THE OPPORTUNITY

Palm Desert, a growing and innovative city, seeks a talented economic development professional to serve as its Economic Development Manager. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to headline projects including luxury hotels, mall redevelopment, and more in this upscale community.

ABOUT PALM DESERT

Palm Desert is a vibrant and beautiful city located in the heart of the Coachella Valley of Southern California. With a population of over 53,000 residents, Palm Desert is a popular destination for tourists and a thriving community for residents. The city is known for its excellent quality of life, with a diverse and inclusive community, exceptional educational opportunities, and access to world-class healthcare. The City of Palm Desert is an excellent place to work, with a strong commitment to attracting and retaining top talent who are aligned with a focus on community service and improvement.

THE POSITION

The Economic Development Manager plays a central role in shaping Palm Desert’s future prosperity by leading strategies that attract, retain, and expand businesses while enhancing the City’s economic base. Reporting to the Director of Economic Development, the Manager provides strategic leadership and program oversight to support business vitality, real estate development, and workforce innovation. This position offers an exciting opportunity to influence policies and initiatives that drive investment, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure long-term competitiveness and sustainability. Key areas of responsibility include business attraction, retention & expansion; strategic planning & project delivery; commercial & housing development; community & regional engagement; policy & program innovation; organizational leadership; fiscal & resource management; and public representation.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a related field.  A Master’s degree is highly desirable.

• Experience: Six years of increasingly responsible experience in economic development, community development, or business services, including three years in a supervisory or management role.

• Certification: Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) or Accredited California Economic Developer (ACE) is desirable.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The hiring range for the Economic Development Manager is $125,590 - $172,328 dependent on qualifications. In addition, an excellent executive benefit package is outlined below. Key benefits include retirement provided through CalPERS. Classic CalPERS members are eligible for the 2% @ 55 formula, while PEPRA members are eligible for 2% @ 62. In addition, a voluntary deferred compensation program - 457 and 401a with 2% City match to the 401a program is provided. Up to $5,000 of relocation assistance is also available from the City.

For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure by clicking on the .pdf link on this page.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Apply Immediately – This recruitment will close once a strong pool of candidates is established. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by clicking on the 'Apply Here' link on this page.

This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Martin Alvarez | City of Palm Desert | 760.346.0611 ext. 467 | malvarez@palmdesert.gov.