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Community Economic Development Jobs in Durham, NC

NCSU

Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program Lecturer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... and economic development. ARE is housed in Nelson Hall along with the Poole College of Management ... community. Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment ...

Doist

Senior Director, Development

Durham, NC · On-site

$200 - $235/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... power communities, support economic opportunity, and strengthen resilience. We believe our ... The Development organization leads asset development from early (site acquisition) to late (NTP ...

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All JobsCommunity Economic Development JobsCommunity Economic Development Jobs in Durham, NC

Community Economic Development information

See Durham, NC salary details

$30K

$99.5K

$149.8K

How much do community economic development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for community economic development in Durham, NC is $99,549.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,800.00 and $120,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is community economic development?

Community economic development (CED) is a process where local communities take action to stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life for their residents. This involves initiatives such as supporting small businesses, creating jobs, developing affordable housing, and fostering local leadership. CED often emphasizes collaboration among residents, local organizations, and government to address economic challenges and create sustainable, inclusive growth. The goal is to empower communities to drive their own economic futures while addressing social, environmental, and economic needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in community economic development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Community Economic Development, you need expertise in economic analysis, project management, and stakeholder engagement, often supported by a degree in economics, urban planning, or public administration. Familiarity with data analysis software, GIS tools, and grant writing platforms is typically required. Strong communication, cultural competency, and leadership skills distinguish top professionals in this field. These qualifications enable effective collaboration and sustainable solutions that drive economic growth and community well-being.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in community economic development roles and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Community Economic Development often encounter challenges such as limited funding, balancing diverse stakeholder interests, and navigating complex regulatory environments. Success in this role requires strong communication and negotiation skills to build consensus among community members, local businesses, and government agencies. Proactively seeking out grant opportunities, fostering collaborative partnerships, and staying informed about economic trends can help address these challenges and drive sustainable development projects.

What is the difference between Community Economic Development vs Economic Development Specialist?

AspectCommunity Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development Specialist
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in urban planning, public policy, or related fieldsSimilar credentials, often with additional certifications in economic analysis or project management
Work EnvironmentFocuses on local communities, nonprofits, government agenciesWorks in government, consulting firms, or economic development agencies
Employer & IndustryLocal governments, community organizations, non-profitsMunicipalities, economic development agencies, consulting firms
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in community-focused projectsExploring careers in economic growth strategies

Community Economic Development and Economic Development Specialist roles share similar credentials and work environments but differ in focus. Community Economic Development emphasizes local community projects and nonprofit collaborations, while Economic Development Specialists often work on broader economic growth strategies for municipalities or agencies. Both roles aim to promote economic prosperity but target different scopes within the industry.

What are popular job titles related to Community Economic Development jobs in Durham, NC?

For Community Economic Development jobs in Durham, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Community Economic Development jobs in Durham, NC look for?

The top searched job categories for Community Economic Development jobs in Durham, NC are:

What cities near Durham, NC are hiring for Community Economic Development jobs?

Cities near Durham, NC with the most Community Economic Development job openings:

Community Economic Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Community Economic Development job openings in Durham, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,549 per year, or $47.9 per hour.

Director - Strategic Partnerships (North Carolina-major employers HQd in North Carolina, Economic...

UNC-Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 48 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

312th of 618 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Information
Department IEED-Carolina Impact Ventures-201460 Career Area Other Posting Open Date 07/27/2026 Application Deadline 08/10/2026 Open Until Filled No Position Type Permanent Staff (EHRA NF) Working Title Director - Strategic Partnerships (North Carolina-major employers HQd in North Carolina, Economic Development organizations) Appointment Type EHRA Non-Faculty Position Number 20003317 Vacancy ID NF0009915 Full Time/Part Time Full-Time Permanent FTE 1 Hours per week 40 Position Location North Carolina, US Hiring Range Dependent on experience and qualifications Proposed Start Date 10/05/2026
Position Information
Be a Tar Heel!
A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.
One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.
University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The Office of Strategic Partnerships, powered by Innovate Carolina within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (IEED), is Carolina's single front door for industry. For 230+ years Carolina has advanced its mission through partnership with the state, federal government, and industry; this Office exists to make that partnership easy, fast, and strategic. Carolina is rich in activity but fragmented 674 corporate partners and 929 active agreements spread across roughly 25 units, with no one 'selling the firm.' The Office runs a hub-and-spoke, concierge model: one coordinated front door that handles intake, triage, escalation, and orchestration while the right campus experts schools, faculty, research offices, and development remain in the lead on delivery. Its operating principles are simple: one front door; move at the partner's pace, or faster; communicate exceptionally well; lead with 'how can we help,' never with an ask; and go big, not broad 1-5 strategic, institution-level partnerships rather than dozens of pilots. The Office has the concierge ability to understand the full range of university capabilities that can help partners now and to imagine and build new capabilities for what comes next.
Position Summary
Bottom line: you will make Carolina the best university partner for North Carolina's major employers and economic-development organizations, and help build the next chapter of Carolina's excellence.
Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, the Director owns this vertical end to end. You own your vertical and you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with the other Directors of Strategic Partnerships, individual academic units (schools, institutes, and faculty), and the Partnership Success Managers who steward each relationship through the life of the partnership.
This role demands deep industry knowledge and contacts. Table stakes on day one is the ability to pick up the phone and call the leaders of five major firms in your domain for example, the largest employers headquartered in North Carolina, and the leaders of the state's economic-development organizations understand what they actually need, and map those needs to Carolina's research capabilities, faculty expertise, talent pipeline, and innovation infrastructure then add in what makes Carolina unique. You will run the full partnership cycle: identify the right organizations, open the door (often through Carolina's 330,000-strong alumni network), discover the partner's real needs, match them to Carolina's capabilities, and close institutional-scale agreements. Once signed, you remain the executive relationship anchor for renewal and expansion while Partnership Success Managers drive activation and delivery.
Carolina has the assets to be this century's best university partner: $200M in active industry research, 674 corporate partners, 929 active agreements across 97 departments, 200+ IP-based startups generating $8 billion in annual economic impact, and an alumni network 330,000 strong (with 180+ verified Director-and-above leaders inside Fortune 1000 firms). What Carolina has not yet built is a single front door and that gap costs roughly Tens of millions in research and support relative to peers. You are hired to close it. Carolina North a once-in-the-life-of-the-institution development is envisioned as a place where partners can plant a flag: co-locate teams, build centers, and build the future alongside Carolina faculty and students. The Director hired into this role will define how Carolina shows up to industry for the next decade.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Master's or Bachelor's and 0-2 years' experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
* Bachelor's degree and 10 years of specific industry experience; or a Master's degree and 5 years of specific industry experience. Specific industry experience means direct, hands-on experience inside or selling into the vertical for this position.
* Deep, current industry experience and contacts in the vertical you bring an active, personal network of senior leaders you can reach directly, not a list you would need to build.
* AI as a teammate. You already use frontier AI tools every day to research, draft, analyze, and move faster, and you can show specifically how you do it. Carolina expects this role to be an operational leader in applying AI to accelerate the work.
* A strong desire for self-directed, autonomous work. You set your own pace, operate on 'more forgiveness than permission,' and deliver high-quality outcomes without close supervision.
* A track record of building trusted relationships with senior leaders across business, government, and academia, and translating complex needs into creative, executable solutions.
* Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication smart brevity, and the credibility to represent Carolina in front of a C-suite.
* The ability to collaborate across a matrixed institution with the other Directors of Strategic Partnerships, deans, faculty, development, legal counsel, and Partnership Success Managers and to build relationships with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
* A creative, strategic, results-oriented work style and a genuine commitment to public service and Carolina's mission.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
We are looking for unique multidisciplinary skill sets. These qualifications are intentionally aspirational and filtering; the strongest candidates will meet most of them.
* A personal track record of sourcing and closing $25M+ in cumulative partnerships, sponsored-research agreements, MOUs, or strategic commercial deals over your career including at least one institutional-scale agreement closed with a C-suite or senior-executive counterpart at a Fortune 1000 or comparable organization.
* Day-one access to the leaders of at least five marquee firms in your domain. You can pick up the phone today and reach senior decision-makers (VP-level and above) at the category-defining organizations in your domain the largest employers headquartered in North Carolina (Fortune 500 firms across banking, energy, technology, and life sciences) and the state's economic-development organizations and major supporters the NC Chamber of Commerce and area/regional chambers, the Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC), the NC Department of Commerce, the Research Triangle Park, and the NC Biotechnology Center and they will take your call.
* Established relationships across North Carolina's economic-development ecosystem and its major supporters current and future. You can activate, from day one, relationships with current supporters such as the NC Chamber of Commerce and area/regional chambers of commerce, and with statewide partners such as the Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC), the NC Department of Commerce, the Research Triangle Park, and the NC Biotechnology Center.
* 10+ years of direct experience inside or selling into major North Carolina employers and the state's economic-development ecosystem.
* Demonstrated ability to translate complex organizational capabilities research, talent, intellectual property, programs, infrastructure into customized value propositions that solve real partner problems, with a written proposal delivered in 30 days or less.
* Experience negotiating contracts and partnership agreements in coordination with legal counsel, executive leadership, faculty, and operating partners.
* CRM proficiency (Salesforce or comparable): fluency in pipeline management, opportunity forecasting, and deal-stage discipline.
* Familiarity with the university research enterprise, technology transfer, sponsored research administration, or higher-education industry engagement is a strong plus.
* Willingness and ability to travel within North Carolina and nationally as needed.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions
Please apply via the following link:| https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/322888.
As part of your application, please include your CV/resume, a cover letter and the
contact details of three professional references.
Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/322888
Posting Contact Information
Department Contact Name and Title Alekya Padmanabhuni, HR Specialist Department Contact Telephone or Email alekya@email.unc.edu Office of Human Resources Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu
Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), located in Chapel Hill, NC, US, is renowned for being one of the leading research institutes in the world. Operating within the education industry, this public research university offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across various disciplines. UNC-Chapel Hill was chartered in 1789 and has maintained its legacy of academic excellence and innovative research for more than two centuries. The institution operates under the core values of excellence, innovation, engagement, accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity. Their mission is to serve the people of North Carolina and the United States by teaching a diverse community of students to become the next generation of leaders.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Chapel Hill, NC, US

Year founded

1789

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