Are you a visionary economic leader ready to make a transformative impact in an emerging and dynamic city? The City of San Bernardino is seeking a strategic and results-driven Director of Economic Development (U) to lead the city’s economic growth, attract new business, foster workforce opportunities, and maximize the value of the city’s real estate and community assets. This executive-level role offers a unique opportunity to shape the city’s economic future while collaborating directly with the City Manager, City Council, and a broad range of community and regional partners.
As a future member of our team, you’ll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history — shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences — continues to inspire the city’s evolving identity.
San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It’s a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose — and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.
The
Economic Development Department is dedicated to fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and opportunity within the City of San Bernardino. Launched in 2024, the Department has rapidly expanded to include 13 talented team members across the
Economic Development Division and the
Real Property Division.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Business Retention & Attraction – Developing strategies that support local businesses, generate jobs, and increase General Fund revenue.
- Marketing & Promotion – Highlighting the City’s assets through campaigns like Invest San Bernardino, social media engagement, and monthly e-newsletters reaching over 6,700 registered businesses.
- Grants & Funding – Administering programs that provide critical support to small businesses and nonprofits, awarding over $3 million in funding in the last two rounds.
- Workforce Development – Connecting residents to quality local jobs through career pathways, technical assistance, and apprenticeship programs.
- Real Property Management – Managing and optimizing City-owned assets, overseeing acquisitions, sales, leases, and strategic partnerships for commercial, industrial, and residential development.
The Department works collaboratively with educational institutions, healthcare providers, businesses, government agencies, regional organizations, and joint power authorities to attract resources and investment to the City.
Reporting directly to the
City Manager, the
Director of Economic Development (U) is a single-position executive role with broad leadership, policy, and management authority. The Director oversees all economic development programs and initiatives, provides strategic guidance to the City Council, and drives projects that maximize the City’s economic potential.
This Role Is Responsible For
- Shaping and executing economic development strategies that leverage the City’s assets and attract new investment.
- Managing real estate portfolios, negotiating agreements, and ensuring the fiscal integrity of development projects.
- Leading grant programs, public-private partnerships, and workforce development initiatives.
- Representing the City in regional, state, and national economic development efforts.
- Supervising, mentoring, and developing a growing team committed to enhancing the City’s quality of life and economic vitality.
The ideal candidate combines expertise in municipal economic development, real estate, finance, and workforce initiatives with exceptional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
Challenges & Opportunities
The Director of Economic Development will have the opportunity to shape the future of San Bernardino during a pivotal period of growth and revitalization. Key challenges and opportunities include:
- Driving Strategic Growth: Leading initiatives to attract new industries, expand business retention efforts, and increase General Fund revenue.
- Optimizing City Assets: Managing and leveraging City-owned real estate, including commercial, industrial, and residential properties, for sustainable development.
- Fostering Public-Private Partnerships: Building strong relationships with developers, businesses, regional agencies, and community organizations to secure investments and funding.
- Workforce Development: Expanding programs that connect residents to quality local jobs, including apprenticeships, career pathways, and training opportunities.
- Enhancing the City’s Image: Elevating San Bernardino’s reputation through marketing campaigns, community engagement, and strategic outreach.
- Navigating Political and Community Dynamics: Advising the City Manager and City Council while balancing diverse stakeholder interests in high-visibility projects.
Ideal Candidate
The City of San Bernardino seeks a visionary, results-driven leader who is ready to make a meaningful impact in a growing city. The ideal candidate will:
- Demonstrate executive-level experience in economic development, municipal finance, real estate, or redevelopment projects.
- Exhibit strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
- Have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging City leadership, regional partners, and community stakeholders.
- Be experienced in public-private partnerships, contract negotiation, and grant administration.
- Possess a proven track record in workforce development, business retention, and attraction programs.
- Maintain high integrity and professionalism in complex and politically sensitive environments.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, evolving municipal environment, balancing multiple priorities and initiatives.
A Day In The Life
A typical day for the Director of Economic Development might include:
- Reviewing project updates from the Real Property and Economic Development teams, ensuring milestones and timelines are being met.
- Meeting with developers, business leaders, or regional agencies to negotiate partnerships or funding agreements.
- Preparing or presenting reports, briefings, and recommendations to the City Manager, City Council, or advisory boards.
- Overseeing grant programs and workforce initiatives to ensure residents and businesses are benefiting from City resources.
- Conducting strategic planning sessions with staff to align departmental initiatives with City goals.
- Engaging with the community through public forums, business outreach, or marketing events.
- Monitoring regional and national economic trends to anticipate opportunities or challenges for San Bernardino’s growth.
This role is highly visible, dynamic, and mission-driven—perfect for a leader ready to leave a lasting mark on the City’s economic and community development landscape.
For more information on this position please
click here to view the job description.
Education:
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field;
Experience
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in economic development, redevelopment, oversight, or management of projects and programs in urban economic development, economics, business assistance, public facility or infrastructure development, commercial development, public and/or private finance, workforce development, fiscal planning, budget preparation, and/or economic development tools and incentives, including two (2) years of management experience within a municipal economic development department; or an equivalent combination education, training, and experience.
Licenses, Certifications, And Equipment
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Knowledge Of
- Principles and practices of leadership.
- Principles and practices of strategic plan development.
- Principles and practices of fiscal planning and managing and administering complex budgets.
- Principles and practices of contract management.
- Market data sources and collection techniques. Research methods and statistical and analytic techniques and applications related to urban growth, economic development, modern transportation, and asset management, including development analysis of specific projects and other areas of responsibility.
- Economic development and general marketing theory, principles, and practices.
- Operational characteristics, services, and activities of business development programs.
- Real estate negotiation practices.
- Real estate development and public and private sector project financing principles, practices, and techniques.
- Political and economic conditions associated with economic development programs.
- Regional and national business attraction, development, and retention strategies.
- Workforce development programs including career pathways, technical assistance, and trade apprenticeships.
- Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
- City human resources policies and labor contract provisions.
- Research methods and analysis techniques.
- Principles and practices of sound business communication.
Skill In
- Developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
- Providing administrative, management, and professional leadership.
- Preparing and administering large and complex budgets; allocating limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
- Interpreting, applying, explaining, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
- Understanding, interpreting, explaining, and applying federal, state, and local policy, law, regulations, court, and case law applicable to areas of responsibility.
- Evaluating department programs and services and making changes or recommendations for improvement.
- Communicating effectively orally and in writing to diverse audiences; presenting ideas and concepts persuasively in speaking before groups or in writing for publication.
- Preparing clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, and other written materials.
- Negotiating, writing, and administering contacts.
- Exercising tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations; effectively representing the city in negotiations and other activities on a variety of difficult, complex, sensitive, and confidential issues.
- Supervising, evaluating, motivating, coaching, mentoring, and developing assigned staff.
- Dealing constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions.
- Maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professional ethics in complex dealings with diverse stakeholders.
- Analyzing impacts of various functions and projects and prioritize those with the greatest community impact.
- Capitalizing on existing resources such as the airport, educational institutions, and City and privately owned properties.
- Developing effective marketing tools to facilitate business retention, expansion, and attraction.
- Establishing, maintaining, and fostering positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Recruitment Timeline
This recruitment will remain open until filled, or until a sufficient number of applications have been received.
- First review of applications scheduled for the week of March 30, 2026; dates subject to change at the discretion of Human Resources**
Application Process
To be considered for this opportunity, a detailed cover letter and resume must be attached to your application.
The Cover Letter Must Include
- Your interest in the position
- A summary of your relevant experience
- Any additional qualifications that make you a strong candidate
Incomplete applications or those without a cover letter will not be considered. Starting salary will be based on education, experience, and internal equity.
All applicants are required to submit an online application through the City’s official website at www.sbcity.org.
This recruitment will remain open until filled or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Applications must be fully completed and clearly demonstrate that the minimum qualifications for the position are met. All information provided is subject to review, investigation, and verification. While resumes may be uploaded as supplemental documentation, they will not be accepted in place of a fully completed City application.
Following the initial screening, the most qualified candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the City will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. Candidates will remain under consideration until a final selection is made and an offer is accepted. The City of San Bernardino reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time and may determine that none of the applicants, including those who meet the minimum qualifications, are suitable for the position.
Successful Candidates Shall Be Required To
- Pass a reference and background check including degree verification and/or Credit Check. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
- Pass a pre-employment medical exam, which may include a Tuberculosis (TB) Exam, and/or Drug screen.
E-Verify Participation
The City of San Bernardino participates in the E-Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of individuals hired to work in the United States.
Accordingly, the City will provide information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm authorization to work in the United States.
For more information about E-Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov
Disclaimers
The City of San Bernardino is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City follows a nepotism policy, which may impact hiring decisions if an applicant has relatives currently employed by the City.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department directly at (909)998-2060.
This bulletin is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. Its contents may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Human Resources at (909)998-2060. Additional information is available at www.sbcity.org.
