Position: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Starting Salary: $90,000 - $95,000 (exempt, salaried position) plus benefits
Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000
Reports To: VP of Planning & Economic Development
Location: In-person at DSFP offices in downtown San Francisco, California
Deadline: May 30th, 2025
Who We ARE
The Downtown SF Partnership (DSFP) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing supplemental and enhanced cleaning and safety services, marketing and events, public realm improvements, and economic development services to support a clean, safe, vibrant, and memorable downtown San Francisco. Founded in 2020, DSFP services 43-blocks of San Francisco’s traditional Financial District and the Jackson Square Historic District through property assessments ($4.6M/year), supplemented by grants and sponsorships.
DSFP’s a leading voice in reimagining downtown San Francisco as mixed-use urban environment comprised of office, entertainment, arts and culture, and hospitality uses, with emerging AI technology and venture capital firms moving into the district. Downtown San Francisco is an economic powerhouse for the city, State, and country. It is small in geographic size accounting for approximately 4% of San Francisco’s total land area but generating up to 70% of the city’s GDP.
What We’re Seeking
As the Economic Development Manager, you’ll join a 5-year-old, 8-person, award-winning, organization working on impactful, highly visible projects and initiatives helping shape downtown San Francisco’s future. Reporting to the VP of Planning & Economic Development & Planning, you’ll work cross-functionally with a professional team comprised of backgrounds in marketing and communications, social media, operations, placemaking, urban planning, architecture, and project management. We’re seeking an enthusiastic, thoughtful person who brings subject matter expertise, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for economic development towards downtown regeneration. You can demonstrate experience working in high-functioning team where you thrive on building transformational relationships and very comfortable with navigating environments where flexibility, organization, and drive lead to success.
How You Will Spend Your Time
Strategy and Program Development, and Policy
· Identify, develop, and advance economic development opportunities that enhance the district’s livability, vibrancy, and regeneration efforts, sometime in partnership with relevant downtown stakeholders.
· Build strong, engaging relationships with property owners, property managers, asset managers, brokers, tenants, ground floor businesses, civic leaders and organizations to drive collaboration and shared success.
· Lead strategies and tactics for ground floor business attraction and matchmaking program with property owners and small businesses.
· Monitor and track policymaking bodies to identify proposals that will impact Downtown SF.
· Synthesize complex information into focused policy fact sheets, action alerts, letters of support, and other advocacy materials.
· Brief DSFP leadership and economic development partners on emerging trends and special analysis that support downtown’s economic development, planning, policy, and advocacy work.
Research, Data Analysis, and Mapping
· Track, synthesize, and ensure quality control of reports and data analyses related to downtown metrics, including pedestrian activity, transit, hospitality, development, and office tenancy, while collaborating with stakeholders and government agencies to research, aggregate, and communicate key demographic, employment, real estate, and cultural statistics.
· Develop and advance new data collection methods, surveys programs, and technologies as well as manage and enhance DSFP’s in-house data collection platforms such as Placer.AI and Costar.
· Maintain and improve the organizational CRM database, assisting with the development of new database capacity and functionality, identification of downtown businesses and stakeholders, and packaging of information through visual and geospatial analysis.
· Create data visualizations using ArcGIS, including heat maps and custom parcel maps.
· Build and export geospatial datasets by integrating ESRI and third-party data with internal records.
· Develop interactive mapping features and dashboard configurations and visuals using Infogram.
· Evaluate and source relevant geospatial datasets from both paid and open source platforms.
· Produce and design compelling, visually attractive, interactive economic data reports for internal and external audiences, such as the Annual Report and Mid-Year Report and DSFP’s website, blogs, newsletters, social media and other publications.
Stakeholder Engagement
· Serve as a community convener in multiple capacities, such as building and maintaining strong relationships with downtown stakeholders (City of San Francisco staff, local economic development non-profits, property owners and managers, commercial and retail brokers, office tenants, and ground floor businesses).
· Cultivate and manage relationships with property owners, developers, and commercial brokers to support investment and activation efforts.
· Organize and lead stakeholder meetings, roundtables, and strategic one-on-one engagements to advance revitalization initiatives.
· Engage regularly with office tenants, retail operators, and small businesses to understand needs and identify opportunities for support.
· Collect and synthesize stakeholder feedback to inform program design, economic strategy, and policy recommendations.
· Share economic data, market insights, and mapping products to help stakeholders make informed decisions.
Position Expectations
· Think strategically, keeping the big picture and broad organizational objectives in mind.
· Demonstrate emotional intelligence and self-awareness, inspire confidence and trust, and welcome feedback towards continuous improvement.
· Creative and strategic thinking, with a preference for strong problem-solving skills with an ability to think creatively and align economic development work to department and organizational objectives.
· Consistently demonstrates high levels of professionalism, integrity, teamwork, respect for others, and accountability in all aspects of the position.
· Ability to identify and solve problems with drive, flexibility, and resourcefulness.
· Work well under pressure and adapt easily to changing situations and priorities, while exercising good judgment and staying focused on overarching goals.
· Perform other duties as assigned, including select special project work benefiting the economic development department and the organization.
· Must be able to engage in a range of physical activity, including standing or sitting at a desk and walking (sometimes on uneven surfaces) for an extended period.
Requirements/Qualifications
· A bachelor’s degree in economics, public administration, statistics, geographic information sciences, urban planning, community-based development, finance, or a related field.
· A minimum of 5 years of experience in research and data analysis, statistics, analytical reporting, economic development, commercial real estate, or related. Applied graduate coursework will not be considered towards relevant experience.
· An understanding of the roles business improvement districts/community benefit districts and the role they play in driving public and private sector investment and economic impacts.
· Experience using Microsoft Office & Google Workspace are required.
· Technical proficiency using Tableau, ArcView, Placer.ai, CoStar, Infogram, Canva, and other economic development and mapping and data visualization platforms.
· Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
Position Specifications, Compensation & Benefits
Starting Salary: $90,000 - $95,000 (exempt, salaried position) plus benefits
Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000
DSFP offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and skills, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer paid healthcare, dental and vision plan, 2-weeks PTO, 14 paid holidays, additional PTO week between Christmas and New Year’s, a monthly pre-tax commuter benefit, 401k plan with a 3% employer match, and a life insurance policy. DSFP also offers opportunities to attend conferences, workshops, and community networking events.
Hours & Work Environment
Work hours are typically 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday in-person. Evening and weekend work may be required to support meetings and special events. The work environment is highly-collaborative, fast-paced, evolving, and dynamic, offering exposure to impactful projects and decision-makers shaping downtown San Francisco.
To Apply
The Downtown SF Partnership is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
To be considered for this position, you must send a resume, brief cover letter, and work samples to Robbie Silver, President & CEO at [email protected] with “Econ” in the subject line. Resumes without a cover letter and work samples will not be considered.
Application Deadline: May 30th, 2025