership and partners.
• Balance long-term strategic planning with short-term operational needs.

Benefits

• The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.
• More information is available at Seattle Benefits .