Economic Development Manager

About the Company

Our organization is dedicated to fostering economic progress, promoting investment, and sustainable development through research, partnerships, and innovation. Our distributed teams across various disciplines work collaboratively to boost economic growth, strengthen ecosystems, and generate lasting value for communities and stakeholders.

Role Overview

We are looking for a seasoned Economic Development Manager to spearhead strategies related to economic growth, investment initiatives, market evaluations, stakeholder relations, and developmental programs. This role involves overseeing economic research, managing development projects, fostering public-private partnerships, and driving sustainable economic advancement aligned with our organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and execute strategies and frameworks aligned with both organizational and regional development goals.
• Perform economic research, market and feasibility studies, sector evaluations, and analyze investment opportunities.
• Lead programs targeting investment attraction, business expansion, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
• Collaborate extensively with teams across government relations, strategy, investment, business development, research, sustainability, finance, operations, and leadership.
• Develop and maintain connections with governmental agencies, investors, businesses, industry bodies, academia, and economic organizations.
• Monitor emerging industries, market dynamics, investment prospects, competitive landscapes, and economic drivers.
• Prepare business cases, economic impact assessments, strategies, policy guidance, and investment proposals.
• Support public-private partnerships, economic diversification, regional development, and strategic investments.
• Oversee stakeholder engagement, organize economic forums, industry events, workshops, and partnership initiatives.
• Assess economic programs through KPIs, impact analysis, benchmarking, and continuous enhancements.
• Track key performance indicators including investment growth, economic impact, job creation, business attraction, stakeholder involvement, and project outcomes.
• Conduct assessments of economic policies, market intelligence, benchmarking, risk analysis, and implement ongoing improvements.
• Ensure adherence to UAE economic regulations, government policies, investment frameworks, sustainability mandates, and governance policies.
• Manage budgets allocated to economic development, collaborating with research partners, consultants, investment platforms, and utilizing analytical tools.
• Champion digital transformation by leveraging AI-driven economic forecasting, predictive analytics, investment intelligence, automated research, data visualization, and business intelligence tools.
• Utilize platforms and tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Python, R, SQL, Bloomberg, Statista, economic databases, GIS, ERP systems, research tools, Microsoft 365, and analytics technologies to drive insights.
• Prepare executive dashboards, economic impact reports, investment analysis, policy briefs, strategic recommendations, and presentations for senior management.
• Lead and mentor economic analysts, research specialists, development coordinators, and cross-functional teams promoting innovation, collaboration, strategic thought, and continuous growth.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, Finance, International Development, Urban Planning, or related fields.
• Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Business Administration (MBA), Development Studies, Finance, International Relations, or similar disciplines is highly preferred.
• Professional certifications such as Economic Development, Public Policy, Investment Analysis, PMP, Data Analytics, or comparable credentials are desirable.
• At least five years’ experience in economic development, investment promotion, strategy consulting, public policy, research, or business development roles.
• Minimum two years in managing economic development programs, investment projects, stakeholder partnerships, or multidisciplinary teams is favored.
• Strong expertise in economic analysis, market research, investment strategies, policy formulation, stakeholder management, public-private partnerships, and principles of sustainable development.
• Proficiency with analytics and visualization tools including Power BI, Tableau, Python, R, SQL, Bloomberg terminals, economic databases, GIS, Microsoft Office Suite, research and business intelligence tools.
• Experience or knowledge of AI-driven economic forecasting, predictive analytics, smart city tech, digital investment platforms, automated research systems, and advanced economic intelligence platforms is an advantage.
• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical thinking, strategic planning, project coordination, budgeting, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to concurrently manage multiple economic initiatives balancing objectives, stakeholders, compliance, budgets, and timelines effectively.
• Successful remote work experience with geographically distributed partners, investors, researchers, executives, and stakeholders. Willingness to travel occasionally for forums, conferences, meetings, and strategic sessions.

Benefits

• Fully remote role with flexible collaboration across international teams.
• Attractive salary complemented by performance-related rewards.
• Inclusive health and wellness benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership in economic development.
• Access to cutting-edge AI-supported economic intelligence and advanced analytical platforms.
• Participation in a culture promoting innovation, sustainability, strategic impact, and ongoing improvement.
• Chance to shape economic growth initiatives that attract investment and build long-term prosperity.