Cultural and Economic Development Division Manager (Fixed Term)

City of Boulder•Boulder, CO

10d•$134,680 - $202,010

About The Position

The City of Boulder is hiring a Cultural and Economic Development Division Manager for a fixed-term appointment of 18 to 24 months. The role provides continuity of leadership during rapid organizational growth and prepares the Office of Cultural and Economic Development (OCED) for potential future standalone department status. Under limited direction, the manager serves as OCED’s primary operational and strategic leader within the City Manager’s Office, coordinating its economic and business development, urban development, and arts and cultural programming functions. The position is full-time, salaried, and scheduled for 40 hours per week. The full pay range is $134,680.00–$202,009.60; the hiring range is generally from the minimum up to 80% of the range. The manager leads office operations, staff, strategic initiatives, partnerships, and budget functions. The role oversees implementation of the City’s Economic Vitality Strategy and Arts Blueprint, advances complex redevelopment and economic-governance initiatives, and advises executive leadership, City Council, boards, commissions, and the public. The position also builds organizational systems and documents institutional knowledge to support OCED’s growth and leadership transitions. The role reports to the Assistant City Manager and supervises the Arts and Culture Manager, Economic Development Strategy Manager, and Economic Development Finance Manager. Work takes place in a standard office environment with frequent interruptions and background noise. Schedule flexibility is required, with occasional early mornings, nights, and weekends. The work includes extended periods viewing a monitor and operating a keyboard, and requires the ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds and to work under stress from deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities.

Requirements

Ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with diverse public-, private-, and nonprofit-sector stakeholders.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting complex information clearly and persuasively to elected officials, executive leaders, business leaders, and the public.
Working knowledge of economic development principles, urban planning, or public administration.
Ability to provide senior-level operational leadership across a complex, multi-program organization and directly supervise managers and professional staff.
Ability to set priorities, build systems, and manage organizational performance in a dynamic environment.
Analytical and strategic-thinking skills, including synthesizing economic, programmatic, and policy information into actionable strategies.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent high-priority initiatives and make sound decisions under time pressure and ambiguity.
Must pass a background check before the first day of work and maintain acceptable screening.
Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, urban and regional planning, community development, economics or applied economics, business administration, real estate development, or finance; alternatively, eight years of experience may substitute for the education requirement only.
Eight years of increasingly responsible experience in public administration, economic development, arts administration, urban planning, or a related field.
Five years of supervisory and management experience, including direct management of professional-level staff and managers.

Nice To Haves

Experience establishing, standing up, or reorganizing a government office, department, or comparable organization, including building systems, teams, and culture from an early stage.
Knowledge of and experience working with or overseeing special districts, public-private partnerships, Tax Increment Financing, Downtown Development Authorities, Urban Renewal Authorities, Metro Districts, or similar financing and governance mechanisms.
Knowledge of or familiarity with arts and culture administration, creative economy frameworks, or comparable cultural programming.
Experience serving in an interim, acting, or transitional leadership capacity within a government agency or comparably complex organization.
Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, arts administration, or a closely related field.
Economic Development certification (CEcD) or comparable professional credential.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day operational leadership for OCED and accountability for office performance, staff management, and cross-divisional coordination.
Plan OCED’s growth and advancement within the organization.
Supervise team leads and direct reports, providing coaching, performance management, and professional development.
Develop and maintain an integrated office-wide work plan aligned with the Economic Vitality Strategy, Arts Blueprint, and Citywide Strategic Plan.
Establish operating procedures, meeting cadences, and internal communication systems.
Foster a unified, mission-driven culture across economic development and arts and culture work.
Provide executive oversight for major initiatives, including Downtown Development Authority formation, Urban Renewal Authority activities, redevelopment opportunities, and new economic governance structures such as Metro Districts.
Direct implementation of the Arts Blueprint and align cultural programming with economic development strategy.
Oversee development of economic development tools, financial incentives, and public-private partnership structures, considering financial feasibility, community engagement, and policy alignment.
Set project goals, allocate resources, and coordinate with Planning and Development, Finance, the City Attorney’s Office, and other partners.
Analyze economic trends, redevelopment opportunities, and policy choices and advise the City Manager, boards, commissions, and City Council as needed.
Work with the Assistant City Manager to develop OCED’s organizational infrastructure, including staffing models, budget structures, governance frameworks, and performance measurement systems.
Document institutional knowledge, policies, and processes to support organizational sustainability and leadership transitions.
Represent OCED to external partners, including the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Boulder Partnership, Visit Boulder, Boulder County, University of Colorado–Boulder, OEDIT, and regional economic development organizations.
Manage high-impact partnerships and agreements in coordination with managers.
Prepare and present reports, briefings, and recommendations to City Council, the public, and boards and commissions, including BURA, general improvement district advisory boards, and the Arts Commission.
Coordinate with City Manager’s Office divisions and city departments on cross-cutting priorities and citywide planning.
Provide oversight of OCED’s combined economic development and arts and culture budgets, ensuring effective, equitable, and transparent use of public funds.
Oversee grant programs, financial incentive programs, Tax Increment Financing, and special district finances, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
Analyze economic, demographic, and cultural data to inform policy, land use planning, and strategic investment decisions.
Direct development of financial models, ROI analyses, and cost-benefit frameworks for investment and incentive decisions.
Provide input on city budget processes, including multi-year capital planning, program funding continuity, and new appropriations.