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Economic Development Manager Jobs in Raleigh, NC

AVE Staffing

Commercial Real Estate Associate

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

... economic development agreements. * Entity Formation: Draft corporate resolutions, operating ... High proficiency using advanced legal document management platforms, closing software, and ...

MarketSource

Team Lead

Raleigh, NC · On-site

... economic development groups) to drive referral and acquisition opportunities. Operational Discipline & Data Integrity Owns Salesforce compliance, pipeline management, and data accuracy for the ...

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All JobsEconomic Development JobsEconomic Development Manager JobsEconomic Development Manager Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Economic Development Manager information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$30.1K

$100.1K

$150.7K

How much do economic development manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for economic development manager in Raleigh, NC is $100,144.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,200.00 and $121,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Economic Development Managers?

Economic Development Managers are professionals responsible for planning and implementing strategies to boost economic growth within a community, city, or region. They work with government agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders to attract new investments, support local businesses, and create jobs. Their role often involves analyzing economic data, coordinating development projects, and promoting the area to potential investors. By fostering a healthy business environment, they help improve the overall quality of life for residents.

What are some common challenges Economic Development Managers face when balancing community needs with business interests?

Economic Development Managers often navigate the complex task of balancing the goals of attracting new businesses and investments with the needs and concerns of the local community. Challenges can include addressing potential impacts on housing, infrastructure, and the environment while ensuring job creation and economic growth. Success in this role relies on strong stakeholder engagement, transparent communication, and creative problem-solving to find solutions that benefit both the community and business partners. Collaboration with local government, business leaders, and residents is essential for developing sustainable, mutually beneficial strategies.

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

To thrive as an Economic Development Manager, you need expertise in economic analysis, project management, and community engagement, typically supported by a degree in economics, urban planning, or public administration. Familiarity with GIS tools, economic modeling software, and grant management systems is often required, along with certifications like CEcD (Certified Economic Developer). Strong networking, negotiation, and communication skills help build effective partnerships and foster stakeholder collaboration. These competencies enable Economic Development Managers to drive sustainable growth, attract investment, and successfully implement development initiatives within communities.

What is the difference between Economic Development Manager vs Urban Planner?

AspectEconomic Development ManagerUrban Planner
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in economics, urban planning, or related field; often certifications in economic developmentBachelor's or master's in urban planning, geography, or related field; licensure may be required
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, economic development organizations, private sectorMunicipalities, government agencies, consulting firms
Employer & Industry UsageFocuses on economic growth, business attraction, and job creationFocuses on land use, zoning, and community development

While both roles aim to improve communities, the Economic Development Manager concentrates on economic growth and business development, whereas the Urban Planner focuses on land use and urban design. Their skills and work environments often overlap, but their core objectives differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Economic Development jobs in Raleigh, NC? The most popular types of Economic Development jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What are popular job titles related to Economic Development Manager jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Economic Development Manager jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Economic Development Manager jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Economic Development Manager jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Economic Development Manager jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Economic Development Manager job openings:
Economic Development Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Economic Development Manager job openings in Raleigh, NC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,144 per year, or $48.1 per hour.
Director - Strategic Partnerships (Finance-banking, insurance, investment, venture)

Director - Strategic Partnerships (Finance-banking, insurance, investment, venture)

UNC-Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

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

268th of 546 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Information
Department IEED-Carolina Impact Ventures-201460 Career Area Other Posting Open Date 07/07/2026 Application Deadline 07/21/2026 Open Until Filled No Position Type Permanent Staff (EHRA NF) Working Title Director - Strategic Partnerships (Finance-banking, insurance, investment, venture) Appointment Type EHRA Non-Faculty Position Number 20076982 Vacancy ID NF0009871 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 09/07/2026
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 the financial industry banking, insurance, investment, and venture, 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, Fortune 100 financial institutions across banking, insurance, investment, and venture 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 within, or selling into, the industry vertical relevant to 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 multi disciplinary 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 Fortune 100 financial-services institutions spanning banking, insurance, investment, and venture capital and they will take your call.
* 10+ years of direct experience inside or selling into the financial-services sector (banking, insurance, investment, and venture).
* 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/321844. 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/321844
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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