Economic Sectors Lead

Position Description

The Office of Economic Development's purpose is to shape the future of Seattle’s economy and make it more equitable, prosperous, and competitive. We lead projects and make investments that expand access to opportunity, reduce the racial wealth gap, and foster innovation and sustainable growth.

The Key Industries & Workforce Development (KIWD) team is at the axis of this work, supporting industries that generate living-wage careers, drive innovation, and build shared prosperity. Our team is pivotal in shaping strategies and partnerships across various industries, including tech, maritime, manufacturing, film, life sciences, aerospace, nightlife, and clean energy tech.

We seek a collaborative, strategic leader to serve as the Economic Sectors Lead. In this role, you will develop and guide cross-sector growth strategies, lead a team of three Sector Liaisons, and work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to strengthen Seattle’s competitiveness while ensuring that economic growth is equitable and inclusive. Your leadership will help ensure that OED’s policies, programs, and partnerships attract, grow, and retain businesses, expand career pathways, and create a resilient economy where every Seattle resident can thrive!

We believe a strong economy is built by and for the community it serves. That means actively including communities that have historically been excluded from wealth-building opportunities. We value diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and nontraditional career paths and strongly encourage applicants with these backgrounds to apply.

Job Responsibilities

Key Priorities

• Lead and Support People – Supervise and coach three sector liaisons, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and alignment with OED and KIWD goals.
• Shape Strategies for Growth – Develop and deploy cross-sector and sector-specific action plans that strengthen Seattle’s competitiveness and drive equitable wealth creation.
• Use Data to Inform Action – Build systems to collect, analyze, and share industry data and information that guide decisions and measure impact.

Your Day-to-Day Work

• Provide leadership and support to three Sector Liaisons, encouraging collaboration across different sectors.
• Develop strategies for Seattle’s emerging sectors, including, but not limited to, AI, life sciences, and videogame development.
• Lead initiatives like the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub and AI House, which bring industries and communities together to promote sustainable, inclusive growth.
• Build strong relationships with business leaders, trade associations, labor organizations, community partners, and investors to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Partner with OED leadership to respond to new policy needs and citywide economic priorities.
• Design processes for collecting and analyzing data to better understand industry trends and impacts.

Qualifications

We know that no applicant will have every skill or experience listed below. We encourage you to apply if you have a blend of these qualifications and are excited about making a positive impact in this role!

You will thrive in this role if you bring:

• Strategic vision and leadership in economic development, policy design, or related fields.
• Experience managing and supporting a team, emphasizing collaboration and growth.
• Strong relationship-building skills, especially across diverse industries and partners, including the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
• Ability to adapt to changing environments and thrive amid shifting priorities.
• Program design and evaluation experience, with a focus on measurable impact.
• Familiarity with data-driven decision-making, including outcome-based evaluation methods.
• A deep commitment to racial equity, social justice, and inclusion, with a focus on expanding access to wealth-building opportunities for historically underrepresented communities.

Key Skills and Abilities

• Lead with empathy, foster collaboration, and encourage alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Identify emerging trends and opportunities through strong analytical and conceptual thinking.
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including policymakers, senior leaders, and community members.
• Distill complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Think creatively and strategically about programs, partnerships, and policies that drive regional economic opportunity.
• Be flexible, proactive, and solutions-focused in a dynamic environment.

We’re looking for someone passionate about:

• Advancing opportunities for historically underserved and underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, people with disabilities, and immigrant and refugee communities.
• Integrating equity, inclusion, and belonging into all economic and workforce development aspects.
• Making living-wage jobs accessible to all Seattle residents.
• Shaping policies and systems that support local job growth and reinvest in Seattle communities.

Additional Information

This full-time, benefited position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 2, Exempt in the City payroll system. It is exempt from the Civil Service System and FLSA (not eligible for overtime payment). The full salary range for this classification is $54.60 - $81.93 per hour. The salary range for this role has been identified as $139,896 - $150,336 annually ($67 - $72 hourly).

Work Environment: This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and management.

Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Why work at the City of Seattle?

At the City of Seattle, public service is more than a job; it’s a chance to shape the future and make a meaningful difference in the lives of everyone who works, lives, or plays in our city. With 12,000 employees across 40+ departments and 1,100 job titles, we are united by a common purpose: to create a Seattle that is vibrant and welcoming for all. Whatever your role, you’ll help power a forward-looking city that leads by example — inclusive, innovative, equitable, and community-focused — while joining a diverse team committed to solving challenges and making a lasting impact together. Join us in building a Seattle where everyone thrives!

Application process:

Here are some tips on applying and interviewing (Download PDF reader) with us!

In addition to completing the application fully by the posted deadline at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle, please attach the following:

• A cover letter discussing why you want to support the work of the KIWD team and your qualifications for the position
• A PDF of your current resume that summarizes the talent, experience, knowledge and skills you would bring to this leadership role.

Who may apply: This position is open to all individuals whose experience, skills and abilities are aligned with the qualifications as presented above. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Hiring Timeline: We anticipate conducting first—and second-round interviews in mid- to late October. We aim to fill this position with a preferred start date of December 3, 2025.

Accommodations and Hiring Questions: Individuals with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please get in touch with Nicolette.Hornbeck@seattle.gov with any questions and/or to request accommodations.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.