Vice President, Economic Development
University City District
Professional Area:
Economic Planning and Development
Experience:
More than 10 years
Email:
HR@universitycity.org
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Organizational Context
University City District is a partnership of world-renowned anchor institutions, business leaders and community members that invests in world-class public spaces, brings life to commercial districts, connects low-income residents to careers, and promotes job growth and innovation. We work to change places and to change lives. Increasingly, our efforts foster innovation and impact at the confluence of economic growth, urban placemaking and economic opportunity.
University City District is a partnership of world-renowned anchor institutions, business leaders and community members that invests in world-class public spaces, brings life to commercial districts, connects low-income residents to careers, and promotes job growth and innovation. We work to change places and to change lives. Increasingly, our efforts foster innovation and impact at the confluence of economic growth, urban placemaking and economic opportunity.
Position Background
University City District (UCD) seeks a seasoned, creative and entrepreneurial executive to lead our economic development efforts in a 2.5 square mile area of West Philadelphia. We are at a critical and exciting inflection point in the evolution of our work, and the Vice President of Economic Development will advance and help shape:
- $3 million of high visibility, high impact public space projects at advanced stages of planning, including the transformation of the 40th Street Trolley Portal – the busiest at-grade rail station in Philadelphia - and a coordinated set of civic infrastructure projects in eastern University City; our goal is to foster a lively, people-first district by undertaking investments that complement the accelerating construction, population and employment growth in University City;
- Ongoing investments in established and successful public space projects, including The Porch at 30th Street Station;
- Relationship-building with new and existing commercial development partners, and the extension of special services district offerings and partnerships to a newly developing commercial core east of 38th street;
- New ways of supporting and driving partnerships to advance the University City innovation economy; to forge physical and strategic connections between University City and Center City, and between University City and the Lower Schuylkill River district; and to complement the interests and investments of anchor institutions, private developers and neighborhood residents;
- The creative re-use and transformation of undervalued public and private assets in University City, including the incubation of imaginative commercial and civic uses of dormant spaces;
- Data- and research-informed initiatives to activate street life; attract and support retail enterprises; and advance pedestrian and bicycle mobility;
- Policy and data dissemination events, discussions and publications that inform civic and business decision-makers about University City’s role in the regional economy, and about lessons drawn from UCD’s inventive placemaking work.
Specific Responsibilities
- Lead a team of 4+ professionals with broad expertise in urban planning, design and creative placemaking; commercial development; distressed property rehabilitation; high-level research and data analysis; and transportation planning.
- Serve as an integral member of UCD’s executive management team;
- Assume bottom-line responsibility for major capital projects, city and state contracts, and complex, multi-year grants;
- Work with UCD planning team to create, implement and manage new initiatives that help redefine University City’s civic infrastructure – broadly defined to include public realm, street level amenities, and an environment supportive of “serendipitous collisions” among innovators, researchers and residents;
- Manage retail, restaurant and other commercial partnerships intrinsic in UCD’s public space development;
- Build and nurture relationships with city officials, civic leaders, community groups, business and property owners, funders and institutional stakeholders.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s or equivalent experience preferred;
- A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, real estate development, and/or key civic investments and initiatives;
- Entrepreneurial drive and demonstrated ability to build creative solutions that meet the challenges and opportunities of dynamic commercial and institutional development.
- Demonstrated ability to move projects of all sizes – from a single block to an entire community - from vision to action;
- Demonstrated ability to manage a committed and creative team with a track record of success and impact;
- Demonstrated ability to manage multi-million dollar project budgets;
- Superior community relations and community engagement skills, and ability to engage in high level discussions and partnerships with major developers and anchor institution leaders.
Competitive salary and benefits package; growth-oriented, creative, entrepreneurial environment. Position reports to Executive Director.
University City District is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age, race, gender, religion, handicap, or sexual orientation.
To apply, please email thoughtful cover letter, salary requirements and resume to HR@universitycity.org, with the subject line “Application for VP, Economic Development”.