Development Economics Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $115,500.00 - $169,500.00 Annually
Location : Port of Portland Headquarters - 7200 NE Airport Way, Portland 97218, OR
Job Type: Full-Time Administrative
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 02241
Division: Trade & Economic Development
Department: Marine Properties Admin
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
FLSA: Exempt
The Position
The Port of Portland is hiring a Marine Real Estate Development Manager
The Marine Real Estate Development Manager leads the planning, entitlement, and development of environmentally complex maritime properties, driving strategies that maximize economic value and long-term sustainability. This role requires deep expertise in complex transaction negotiations, real estate development processes, financial modeling, and capital project execution to advance the Port's financial performance and real estate portfolio. The Marine Real Estate Development Manager will structure public-private partnerships (P3s), secure development financing, and manage large-scale infrastructure and site development projects to support regional economic growth.
From the hiring manager:
Are you a seasoned maritime professional who thrives on complex real estate negotiations and shaping the future of Portland's working waterfront? The Marine Real Estate Development Manager leads the planning and development of key marine industrial properties, advancing the Port of Portland's marine real estate and economic development strategies. This role is well-suited for someone with a strong maritime background and experience negotiating real estate, business, and partnership agreements in a complex stakeholder environment.
This role is ideal for an individual with in-depth knowledge of the marine industry, strong business acumen, and a proven track record of negotiating complex agreements among public agencies, private firms, tenants, and regulatory stakeholders. You'll lead the strategy and execution behind transformative marine projects, balancing commercial opportunity, infrastructure investment, environmental considerations, and long-term stewardship of critical maritime assets. If you enjoy bringing together diverse interests to deliver lasting economic impact, this is an opportunity to help shape the future of one of the Pacific Northwest's most important trade gateways.
Essential Job Duties
Marine Real Estate Development & Transaction Execution

• Lead Property Development: Lead planning, entitlement, and redevelopment of Port-owned maritime and industrial properties to maximize economic value and long-term sustainability. Maintain a strong understanding of Port-connected rail systems, intermodal logistics networks, and freight transportation operations supporting marine assets, development, and cargo movement.
• Manage Development Due Diligence: Oversee environmental review, permitting, regulatory compliance, site constraints, and due diligence for waterfront, industrial, and environmentally complex redevelopment projects.
• Negotiate Complex Transactions: Structure and negotiate leases, acquisitions, dispositions, development agreements, and asset repositioning strategies to optimize financial return and portfolio value. Structure and support P3s and capital investment partnerships that advance redevelopment and long-term asset utilization. Understand ownership, operational responsibilities, maintenance obligations, and access agreements associated with on-dock and near-dock rail infrastructure.

Financial Analysis, Investment Structuring & Portfolio Performance

• Conduct Financial Feasibility Analysis: analyze financial models, pro formas, feasibility studies, and return-on-investment scenarios to evaluate project viability.
• Development Financing: Support capital planning, budgeting, grant funding, and investment prioritization initiatives for Port development programs. Leverage grants, incentives, debt financing, tax-advantaged tools, and other public and private capital sources to improve project feasibility and long-term sustainability.
• Monitor Financial Performance: Track budgets, project performance, portfolio metrics, and key performance indicators to support fiscal stewardship and maximize asset value. Identify opportunities to enhance value across marine, industrial, logistics, and intermodal real estate assets through redevelopment, repositioning, and strategic partnerships.
• Evaluate Investment Risk & Return: Conduct cost-benefit analysis and assess financial tradeoffs to optimize capital deployment and mitigate risk.

Business Development, Market Analysis & Strategic Partnerships

• Conduct Market & Feasibility Research: Analyze market conditions, industry trends, and development opportunities to inform real estate investment decisions. Evaluate emerging technologies and smart-port development opportunities. Seek opportunities to promote sustainable marine development and resilient Port infrastructure.
• Support Business Development Opportunities: Identify prospects and support tenant, investor and development partner negotiations to strengthen revenue generation and portfolio growth.
• Develop Strategic Partnerships: Structure and support joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and strategic relationships that advance economic development objectives.
• Prepare Strategic Recommendations: Deliver analyses, reports, and recommendations to support management decision-making, land use planning, and long-term portfolio strategy.

Full job description available upon request.
This posting will remain up until the role is filled.
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree - Business, Real Estate, or a maritime studies-related field. (Additional experience may substitute for the education qualifications).
• Six (6) + years of progressively responsible work experience, marine infrastructure, port development, including commercial real estate and/or property management and business development.
  1. Experience managing large-scale waterfront or maritime development projects.
• Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced experience with the maritime industry and best practices in real estate.
• Advanced experience with a full range of real estate principles and practices while advancing shared prosperity.
• Advanced experience with due diligence and regulatory compliance, including land use, title, entitlements, and environmental review, with a particular focus on marine-related assets.
• Advanced experience with building and analyzing financial pro formas, conducting feasibility studies, and structuring real estate financing.

Supplemental and Selection Information
Selection Process: (tentative schedule):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of the education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources.
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials.
3. Our goal is to notify candidates who are selected for interviews promptly. We will then schedule the virtual first round of interviews with candidates who successfully passed the SME evaluation. Panel Interviews will be held afterward.

About us:
At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region's success. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!
Do you have questions about this job?
Contact us: careers@portofportland.com
Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.
Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.
ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.
Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal
At the Port of Portland, we strive to offer a holistic and comprehensive benefits package for employees and their families. We care about your health by offering highly-subsidized healthcare plans that include alternative care. We look out for you and for family by paying for life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage. We participate in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement program. We provide access to additional coverage and benefits including pre-tax spending accounts, voluntary term life insurance, a deferred compensation plan, and critical illness and accident insurance policies.
We go above and beyond by offering an award-winning wellness program for all employees to engage in. Employees can tend to their physical and mental health, earn rewards, and create community. Our employee assistance program supports the Port's commitment to emotional and mental well-being by providing mental health services, discounts on local gyms, and pet insurance for companions.
Our commitment to work-life balance ensures you have time to spend with loved ones and do the things you enjoy. We offer generous vacation time that accrues with length of service, sick leave that never expires and can be used for dependent care, health maintenance and mental health, and 8 weeks of paid parental leave - all in addition to 10 paid holidays. As an added bonus - because we know employees use their time off differently - once a year we give employees the opportunity to convert sick leave to personal leave, and to convert vacation leave to either cash, a retirement plan contribution, or a contribution to a Health Savings Account.
Please note: Some benefits vary by job type/group, so please be sure to review your comprehensive benefit guide and/or collective bargaining agreement upon hire to confirm what is available to you.
01
Briefly describe your experience managing large-scale waterfront or maritime development projects (required).
02
Please confirm your understanding (by answering YES) that this role requires an on-site presence at the Port of Portland offices/facilities a minimum of 3 days a week.

• Yes
• No

Required Question