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Economic Development Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Build and manage relationships with brokers, utilities, economic development agencies, and third-party data providers * Establish and continuously improve market-intelligence processes, data ...

Apply advanced knowledge in economics, statistics, and data science to develop forecasting models and simulations that guide policy and project development. * Manage and analyze large datasets, build ...

Manager, Public Policy

Houston, TX · On-site

$113K - $138K/yr

Economic Development (Regional and International), Executive, Finance & Accounting, Marketing & Communications, Member Engagement, Public Policy, Regional Workforce Development, Research, Resources ...

New

Data Analyst

Houston, TX · On-site

$60K - $75K/yr

Apply advanced knowledge in economics, statistics, and data science to develop forecasting models and simulations that guide policy and project development. * Manage and analyze large datasets, build ...

Showing results 41-60

Economic Development information

See Houston, TX salary details

$29.6K

$98.3K

$148K

How much do economic development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for economic development in Houston, TX is $98,336.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,800.00 and $118,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is economic development?

Economic development refers to the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a region, community, or country are improved. This typically involves efforts to create jobs, attract investment, support businesses, enhance infrastructure, and promote sustainable growth. Professionals in economic development work with government agencies, private sector partners, and community organizations to create strategies that foster economic opportunities and address local challenges. Their goal is to build resilient economies that benefit all residents.

What is the difference between Economic Development vs Urban Planner?

AspectEconomic DevelopmentUrban Planner
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in economics, public policy, 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, consulting firmsMunicipalities, government agencies, private planning firms
Industry UsageFocuses on economic growth, business attraction, and community developmentFocuses on land use, zoning, and urban design

While both roles aim to improve communities, economic development professionals focus on boosting local economies and attracting businesses, whereas urban planners concentrate on land use, zoning, and urban design to shape city landscapes.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in economic development roles, and how can they be addressed?

Economic Development professionals often encounter challenges such as balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders, navigating complex regulatory environments, and securing funding for projects. Success in this field requires strong communication and negotiation skills to build consensus among government officials, business leaders, and community members. Proactively staying updated on policy changes, leveraging data-driven approaches, and building strong partnerships can help address these challenges and drive impactful outcomes.

What is a career in economic development?

A career in economic development involves working to improve the economic well-being of communities by attracting new businesses, supporting existing industries, and creating jobs. Professionals in this field often analyze economic data, develop strategic plans, and collaborate with government agencies and stakeholders to promote growth and sustainability.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an economic development professional?

To thrive as an Economic Development professional, you need a background in economics, public administration, or urban planning, often supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field. Familiarity with data analysis tools, GIS software, project management platforms, and knowledge of relevant regulations or certifications like CEcD are essential. Strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are vital for successfully attracting investment, fostering sustainable growth, and collaborating with stakeholders to drive community prosperity.

What are the different types of economic development jobs?

Economic development jobs include roles such as economic development director, business development specialist, urban planner, and project manager. These positions often involve tasks like attracting investment, planning community projects, and analyzing economic data, requiring skills in research, communication, and policy analysis.

What are the most commonly searched types of Economic Development jobs in Houston, TX?

The most popular types of Economic Development jobs in Houston, TX are:

What are popular job titles related to Economic Development jobs in Houston, TX?

For Economic Development jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Economic Development jobs in Houston, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Economic Development jobs in Houston, TX are:

What cities near Houston, TX are hiring for Economic Development jobs?

Cities near Houston, TX with the most Economic Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Economic Development job openings in Houston, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, and 89% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $98,336 per year, or $47.3 per hour.

Director, Market Intelligence

Socket.dev

Houston, TX • On-site

$170 - $290/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

ROLE OVERVIEW

Nscale is seeking a Director, Market Intelligence to lead the market research, site screening, and data-driven analysis that underpins Nscale’s Americas data center site selection and development strategy. Reporting to the SVP, Site Selection, you will build and own the intelligence engine that determines where Nscale builds next — evaluating power availability, land, fiber, water, cost, and regulatory conditions across target markets.

You will translate complex, multi-source market data into clear recommendations that shape multi-giga watt capital decisions, partnering closely with Development, Energy and Power, and Sales teams to convert market insight into a prioritized, powered-land pipeline.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE & STRATEGY
  • Own Nscale’s Americas data center market intelligence function, developing the market thesis and target-market prioritization that guides site selection and capital deployment
  • Track and synthesize supply and demand dynamics, hyperscale and colocation absorption, pricing, land availability, and competitor activity across primary and emerging AI data center markets
  • Maintain a multi-criteria market and site scoring framework spanning power, land, fiber and connectivity, water, tax and incentives, hazard and attainment, and speed-to-power
  • Produce market outlooks, briefings, and recommendations that directly inform executive and investment-committee decisions
SITE SCREENING & ANALYTICS
  • Lead data-driven powered-land screening — building and maintaining GIS-based site analytics to identify and rank candidate sites against Nscale’s power, scale, and design requirements
  • Develop and maintain dashboards, databases, and models that consolidate utility, real estate, interconnection-queue, and market data into a single source of truth
  • Quantify market and site-level opportunity and risk to support land acquisition, leasing, and major capital expenditure decisions
  • Partner with the Energy and Power team to validate power availability and interconnection feasibility during early screening
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & PROCESS
  • Serve as the internal subject-matter expert on data center market conditions across the Americas
  • Deliver clear written, verbal, and graphical outputs to executive leadership, commercial, and finance stakeholders
  • Build and manage relationships with brokers, utilities, economic development agencies, and third-party data providers
  • Establish and continuously improve market-intelligence processes, data governance, and reporting standards, and hire, mentor, and develop junior team members as the team scales
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate, Economics, Urban Planning, Geography/GIS, Finance, Engineering, or a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • 8+ years of related experience in market intelligence, site selection, real estate research, or data center / infrastructure strategy
  • Data center, power, or mission-critical infrastructure market experience strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated expertise building multi-criteria site screening frameworks and market models
  • Proficiency with GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS or QGIS) and data visualization / BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) strongly preferred
  • Strong command of the power, interconnection, and real estate fundamentals that drive data center siting
  • Advanced analytical modeling; ability to translate complex data into executive-ready recommendations
  • Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office tools
  • Excellent communicator across all levels — from analysts to executive leadership
  • Willingness to travel up to 25% based on business needs
ABOUT NSCALE

Nscale is taking on the hyperscalers by building a vertically integrated GenAI cloud platform. We own the data centers, software, and applications that power today’s AI stack using sustainable technology solutions. We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you’ll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Collaboration is key, and we work together swiftly and respectfully, embracing adaptability and resilience in all we do.

OUR VALUES
  • Relentless Innovation — At Nscale, we constantly push the boundaries of innovation, embracing creative risks to shape the future. Our aim is to deliver products that not only meet but exceed today’s expectations, setting new standards for tomorrow.
  • Ownership and Accountability — Every Nscaler is fully accountable for their work, driving it with excellence and urgency. We set high standards, ensuring that our contributions are not just good but exceptional.
  • Openness and Transparency — We believe trust and transparency are key to our success. We maintain open communication within our teams and with stakeholders, sharing both successes and challenges.
  • Customer-Centric Focus — Our customers are central to our mission. We focus on deeply understanding their needs and challenges, striving to exceed expectations in both product quality and service.
  • Sustainability — We integrate sustainability into our operations and product development, ensuring that our innovations are both effective and responsible.
  • Full-Speed Collaboration — Collaboration at Nscale is fast, efficient, and respectful. We work together seamlessly, with clear communication and mutual respect.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At Nscale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.

Salary Range

$170,000 — $290,000 USD

For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice: Here.

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