Economic Development Manager Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Description About the Opportunity The Town of Zebulon is seeking a strategic, results-oriented Economic Development Director who can build relationships, advance priority projects, and translate the Town's economic development strategy into measurable progress. This position offers the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of one of the fastest-growing communities in eastern Wake County. Zebulon is changing quickly.

Over the past two years, the Town has grown by approximately 133%, with much of that growth driven by residential development. This growth creates both opportunity and urgency. Zebulon must attract the commercial development, services, amenities, jobs, and investment needed to support residents, strengthen quality of life, and expand the Town's commercial tax base.

At the same time, Zebulon is working to define its identity in the midst of growth. The Town is balancing its small-town character with the realities of becoming a larger, more complex community. With a permanent Town Manager in place, the organization is focused on operational effectiveness, efficiency, public trust, smart growth, and long-term economic viability for residents and businesses.

This is a meaningful opportunity for an economic development professional who is energized by challenge, motivated by steady progress, and interested in helping a growing community turn strategy into results. The successful candidate will understand that economic development results take time and that progress often comes through small wins: a new employer relationship, an activated property, a stronger partner alignment, a business choosing Zebulon, or a clearer project pipeline taking shape. The Role The Economic Development Director reports to the Town Manager, serves as part of the Town's executive leadership team, and leads a two-person department.

The Director will have the opportunity to hire and supervise the position responsible for Main Street, downtown development, and small business development, while focusing on broader economic development strategy, employer engagement, commercial recruitment, strategic growth areas, partner coordination, investment readiness, and performance reporting. This is a role for someone who enjoys building structure, setting priorities, forming partnerships, solving problems, and seeing progress take shape over time. The Town is building its economic development capacity, and the Director will help shape the systems, relationships, and practices that support long-term results.

What Zebulon Needs Zebulon needs a practical, relationship-oriented economic development leader who can help the Town: Advance commercial development that supports residents' lifestyle, service, recreational, and daily needs. Strengthen and diversify the Town's commercial tax base as residential growth continues. Support existing employers and help position them for retention, expansion, and workforce success.

Attract businesses that improve quality of life, including restaurants, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, personal services, specialty retail, professional services, and other community-serving businesses. Advance strategic growth areas, including Wakefield, W. Gannon Avenue, Downtown, Nomaco Stadium, and Triangle East Business Park.

Support investment readiness by coordinating with Town departments and partners on infrastructure, land use, redevelopment, transportation, workforce, tourism, and capital planning efforts that affect economic development. Build and maintain a project and prospect pipeline that helps the Town track activity, communicate progress, and make informed decisions. Why Zebulon Zebulon is a community at a defining moment.

Growth is already happening. The opportunity now is to shape that growth in a way that strengthens the Town's economy, supports residents and businesses, improves quality of life, and preserves the character that makes Zebulon unique. For the right candidate, this position offers more than a job.

It offers the opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact. Detailed Work Activities Develop and manage annual economic development priorities and a practical work plan aligned with Board goals, adopted plans, available resources, staff capacity, and market opportunities. Lead implementation of the Town's economic development strategy with emphasis on clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and coordinated execution.

Maintain relationships with major employers, existing businesses, developers, property owners, brokers, entrepreneurs, and economic development partners. Develop a structured business retention and expansion approach appropriate for a small department, including employer outreach, issue tracking, follow-up, and partner referrals. Support business recruitment, redevelopment, investment activity, employer support, site readiness, and infrastructure-related economic development needs.

Serve as a supportive partner on Town plans, projects, and initiatives that affect economic development. Supervise and provide strategic direction to the position responsible for Main Street, downtown development, and small business development. Use data, project tracking, and partner coordination to support decision-making, communicate results, and improve accountability.

Qualifications Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is a strategic but hands-on professional who enjoys building something meaningful. The Town is looking for someone who can balance vision with execution, communicate clearly, build trust, and lead with persistence. The successful candidate will be comfortable with complexity, patient with the time it takes to see results, and motivated by steady progress.

They should be able to work in a small-department environment, leverage partners effectively, and stay focused on the highest-impact opportunities. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Bachelor's degree in economic development, public administration, urban planning, business administration, real estate development, public policy, or a closely related field. Considerable professional experience in municipal economic development, business recruitment and retention, redevelopment, commercial real estate development, downtown revitalization, or strategic community development.

Experience working in or with local government is strongly preferred, including coordination with elected officials, appointed boards, Town departments, developers, business owners, property owners, and regional or state economic development partners. Experience developing or implementing economic development work plans, project pipelines, business engagement strategies, redevelopment initiatives, or performance reporting systems is preferred. Experience supervising staff, managing consultants, or leading cross-departmental project teams is preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered. Special Requirements Valid North Carolina driver's license, or ability to obtain one within the timeframe established by the Town. Certification through the North Carolina Economic Development Association, International Economic Development Council, or another relevant professional organization is preferred.

If not certified at hire, certification is desired within three years of appointment. Attendance at occasional evening meetings, public meetings, business events, partner meetings, and community events is required.