Economic Development Manager Jobs

Economic Development Manager jobs are open across government agencies, economic development organizations, and consulting firms, at levels from analyst to director, with specializations in business attraction, workforce development, and community investment. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles131+
Top stateTexas
Top employerMeta
Top cityDallas, TX
Work type57% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 131+ Economic Development Manager jobs

2026-A Economic Development Project Manager (11/2026)
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New 9h ago
2026-A Economic Development Project Manager (11/2026)
City of Prattville
Prattville, Alabama
Business Development
Customer Success
Program Management
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in urban planning
201-500

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Economic Development Analyst I - Finance Division (Office of Economic Development) - (Unclassified Position)
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New 12h ago
Economic Development Analyst I - Finance Division (Office of Economic Development) - (Unclassified Position)
City of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Business Analysis
Business Operations
Finance
$55k - $65k.4/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
10,000+

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Business Development Specialist - Valdez Institute for Economic Development
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New 13h ago
Business Development Specialist - Valdez Institute for Economic Development
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity Operations
Security & Protective Services
Master's degree in business administration
1,001-5,000

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Administrative Assistant for Economic Development
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New 14h ago
Administrative Assistant for Economic Development
State of Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Administrative & Office Support
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Associate's degree
1,001-5,000

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Sr. Business Development Specialist - Valdez Institute for Economic Development
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Added 1d ago
Sr. Business Development Specialist - Valdez Institute for Economic Development
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Business Operations
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
Master's degree in business administration
1,001-5,000

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Economic Development Manager Job Market

Who's Hiring

Meta3 open roles
Amazon3 open roles
University of Tennessee3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Science & Research
  • Government & Public Sector
  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in economic development manager jobs.

  • Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public administration, business, or a related field
  • Experience administering federal or state economic development grants and incentive programs
  • Demonstrated ability to manage business retention, expansion, and attraction projects
  • Strong data analysis skills including GIS, demographic, and labor market data interpretation
  • Knowledge of real estate development, site selection processes, and tax increment financing
  • Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential from the International Economic Development Council preferred

Tips for Your Economic Development Manager Job Search

Tailor your resume to funding cycles

Economic development employers want to see grant management and public funding experience front and center. List the specific programs you've administered, such as CDBG, EDA, or state revolving funds, and quantify the award amounts and outcomes you delivered.

Highlight cross-sector partnership work

Hiring managers in this field look for candidates who have brokered relationships between government, private investors, and nonprofits. Name the actual stakeholders you coordinated, not just that you 'collaborated with partners,' to show you understand how deals get structured.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists economic development manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Filter openings by jurisdiction type

Your background in a county economic development authority may not translate directly to a port authority or a regional planning commission. When targeting roles, distinguish between municipal, county, state, and quasi-public employers, since their missions, funding sources, and hiring expectations differ significantly.

Prepare a site selection case study

Interviewers frequently ask candidates to walk through a business attraction or retention win. Have one concrete example ready that covers how you identified the prospect, what incentives you assembled, how you coordinated with internal departments, and what the final economic impact looked like.

Negotiate total compensation, not just salary

Many economic development roles are in the public sector or quasi-public agencies where base pay has limited flexibility. Defined benefit pensions, flexible schedules, remote work arrangements, and professional development stipends are often negotiable even when salary bands are fixed.

Economic Development Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most economic development managers?

The companies hiring the most economic development managers right now include Meta, Amazon, and University of Tennessee, with the largest share of openings in Texas, New York, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Openings are concentrated among regional economic development organizations, state agencies, and municipal governments, with a smaller share at consulting firms and utilities.

How many economic development manager jobs are remote?

About 43% of economic development manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the community-based nature of most roles. Sub-areas with the highest remote share include policy research, grant writing, and program evaluation positions, while business attraction and site development roles almost always require an in-person presence in the community being served.

How do you become an economic development manager?

Start by earning a degree in urban planning, public administration, economic development, or business, then build early experience through roles in local government, a regional planning commission, or a Chamber of Commerce. Seek out hands-on work with incentive programs, site selection projects, or grant administration. Earning the Certified Economic Developer credential from the International Economic Development Council signals professional readiness and is recognized widely by public sector employers.

Can you get an economic development manager role with limited experience?

Candidates with limited direct experience can break in by starting as an economic development analyst, planner, or program coordinator at a city, county, or regional agency. Internships with development authorities, involvement in community development finance, or project management experience on federally funded programs all serve as credible entry points. Demonstrating fluency with labor market data tools and grant compliance processes makes a junior candidate significantly more competitive.

What does the economic development manager interview process look like?

Most processes begin with a phone screen focused on your background in business retention or attraction and your familiarity with public incentive programs. A panel interview typically follows, often including staff from planning, finance, and elected officials or board members. Many employers ask for a written presentation or case study exercise covering a hypothetical development scenario. Final rounds may include stakeholder or community engagement components, particularly for roles at public agencies.

Where can I find and apply to economic development manager jobs?

You can find and apply to economic development manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and experience, then apply directly to each one that fits.

See All 131+ Economic Development Manager Jobs

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