Job Summary
Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Economic Development is responsible for creating future cargo opportunities by advancing industrial development, strategic partnerships, and economic development initiatives that leverage the Alabama Port Authority's transportation assets and real estate portfolio.
This role serves as the Port Authority's lead economic development representative, working across Alabama and targeted domestic and international markets to align industry recruitment, infrastructure investment, and site development with the Authority's long-term commercial objectives. A key component of this position is leading the strategic development of Port-owned industrial properties and focusing on identifying, preparing, and advancing industrial development opportunities that leverage the Port's unique transportation advantages and create long-term economic value for Alabama.
In all areas, the Director should focus on bringing together public and private partners, removing barriers to investment, and positioning the Port Authority's assets to support industrial growth, job creation, and future cargo generation.
Essential Functions
1. Advances the Port Authority's economic development strategy by creating opportunities that attract long-term industrial investment, drive economic impact, and support future cargo growth.
2. Identifies, recruits, and advances industrial development opportunities that leverage the Port Authority's maritime, rail, highway, and intermodal transportation assets.
3. Represents the Port Authority as a trusted economic development partner in statewide initiatives, project recruitment efforts, industry conferences, and stakeholder engagement activities.
4. Leads statewide economic development efforts by building and maintaining strategic relationships with the Alabama Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA), plus regional and local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, industrial development boards, utility providers, and other public and private partners.
5. Develops and executes strategies to advance the industrial development of Port-owned properties, positioning the Authority's transportation capabilities and real estate portfolio to attract investment in manufacturing, logistics, and distribution.
6. Leads site readiness initiative by maintaining a portfolio of market-ready industrial sites; coordinating land planning, infrastructure improvements, utility coordination, environmental due diligence, and other site-related initiatives.
7. Evaluates development opportunities and public-private partnerships that maximize the long-term value of Port-owned real estate while supporting the Authority's commercial and economic development objectives.
8. Shapes project outcomes by coordinating stakeholders, identifying development barriers, and aligning resources to advance industrial recruitment projects.
9. Translates market intelligence, industry trends, and site selection activity into actionable economic development strategies and recommendations for executive leadership.
10. Collaborates with the Director of Business Development and Director of Communications to ensure alignment between project recruitment, market positioning, and commercial execution, creating a seamless progression from awareness to investment to cargo growth.
11. Maintains and advances a strategic pipeline of industrial development and economic development opportunities, ensuring consistent progression of high-value projects toward investment and implementation.
12. Provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Port Authority's real estate management function, ensuring the Authority's existing real estate assets, tenant portfolio, facilities, and lease administration are effectively managed and aligned with long-term industrial development and organizational objectives.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position may provide direct supervision of a real estate management position and/or consulting firm and may supervise additional professional staff as assigned. Responsibilities include assigning work, supporting professional development, coaching performance, and ensuring alignment with departmental priorities.
Minimum Required Education and Experience
Education
Four-year college degree
Business, Marketing, or related field
Experience
10+ years
Economic development, industrial real estate development, sales, or supervisory role within the maritime/logistics industry.
Substitutions allowed for Education: Indicated education is required; no substitutions allowed.
Substitutions allowed for Experience: Indicated experience is required; no substitutions allowed.
Minimum Required Knowledge:
· Strong understanding of economic development, industrial recruitment, and corporate site selection.
· Experience working with state and local economic development organizations, government agencies, industrial developers, and private-sector stakeholders.
· Knowledge of industrial real estate development, infrastructure planning, land development, and site readiness.
· Understanding of freight transportation systems, maritime logistics, rail, intermodal, and supply chain infrastructure.
· Ability to evaluate development opportunities and translate market intelligence into actionable economic development strategies.
· Proven ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and coordinate complex multi-party projects.
· Strong collaboration skills with the ability to operate across internal departments and external partners.
· Ability to manage and prioritize a strategic pipeline of economic development projects from recruitment through implementation.
Certification or Licensure Requirements
None required, professional certifications preferred.
Physical Requirements/ADA
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on computer. Occasionally requires standing and lifting up to 25 pounds.
Pay: $109,934.00 - $186,888.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Describe your experience leading or supporting economic development, industrial recruitment, or corporate site selection projects. Please include your specific role and the outcomes achieved.
- Tell us about your experience working with economic development organizations, government agencies, utility providers, or other public/private stakeholders to advance a development project.
- Describe your experience with industrial real estate, site readiness, land development, or infrastructure planning. What projects have you been directly responsible for?
- Provide an example of a project where you coordinated multiple stakeholders to move a complex development or business initiative from concept to implementation. What obstacles did you overcome, and what was the result?
Work Location: In person
