Executive Vice President, Development

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Executive Vice President (EVP) of Development is responsible for building and managing the City of St. Louis’ development pipeline, spanning real estate projects, developers, new business attraction, and business retention.

This role serves as the primary engine for deal flow and developer engagement at SLDC. The EVP ensures that developers, businesses, and investors experience a clear, coordinated, and predictable pathway to executing projects in the City.

The EVP of Development leads the strategy, systems, and team responsible for:

• Generating qualified development opportunities 
• Attracting and retaining businesses 
• Managing relationships with developers and corporate partners 
• Delivering a high-quality, coordinated “developer experience”

Success in this role is measured by the strength, quality, and conversion of SLDC’s pipeline into executed projects and sustained economic activity.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Development Pipeline Creation & Management

• Build and maintain a qualified pipeline of: 
  • Real estate development projects 
  • Active and prospective developers 
  • Business attraction opportunities 

• Establish clear criteria for what constitutes a “qualified opportunity” 
• Track pipeline progression from initial engagement through project execution 
• Partner with Major Projects, LRA, and Neighborhood Partnerships teams to ensure pipeline alignment with SLDC strategic focus. 

2. Developer & Business Relationship Management

• Serve as the executive leader responsible for developer and business relationships across the City 
• Ensure consistent engagement with: 
  • Local and national developers 
  • Corporate and institutional employers 
  • Site selectors and intermediaries 
• Develop and implement a business retention and expansion strategy 
• Build long-term trust with repeat developers and investors 

3. Developer Experience (Single Point of Coordination)

• Design and operationalize a best-in-class developer experience model, including: 
  • Clear points of contact for each project 
  • Coordinated navigation of City processes and approvals 
  • Transparent timelines and expectations 

• Ensure developers receive: 
  • Accurate and timely information 
  • Coordinated access to incentives and resources 
  • A consistent and professional experience across SLDC and City departments 

4. Incentives Strategy & Deployment

• Oversee the alignment of incentives with development strategy and project feasibility 
• Ensure incentives are: 
  • Structured effectively 
  • Deployed efficiently 
  • Aligned with City priorities and financial sustainability 

5. Business Attraction & Retention

• Lead strategy and execution for: 
  • New business recruitment 
  • Business expansion within the City 
• Develop targeted outreach strategies based on industry sectors and market opportunities 
• Coordinate with regional partners to position St. Louis competitively 

6. Systems, Data & Operational Infrastructure

• Lead the development and refinement of internal tools to support pipeline management, including: 
  • CRM (e.g., Salesforce) optimization 
  • Pipeline tracking and reporting systems 
• Support the development of advanced tools such as: 
  • Digital twin capabilities 
  • Market intelligence platforms 
• Establish clear performance dashboards and reporting mechanisms 

7. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with: 
  • SVP, Real Estate (project readiness and execution) 
  • VP, LRA (land strategy and site control) 
  • COO (operational alignment and performance management) 
• Ensure seamless handoffs between: 
  • Pipeline creation, project execution, asset stabilization 

8. Performance & Accountability

• Establish and manage KPIs, including: 
  • Pipeline size and quality 
  • Project conversion rates 
  • Time-to-deal execution 
  • Business retention and expansion metrics 
• Regularly report performance to the CEO and Board 
• Drive a culture of execution, responsiveness, and accountability 

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• SLDC maintains a visible, active, and growing pipeline of development opportunities 
• Developers describe St. Louis as a clear and predictable place to do business 
• Projects move from concept to execution faster and with fewer breakdowns 
• Business retention efforts result in measurable expansions and reduced attrition 
• SLDC is recognized as a high-functioning, coordinated economic development organization 

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred 
• 10 years of experience in economic development, real estate development, business development, or related field 
• Demonstrated experience: 
  • Managing complex stakeholder environments 
  • Leading teams responsible for deal flow or pipeline generation 
  • Structuring or supporting development projects and/or business attraction 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strong understanding of: 
  • Real estate development processes 
  • Economic incentives and public finance tools 
  • Business attraction and retention strategies 
• Ability to: 
  • Build and manage high-level relationships 
  • Translate strategy into executable systems 
  • Operate effectively in a fast-paced, politically dynamic environment 
• Strong communication and negotiation skills 

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

The ideal candidate:

• Is highly execution-oriented and outcome-driven 
• Brings clarity and structure to complex, ambiguous environments 
• Builds trust quickly with both internal teams and external stakeholders 
• Holds teams accountable while enabling them to succeed 
• Balances urgency with discipline in decision-making 

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK
This is a full-time, exempt position with health benefits and paid time off. While our traditional work hours are from 8:00
am to 5:00 pm, SLDC follows a standard work schedule of 40 hours per week for full-time employees. Evening and
weekend work is required as job duties demand.

SLDC is committed to building a team with a wide range of experiences and perspectives. SLDC strongly encourages applications from people of
color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ candidates, and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin,
ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, or any statuses protected by law.

Salary : $200,000