Economic Development Manager

Job Title: Economic Development Manager

Location: San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

About Us: The San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) is an innovative

independent 501(c)(3) corporation established to mobilize private capital and civic expertise to fund

and implement high impact initiatives that jumpstart long-term economic development in downtown

San Francisco. More information can be found at www.sfddc.org.

About the Role: The San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) seeks an

experienced and entrepreneurial Economic Development Manager 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 managing and growing the Downtown Business Fund (DBF) — DDC’s flagship

grant, loan-referral, and technical-assistance program for storefront businesses — while

simultaneously developing and executing a broader strategy to attract businesses and anchor

institutions to downtown San Francisco.

The Manager 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. The role reports to the Vice President and works closely with program staff,

legal counsel, banking partners, public sector counterparts, and DDC’s board of directors.

Key Responsibilities:

Downtown Business Fund — Program Management

● Oversee day-to-day administration of the DBF, including application intake and review, applicant

scoring, award determinations, disbursement coordination, and ongoing program monitoring.

● 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.

● Manage DDC’s relationships with banking partners and co-administrator SF New Deal, ensuring

alignment across program operations, portal functionality, and participant referrals.

● 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.

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.

Economic Development Planning & Analysis

● Develop and manage a comprehensive business attraction and 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.

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: $150,000–$180,000 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.

How to Apply: To express interest in the role, please submit a resume or CV to jobs@sfddc.org with

the subject “Economic Development Manager”. If desired, you may submit a cover letter or additional

supporting materials. All applications will be considered confidential.

Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.