Director of Urban Planning & Growth

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Urban Planning & Growth

Help Shape the Future of Downtown Tampa

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is seeking an innovative, collaborative and relationshipdriven leader to serve as its next Director of Planning & Growth.

Working at the intersection of people, places and partnerships, the Director helps translate Downtown Tampa's continued growth into a more connected, vibrant and economically resilient urban center.

This is not a traditional regulatory planning role. The Partnership uses market intelligence, place-based strategies and its convening power to identify opportunities, align stakeholders and help move initiatives from insight to action.

Working with the City of Tampa, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), developers, investors, employers, institutions, property owners, businesses and community partners, the Director will help advance strategies that strengthen Downtown's neighborhoods, corridors, businesses, public spaces and overall competitiveness.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable analyzing a development pipeline, walking a corridor with a property owner, interpreting market data, convening public and private partners, and translating those insights into action.

What You'll Do

Planning, Growth & Place-Based Strategies

• Lead planning and growth initiatives that strengthen Downtown's economic vitality, connectivity and quality of place. Identify catalytic opportunities and help move priority initiatives from planning toward implementation.
• Advance place-based strategies integrating economic growth, mobility, public realm, business vitality and neighborhood priorities.
• Support ground-floor activation, retail vitality, small-business growth, public-space improvements and other strategies that create a more active Downtown.
• Identify physical, economic and experiential gaps and develop actionable strategies to address them.

Economic Vitality & Partnerships

• Build trusted relationships with developers, investors, employers, brokers, institutions, property owners, businesses and community leaders.
• Convene public- and private-sector partners around shared Downtown priorities.
• Connect businesses and stakeholders with research, resources, relationships and opportunities.
• Identify partnerships and investment opportunities that strengthen Downtown's business environment and long-term competitiveness.

Research & Market Intelligence

• Lead the Partnership's research and market intelligence program, positioning TDP as a trusted source for Downtown data and economic insights.
• Track development, investment, commercial and residential markets, business activity, mobility, demographics, workforce and visitor trends.
• Utilize platforms including Placer.ai, GIS, CoStar and other analytical tools to understand Downtown performance.
• Develop dashboards, market reports, benchmarking and strategic insights that support decision-making.
• Translate data into clear recommendations, presentations and thought leadership for leadership, the Board and Downtown stakeholders.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the Partnership's Executive Leadership Team and contribute to organizational strategy, annual priorities and cross-functional initiatives.
• Represent the Partnership with public agencies, business organizations, neighborhood groups and community partners.
• Lead and mentor the Planning & Growth team while fostering innovation, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Work across the organization to ensure planning and growth initiatives support the Partnership's broader strategic priorities.

What Success Looks Like

Success is not measured simply by plans, reports or meetings. It is measured by the ability to turn intelligence, relationships and strategy into visible Downtown progress.

The Director will help the Partnership:

• Connect people to opportunity.
• Connect places and strengthen the Downtown experience.
• Connect partners around shared outcomes.
• Turn market intelligence into strategic action.
• Move priority initiatives from planning toward implementation.
• Help create measurable improvements in Downtown vitality, connectivity and economic competitiveness.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Economics, Business, Real Estate, Geography, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• 7 – 10yrs of progressively responsible leadership experience in urban planning, economic development, downtown management, redevelopment, real estate, public administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships across the public, private, nonprofit, and institutional sectors.
• Strong understanding of urban development, economic vitality, market analysis, mobility, and place management.
• Experience using research, analytics, and performance metrics to support strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to convene diverse stakeholders, build consensus, and translate strategy into action.

Why Join the Tampa Downtown Partnership?

The Tampa Downtown Partnership champions the vitality and growth of Downtown Tampa by convening stakeholders, embracing innovation, and fostering thriving neighborhoods. Through strategic planning, market intelligence, advocacy, placemaking, economic vitality initiatives, mobility, and management of the Downtown Special Services District, the Partnership works collaboratively to create a vibrant, connected, and resilient downtown.

This is an exceptional opportunity to help shape one of America's fastest-growing downtowns while working alongside visionary civic, business, and community leaders committed to Downtown Tampa's continued success.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including fully paid health and dental insurance, life insurance, employer-matching 401(k), paid time off, and commuter benefits.