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Economic Development Director Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

... Director of Development. Virginia Peninsula Community College is an accredited, two-year ... Brannon has positioned the College as a catalyst for talent development and economic mobility ...

$52K/yr

... economics (early childhood emphasis), elementary education, special education, or other fields ... For Assistant Child Development Director positions with the Department of the Air Force the ...

Government Affairs Director Location: Hampton Roads, VA (office-based with significant local travel ... Engage with economic development and planning leaders to influence housing policy and promote smart ...

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Economic Development Director information

See Virginia salary details

$48.1K

$122.9K

$200.3K

How much do economic development director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for economic development director in Virginia is $122,871.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,700.00 and $152,200.00 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Economic Development jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Economic Development jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Economic Development Director jobs in Virginia? For Economic Development Director jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Economic Development Director jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Economic Development Director job openings:

Sr. Vice President of Business Investment

City of Richmond

Richmond, VA

$108K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y. Respect. Equity

Accountability. Diversity...YOU!!. This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond

We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements: Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Language Incentive Referral Bonus Tuition Assistance Program Description The City of Richmond's Department of Economic Development seeks a results-oriented Senior Vice President of Business Investment (Senior Policy Advisory) to lead strategy and execution of the City's efforts to attract, retain, and engage businesses, and activate commercial corridors. This highly visible senior position will work with leaders across the City to manage mission-critical initiatives that will help shape the city's future.

Duties include but are not limited to Work directly with the Director, Senior Deputy Director, and other Department and City leaders to define priorities, positioning, and near- and long-term strategy. Oversee team focused on business attraction, retention, business engagement, and commercial corridor activation. In collaboration with colleagues in real estate and program administration, develop or oversee the development of policies and programs to activate commercial corridors, encourage placemaking, attract commercial investment, and support small businesses.

Lead or oversee high-stakes corporate recruitment and retention projects and prospecting opportunities, including proposal development, negotiations, and deal closures to secure new investments. Represent the City to press, elected leaders, and public and private partners. Serve on industry and community task forces, boards, or other collaborative initiatives to support economic and community growth.

Oversee team performance by tracking key performance metrics related to business investment efforts, ensuring transparency and accountability. Use data to continuously improve outcomes. Develop and manage annual budgets,employee work plans, consultant projects.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses Bachelor's degree in public administration, urban planning, public policy/political science, economic development, business administration, or a similarly related area of study. Seven years of progressively responsible related experience in an economic development organization that includes significant program management and supervisory experience. An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

PREFERRED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Master's degree in public administration, urban planning, public policy/political science, economic development, business administration, or a similarly related area of study. Ten years of progressively responsible related experience in an economic development organization that includes significant program management and supervisory experience. LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: A valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver's license KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Experience leading business attraction, expansion, and retention projects and initiatives. Demonstrated experience leading placemaking and commercial corridor initiatives, such as business improvement district efforts and street-level retail strategies. Proven ability to conceptualize, draft, and implement new policies and programs, including interpreting City and State regulations and effectively incorporating feedback from leadership and stakeholders.

Direct experience in managing and supervising economic development professionals. Experience building andmaintainingproductive relationships with corporate and community stakeholders. Experience leading complex cross-division and/or cross-department initiatives and special projects.

Experience creating and managing budgets. Experience presenting to City Councils, economic development authorities, planning commissions, and other similar governing bodies. Experience with Customer Relationship Management software (Salesforce) andoverseeing its use for business investment performance management and tracking.

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS:Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk; frequently finger, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; and occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, feel, and grasp. The working conditions may include environmental hazards.

In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Veronica Kenner, by email at HR-ADA@rva.gov. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training

The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company. The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.