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Director of Economic Development
CenterState CEO
Syracuse, NY, USA
Posted on May 1, 2025
Job Summary:
The Director of Economic Development will lead the design and execution of a forward-thinking, inclusive, and strategic economic development agenda for the Central New York region. This individual will play a critical role in attracting new businesses, supporting the expansion of existing ones, and ensuring that economic growth is equitable and accessible to all, especially communities that have been historically marginalized.
The Director will serve as a key liaison to site selectors, commercial real estate stakeholders, and business prospects, while maintaining a strong understanding of incentive programs, industry trends, and real estate development opportunities. They will also represent CenterState CEO at targeted trade shows, contribute to regional planning and thought leadership efforts, and support internal and external collaboration that aligns with broader Inclusive Growth goals.
All resumes should be submitted by Wednesday May 21st, 2025
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: (Additional duties may be assigned)
Business Attraction & Development
- Proactively build and maintain a pipeline of prospective companies interested in locating or expanding in the region.
- Respond to business inquiries with tailored site, workforce, community, and incentive information.
- Build and nurture relationships with site selectors, commercial real estate professionals, and business leaders to raise the region’s visibility.
- Plan and manage the organization’s presence at targeted industry trade shows to represent the CNY region effectively.
- Support key cluster and sector-based initiatives in collaboration with internal teams.
Real Estate & Site Development
- Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date database of development-ready sites.
- Provide support and guidance on site development and real estate projects aligned with business attraction and growth priorities.
- Understand and apply principles of deal structuring and project financing to support successful project implementation.
Strategic Initiatives & Inclusive Growth
- Collaborate closely with the Inclusive Growth team to embed equity and inclusion across all economic development strategies and initiatives.
- Contribute to strategic planning, team goal setting, and the implementation of organizational objectives.
- Support the President & CEO and SVP of Inclusive Growth on key projects and high-priority initiatives.
Data, Research & Incentives
- Maintain current knowledge of local, state, and federal economic development incentives and programs.
- Keep abreast of relevant demographic, labor, and industry data to support decision-making and external communication.
- Manage a portfolio of marketing collateral, data tools, and research resources that position the region competitively.
Leadership, Management & Grant Support
- Supervise and develop staff as needed, fostering professional growth and alignment with organizational values.
- Manage budgets, expenditures, and grants from implementation through reimbursement and deliverables.
- Support resource development efforts, including contributions to grant writing and reporting.