Cultural and Economic Development Division Manager (Fixed Term)

City of Boulder•Boulder, CO

11d•$134,680 - $202,010

About The Position

This is a fixed-term appointment of 18 to 24 months. The position provides continuity of leadership during a period of rapid organizational growth and prepares the Office of Cultural and Economic Development (OCED) for potential future standalone department status. The manager will build organizational infrastructure, advance priority initiatives, and collaborate across city departments and with external partners. Under limited direction, the manager serves as OCED’s primary operational and strategic leader within the City Manager’s Office. The role provides day-to-day leadership and coordination across the office’s economic and business development, urban development, and arts and cultural programming areas. It supervises team leads, aligns office work with city strategies, oversees major economic and cultural initiatives and budgets, and represents OCED to city leadership, boards, commissions, and external partners. The position is full-time and salaried, with 40 scheduled weekly hours. The work is in a standard office environment and involves frequent interruptions and background noise. Schedule flexibility is required, including occasional early mornings, nights, and weekends. Duties require communication, document review and preparation, use of standard office equipment, and the ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds. The role may involve extended periods using a monitor and keyboard and working under stress from deadlines, public contact, and changing priorities.

Requirements

Ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with diverse public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively to elected officials, executive leadership, business leaders, and the public.
Working knowledge of economic development principles, urban planning, or public administration.
Ability to provide senior-level operational leadership in a complex, multi-program organization, including direct supervision of managers and professional staff.
Ability to set priorities, build systems, and manage organizational performance in a dynamic, evolving environment.
Analytical and strategic thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize 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; 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 and 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 and accountability for OCED performance, staff management, and cross-divisional coordination.
Plan and position OCED for future growth and advancement within the organization.
Supervise team leads and provide coaching, performance management, and professional development to direct reports.
Develop and maintain an integrated office-wide work plan aligned with the city’s Economic Vitality Strategy, Arts Blueprint, and Citywide Strategic Plan.
Establish standard operating procedures, meeting cadences, and internal communication systems.
Foster a unified, mission-driven team culture across economic development and arts and culture.
Provide executive oversight for priority 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 broader economic development strategy.
Oversee development of economic development tools, financial incentive programs, and public-private partnership structures, considering financial feasibility, community engagement, and policy alignment.
Set project goals, allocate resources, and ensure collaboration with Planning and Development, Finance, the City Attorney’s Office, and other strategic partners.
Provide analysis and recommendations to the City Manager, boards and commissions, and City Council on economic trends, redevelopment opportunities, and policy choices.
Work with the Assistant City Manager to assess and build 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 on economic and cultural initiatives.
Coordinate with City Manager’s Office divisions and city departments to advance cross-cutting priorities and represent OCED in citywide planning processes.
Oversee OCED’s combined budget across economic development and arts and culture, ensuring effective, equitable, and transparent use of public funds.
Oversee administration of grants, financial incentives, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and special district finances in 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, Return on Investment 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.