Economic Vitality and Municipal Services Director

Economic Vitality and Municipal Services Director

Salary

$181,625.60 - $201,801.60 Annually

Location

San Rafael, CA

Job Type

Full Time, Regular

Job Number

0195-26-07

Department

Office of the County Executive

Opening Date

07/10/2026

Closing Date

8/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Vacancies

1

Weekly Schedule

40 hours

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

The County of Marin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons of color, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and adults of all ages are strongly encouraged to apply.

Individuals with Disabilities

If you are a person with a disability and are unable to complete an online application or require an accommodation to participate in a recruitment, you must contact Human Resources at least five work days in advance of the testing step or interview. Please contact the Human Resources Staffing Division at (415) 473-2126 (CRS DIAL 711) .

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

ABOUT US

The Office of the County Executive is responsible for implementing the policy direction of the Marin County Board of Supervisors and supporting the effective delivery of public services across 22 departments. The office provides leadership on countywide initiatives, coordinates interdepartmental and cross-jurisdictional programs.

Our work includes advancing the Board's strategic priorities, overseeing the County's $865 million budget, and leading cross-cutting efforts in housing, climate, equity, emergency preparedness, homelessness, and more.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Economic Vitality and Municipal Services Director is a newly established executive management position within the Office of the County Executive. Reporting to a Deputy County Executive, the Director provides strategic leadership for the Countys Economic Vitality and Municipal Services Division and serves as a trusted advisor to the County Executive and Board of Supervisors on initiatives that strengthen Marins economy, support thriving communities, and improve quality of life throughout the county - so people of all ages and backgrounds can live, work, create, and thrive in Marin.

The Economic Vitality and Municipal Services Director will oversee three program areas supported by a three staff:

• The County's Economic Vitality Program
• Municipal Services in unincorporated West Marin
• Municipal Services in unincorporated Marin City

The Director will join the County at a critical time. In 2025, the Board of Supervisors established Community and Economic Vitality as a countywide priority and directed development of a comprehensive, regional Economic Vitality Strategic Roadmap. The Director will provide executive leadership for this initiative - setting strategic direction, overseeing consultant work, advising the Board of Supervisors, and guiding implementation of a long-term strategy that aligns County departments, Marins 11 cities and towns, regional partners, educational institutions, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders around shared priorities. The contract for the Strategic Roadmap - a one-year process - was approved by the Board in June 2026.

Marin has extraordinary natural assets, a strong community identity and significant local talent and innovative assets, yet faces real challenges including an aging population, workforce housing shortages, barriers to retaining young people and essential workers, underutilized commercial districts, and lack of a shared narrative connecting economic vitality to community benefit. The Director will help define the Countys long-term role as a convener, partner, and strategic leader in addressing these opportunities throughout the County through coordinated economic vitality initiatives.

The County's Economic Vitality priorities were informed by Marin's recent learning exchange with San Luis Obispo, which demonstrated the power of cross-sector collaboration, place-based investment, and shared, coordinated goals. Building upon those lessons, the Director will establish a Marin-specific framework that advances vibrant downtowns and corridors, housing and workforce development, small business growth, sustainable tourism, innovation, arts and culture, agriculture and working lands, and long-term economic resilience.

In addition to directing countywide economic vitality initiatives, the Director provides executive oversight of municipal services for the Countys unincorporated communities of West Marin and Marin City. The Director will leverage the Divisions municipal services in West Marin and Marin City to ensures that municipal services are coordinated with Economic Vitality efforts: identifying local economic opportunities, strengthening partnerships with residents and community organizations, informing County policy, and helping ensure that economic vitality initiatives reflect the distinct needs, assets, and priorities of the unincorporated communities.

As one of the Office of the County Executives Division Directors, this position regularly works with Board Members, Department Heads, city and town managers, business leaders, community-based organizations, and regional partners on complex policy issues requiring strategic thinking, political acumen, and collaborative leadership.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build and shape a new County function. The Economic Vitality and Municipal Services Division is in its early stages of development, and two of its three positions are currently vacant. The Director will play a central role in recruiting key staff, establishing the Divisions organizational culture, defining operational priorities, and building the long-term partnerships, systems, and organizational capacity necessary to sustain this work for years to come.

This position works full time on-site in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center, with flexibility for remote work one day per week.

For more information, please view the recruitment brochure:

ABOUT YOU

Our ideal candidate is an experienced executive leader who enjoys building partnerships, developing organizations, and leading complex initiatives that improve communities. You are comfortable building out a new, high-profile program, working across jurisdictional boundaries, consulting elected officials, and bringing diverse stakeholders together around shared goals.

Our Highly Qualified Candidate is excited to grow with Marin and invest in the County's future. You are someone who:

• Builds trust and credibility with elected officials, executive leadership, community partners, and residents.
• Navigates complex policy and political environments with sound judgment and professionalism.
• Thinks strategically while maintaining a strong focus on implementation and measurable results.
• Understands how to leverage underutilized assets, and activate stakeholders.
• Brings people together to solve challenging problems through collaboration.
• Values public service and understands the role local government plays in strengthening communities.
• Develops high-performing teams and enjoys mentoring and supporting staff

You bring:

• Experience in economic development, community development, or cross sector collaboration.
• Strong research, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Data informed decision making balanced with community engagement.
• Passion for building vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready communities.

Experience with business development, workforce issues, housing, placemaking, or local government is highly desirable.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Economic development principles, strategies, and best practices.
• Community development methodologies and cross-sector collaboration techniques.
• Public-private partnership frameworks and stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Local, state, and federal regulations, codes, and policies affecting economic vitality programs.
• Local governance in unincorporated areas.
• Data analysis techniques and demographic research methods.
• Governmental budgeting, finance, and resource allocation processes.
• Grant development and contract management.
• Organizational structure and functions of local government.
• Software applications and systems used for economic data management and program administration.

ABILITY TO

• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive economic vitality strategies and programs aligned with County priorities.
• Navigate complex issues and competing interests to identify practical, consensus-based solutions.
• Build and sustain consensus among diverse stakeholders, including business leaders, community organizations, government agencies, residents, elected officials and regional partners, to advance shared economic vitality and community objectives.
• Analyze and interpret complex economic, demographic, and programmatic data and reports to inform decision-making and policy development.
• Think critically and exercise sound judgement in evaluating program effectiveness while pursuing innovative approaches that improve organizational performance, service delivery and community outcomes.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with diverse stakeholders, including elected officials, executive leadership, governmental agencies, community groups, business leaders and the public.
• Represent the County in public, governmental and professional forums and serve as a trusted advisor on economic vitality and municipal services matters.
• Direct multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously and effectively manage competing demands, resources, and timelines.
• Select, supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate managerial, professional, and support staff.
• Utilize technology and information systems to support strategic planning, analysis, and program management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to qualify is a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or a closely-related field; and five years of progressively responsible experience with economic development and/or community services-related initiatives or programs. At least two of those years need to be in a management, supervisory or program administration capacity. Experience in a public agency is strongly preferred.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ABOUT THE PROCESS:

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates names will be placed on the eligible list. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.

COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL

Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the Marin Countys Benefits Homepage.

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

Health Plan: Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

Retirement: Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.

IRS 457 Plan: Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at (415) 473-6104. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at (415) 473-2197.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01

QUALIFYING EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: The minimum qualifications for this position are as follows:

Any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to qualify is a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, Urban Planning, Public Policy, or a closely-related field; and five years of progressively responsible experience with economic development and/or community services-related initiatives or programs. At least two of those years need to be in a management, supervisory or program administration capacity. Experience in a public agency is strongly preferred. Please tell us how you meet the minimum requirements for the position. For education, please list your degree in the education section of the application. For experience, please provide us with a detailed description of your qualifying experience, including duties and responsibilities, the name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience and the dates worked.

02

NARRATIVE RESPONSE QUESTIONS (Please answer all questions below. If you do not possess any experience, please state "No Experience" in the space provided): Please describe your connection to, or interest in, Marin County, and explain why you are interested in this role specifically for the County of Marin. In your response, highlight how Marin's unique location, industries, geography shapes its economic and community vitality opportunities.

03

What aspects of the County's current Economic Vitality Strategic Roadmap initiative are most compelling to you, and how do you see yourself contributing to its successful development and implementation?

04

This position requires balancing community priorities, operational considerations, and the policy direction of elected officials. Please describe a situation where you navigated a politically sensitive community issue while maintaining productive relationships with residents, partner agencies, and decision-makers.

Required Question

Employer County of Marin

Address 3501 Civic Center Drive

Room 124

San Rafael, California, 94903

Phone 415 473-2126

Website https://www.hr.marincounty.gov/our-divisions/join-our-team