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Economic Development Director Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Circle

$212K - $272K/yr

... Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to ... Core Requirements: * 12+ years of extensive experience in traditional capital markets, with direct ...

Circle

$212K - $272K/yr

... Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to ... Core Requirements: * 12+ years of extensive experience in traditional capital markets, with direct ...

Circle

$212K - $272K/yr

... Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to ... Core Requirements: * 12+ years of extensive experience in traditional capital markets, with direct ...

Circle

$212K - $272K/yr

... Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to ... Core Requirements: * 12+ years of extensive experience in traditional capital markets, with direct ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsEconomic Development Director JobsEconomic Development Director Jobs in Indiana

Economic Development Director information

See Indiana salary details

$46.2K

$117.9K

$192.2K

How much do economic development director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for economic development director in Indiana is $117,931.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,200.00 and $146,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectEconomic Development DirectorEconomic Development Specialist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Economics, Business, or Public Administration; experience in economic planningSimilar credentials, often with less managerial experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership role in government agencies or economic development organizationsSupport role, assisting with projects and research
Employer & IndustryMunicipalities, regional agencies, economic development firmsLocal government departments, economic development offices
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles in economic developmentLearning about supporting roles in economic growth projects

The main difference between an Economic Development Director and an Economic Development Specialist lies in their level of responsibility and leadership. The Director oversees strategic planning and manages teams, while the Specialist focuses on supporting projects and research. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work within government or economic organizations, but the Director holds a higher managerial position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Economic Development Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Economic Development Director, you need expertise in economic analysis, project management, and public policy, typically supported by a degree in economics, public administration, or a related field. Familiarity with economic modeling software, GIS tools, and grant management systems is often required, along with certifications such as Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). Strong leadership, strategic communication, and relationship-building abilities help foster collaboration among public, private, and community stakeholders. These skills are crucial for identifying growth opportunities, securing funding, and driving sustainable economic progress in a community or region.

What are the main challenges Economic Development Directors face when balancing community needs and business interests?

Economic Development Directors often need to align the interests of local businesses, government stakeholders, and community members, which can be challenging due to differing priorities. For example, attracting new businesses might conflict with preserving community character or addressing affordable housing. Success in this role frequently involves transparent communication, creative problem-solving, and building consensus through public engagement and strategic partnerships. Navigating these complexities requires adaptability and a strong understanding of both economic trends and local needs.

What does an Economic Development Director do?

An Economic Development Director is responsible for creating and implementing strategies to promote economic growth within a community or region. They work to attract new businesses, support existing ones, and encourage job creation by collaborating with local government officials, business leaders, and community organizations. Their duties often include managing economic incentive programs, overseeing redevelopment projects, and conducting market research to identify opportunities for development. Ultimately, their goal is to improve the local economy and enhance the quality of life for residents.

What Is an Economic Development Director?

An economic development director is a city government employee who helps spur the city economy. Your two biggest responsibilities are to persuade new businesses to move into your town and to encourage existing businesses to expand. You attend fundraising events for civic and business groups and interact with donors to make connections with potentially valuable economic partners. Your duties include developing strategic programs for economic and financial growth, analyzing market trends, writing city tax policy proposals, and advising the city manager and the city council.

More about Economic Development Director jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Economic Development jobs in Indiana? The most popular types of Economic Development jobs in Indiana are:
What are popular job titles related to Economic Development Director jobs in Indiana? For Economic Development Director jobs in Indiana, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Economic Development Director jobs in Indiana look for? The top searched job categories for Economic Development Director jobs in Indiana are:
What cities in Indiana are hiring for Economic Development Director jobs? Cities in Indiana with the most Economic Development Director job openings:
Economic Development Director jobs near you
Director of Statewide Economic and Community Engagement (Bus Partnerships Leader)

Director of Statewide Economic and Community Engagement (Bus Partnerships Leader)

Indiana University

Bloomington, IN • On-site

$141K - $146K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

The Director of Statewide Economic and Community Engagement is responsible for advancing Indiana University's economic engagement mission across IU's regional campuses, IU Indianapolis, and IU Bloomington. Reporting to the Vice President for Government and Community Relations, this role works closely with campus leaders, state and local government officials, economic development organizations, industry partners, foundations, and community stakeholders to develop and execute strategies that support regional economic growth and align with the goals of the IU 2030 strategic plan.
Department Specific Responsibilities
  • Serves as a key connector between IU campuses and external partners, helping to identify, pursue, and cultivate partnerships and alliances across the private, public, philanthropic, and not-for-profit sectors.
  • Provides primary oversight for IU's work related to the Lilly Endowment Inc. College and Community Collaboration grant, including coordination, implementation, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with broader university and community development priorities.
  • Provides leadership, direction, and accountability for projects and initiatives related to regional economic engagement, community development, grant strategy, and statewide impact.
  • Supervises 2 full-time staff members.
General Responsibilities
  • Leads and oversees complex business partnerships across multiple teams or functional areas, ensuring services and outcomes align with institutional priorities, operational needs, and compliance requirements.
  • Proactively identifies operational risks, partnership gaps, and process inefficiencies across work groups; lead root-cause analysis and implement solutions that improve service delivery and operational effectiveness.
  • Serves as a key liaison between internal stakeholders and external partners, facilitating collaboration, managing expectations, and resolving complex operational issues that span multiple units or disciplines.
  • Adapts departmental plans, priorities, and resource allocations to address evolving operational demands, institutional initiatives, and capacity constraints.
  • Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
  • Researches and stays up-to-date on new industry best practice standards, initiatives, potential funding sources, and partnership options; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.
  • Provides people leadership across multiple work groups, including hiring, performance management, coaching, and corrective action, while supporting employee engagement, development, and retention.
  • Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; act as advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees, communities of practice, and task forces related to institutional advancement initiatives and partnerships.
Qualifications
Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.
EDUCATION
Required
  • Bachelor's degree In related field
WORK EXPERIENCE
Required
  • 4 years In relationship building, outreach, engagement, public relations, or related field
  • 1 year of management experience
Preferred
  • 5 years of experience in a related field
  • 3 years of management experience
SKILLS
Required
  • Proficient communication skills
  • Highly thorough and dependable
  • Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
  • Ability to represent the company with external constituents
  • Ability to build strong customer relationships
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
  • Excellent collaboration and team building skills
  • Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills
  • Builds and manages effective teams
  • Effective conflict management skills
Working Conditions / Demands
This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.
Additional Information
In-state travel for regional visits and collaboration, as well as attendance at select conferences, will be required, up to 25%.
Work Location
Bloomington, Indiana
This is an in-person position.
Advertised Salary
$141,780 - $146,033 annually, depending upon qualifications.
Benefits Overview
For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:
  • Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
  • Health savings account with generous IU contributions
  • Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
  • Basic group life insurance paid by IU
  • Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
  • Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
  • Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
  • Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
  • 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
  • Generous paid time off plans
  • Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
  • Employee assistance program (EAP)
Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure .
Job Classification
Career Level: Sr. Operational
FLSA: Exempt
Job Function: Development & Advancement
Job Family: Bus Partner & Corp Relations
Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.
Posting Disclaimer
This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.
If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information .
Campus Safety and Security
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online . You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.
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