ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR at City of San Marcos – San Marcos, California
Explore Related Opportunities
About This Position
Salary: $151,259.47 - $220,034.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time
Department: Administration
Opening Date: 04/02/2026
Closing Date: 04/30/26
Location: 1 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA
Job Number: 2026 - 19
FLSA: Exempt
Description: SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Be part of a city delivering real economic impact - now hiring: Economic Development & Public Affairs Director!
The City of San Marcos is seeking an Economic Development & Public Affairs Director to lead economic development efforts that drive investment and deliver measurable results for the community.
Why this role matters
Economic development in San Marcos is guided by data, strategy, and a focus on measurable outcomes. With a Strategic Economic Development Plan underway, this role is central to ensuring that priorities are implemented effectively and produce meaningful outcomes for the community.
You will lead the execution of the city’s economic development strategy by using market data, industry analysis, and fiscal insight to guide decisions, attract targeted investment, and move projects forward. Working across departments, you will help ensure development opportunities progress with clarity, coordination, and momentum.
This role is defined by implementation and impact. Success is reflected in measurable outcomes, including job creation, tax base growth, and strategic development aligned with community priorities.
This is your chance to:
- Turn economic development strategy into measurable results
- Shape and advance a strong pipeline of development and business opportunities
- Use data and market intelligence to guide high-impact decisions
- Partner across the organization to move projects efficiently from concept to completion
- Deliver visible outcomes that strengthen the city’s long-term economic future
Recruitment timeline:
- Applications accepted through 4:00 p.m. April 30
- Well-qualified applicants will be invited to a panel interview the week of May 11
- Final candidates will meet with city leadership the week of May 18
The ideal candidate will be able to:
Advance measurable economic progress
The Economic Development & Public Affairs Director plays a central role in advancing the city’s economic priorities by shaping conditions that support business growth, investment, and redevelopment aligned with the city’s priorities.
The outcomes associated with this work include:
- Job creation and retention within the community
- Growth and diversification of the city’s tax base
- Attraction and expansion of targeted industries
- Activation and development of key sites
Navigate and deliver projects within a complex municipal environment
The Economic Development & Public Affairs Director must be highly effective at working within a municipal system to move projects forward.
Key experience includes:
- Building strong, trust-based relationships across Planning, Development Services, Finance, and city leadership
- Understanding and navigating internal processes, constraints, and competing priorities
- Identifying and resolving barriers that may delay or prevent development projects
- Facilitating coordination across departments to ensure development projects aligned with city priorities are moved efficiently from concept to completion
Advance and operationalize the city’s economic development strategy
The Economic Development & Public Affairs Director plays a key role in translating the city’s economic development strategy into actionable priorities and real-world progress. This includes both implementing the current strategic plan and adapting it over time based on market conditions, opportunities, and city priorities.
Key responsibilities in this area include:
- Translating strategic priorities into clear initiatives, workplans, and near-term actions
- Coordinating across departments to advance priority projects and initiatives
- Aligning development activity with the city’s broader economic goals and community vision
- Identifying opportunities to refine or evolve the strategy based on emerging trends and project experience
Use data and market insight to inform decisions
Effective economic development requires the ability to use data and market insight to guide priorities, evaluate opportunities, and support sound decision-making.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working with a range of analytical inputs, including:
- Market and industry trends
- Labor force and demographic data
- Fiscal and economic impact analyses
Track progress and communicate results
Effective economic development requires clear visibility into development activity, progress, and emerging opportunities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Establishing clear and practical metrics to track development activity, project pipelines, and progress over time
- Monitoring key projects and initiatives, including status, milestones, and potential economic impacts
- Providing regular, concise updates to leadership and stakeholders that highlight progress, key developments, and what’s ahead
Build and leverage strong relationships to support well-planned and strategically aligned development
The Economic Development & Public Affairs Director builds and maintains strong, trust-based relationships with developers, business leaders, and regional partners, and leverages those relationships to support successful development outcomes.
The city is committed to providing high-quality, responsive support to development partners, helping them navigate city processes clearly and efficiently.
Key responsibilities include:
- Building and maintaining productive relationships with developers, brokers, business leaders, and industry partners
- Serving as a key point of coordination and support for development projects, helping stakeholders navigate city processes and requirements
- Partnering closely with Development Services and other departments to align efforts and facilitate successful project outcomes
- Supporting problem-solving and coordination across stakeholders to keep projects moving forward
Align economic development with community priorities
Economic development should support the city’s long-term vision, quality of life, and community character.
The Economic Development & Public Affairs Director ensures that development efforts are aligned with Council priorities and reflect the values of the community.
Key considerations include:
- Strengthening the local economy and supporting existing and new businesses
- Expanding workforce and economic opportunities for residents
- Maintaining community character while supporting thoughtful growth and innovation
Review the job description for the Economic Development & Public Affairs Director for a full listing of the representative duties and qualifications.
Benefits:
Vacation Leave – A new employee will accrue eighty (80) hours of vacation per calendar year for the first two years of service, one hundred, twenty (120) hours for years three through five, one hundred, sixty (160) hours for years six through ten and two hundred (200) hours after eleven years. Vacation accrual begins immediately; however, a new employee is not eligible to take vacation leave until the completion of six (6) months of service with the City.
Sick Leave – A new employee will earn ninety-six (96) hours of sick leave each year.
Bereavement Leave - Employees are eligible to use up to 40 hours of bereavement leave per fiscal year.
Executive Leave - As an "Exempt" At Will employee, you will receive Executive Leave. The total amount of hours per fiscal year varies by position. This leave cannot roll over, has no cash value, and any leave not used by June 30th of each year will be lost.
Group Health Insurance Program – A new employee will become a member of one of the City's group health plans (Aetna HMO, Aetna AWH HMO, Aetna PPO, or Kaiser HMO) effective the first day of the month following their date of hire. The City will pay 90% of the health care premium and employees will pick up 10% of the premiums of the plan they select.
Voluntary Dental/Vision Insurance Programs – The City offers two voluntary dental insurance programs, an HMO program and a PPO Program, as well as a voluntary vision insurance program.
Section 125 Flexible Spending Account – All employees are eligible to participate in the City's Section 125 Flexible Spending Account plan administered by Benefit Coordinators Corporation (BCC). This is an IRS-approved plan which enables you to have withheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and certain eligible medical expenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits.
Retiree Health Savings (RHS) – All employees participate in a Retiree Health Savings plan through the ICMA Retirement Corporation.
Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program - The City offers a Deferred Compensation Employer Match Program, matching employee contributions up to 2%
Questions:
Required Question