St. Louis, Missouri, United States · On-site
$150k/yr
Job DetailsLevel: SeniorJob Location: 1520 MARKET STREET SUITE 2000 - ST LOUIS, MO 63103Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeSalary Range: $150,000.00 Salary/yearJob Shift: DayPOSITION OVERVIEW The Vice …
Skills: Economic Development, Community Development, Place-Based Strategy, Small Business Ecosystem Development, Corridor Revitalization
St. Louis, Missouri, United States • On-site
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Lead SLDC’s neighborhood implementation, corridor revitalization, and small business empowerment strategies across the City of St. Louis. Oversee a team of Neighborhood Managers and manage the Northside Economic Empowerment Center to align public and private investments with community priorities.
Requires a bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred) and over 10 years of experience in economic or community development. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in managing complex stakeholder environments and leading place-based revitalization initiatives.
Job DetailsLevel: SeniorJob Location: 1520 MARKET STREET SUITE 2000 - ST LOUIS, MO 63103Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeSalary Range: $150,000.00 Salary/yearJob Shift: DayPOSITION OVERVIEW
The Vice President (VP) of Place-Based Initiatives is responsible for leading SLDC’s neighborhood implementation, corridor revitalization, and small business empowerment strategies across the City of St. Louis. This role oversees SLDC’s geographically focused implementation work through a team of Neighborhood Managers while also providing executive leadership for SLDC’s small business empowerment ecosystem, including the Northside Economic Empowerment Center (NEEC), technical assistance initiatives, neighborhood business support programs, corridor activation efforts, and related entrepreneurship and capacity building initiatives.
The VP serves as the executive leader responsible for connecting:
neighborhood priorities
economic empowerment
corridor revitalization
small business growth
community partnerships
and place-based investment strategies.
This role ensures SLDC operates as a coordinated implementation platform that advances neighborhood economic development through aligned investments, strategic partnerships, business support systems, and catalytic projects.
The VP of Place-Based Initiatives operates at the intersection of:
neighborhood development
small business ecosystem development
economic empowerment
corridor revitalization
and community-centered implementation.
Success in this role is measured by neighborhood implementation outcomes, growth and effectiveness of SLDC’s small business ecosystem, corridor activation, stakeholder trust, and the successful alignment of public, private, philanthropic, and institutional resources around neighborhood and economic empowerment priorities.
Lead SLDC’s citywide place-based implementation strategy
Oversee implementation of adopted neighborhood, corridor, and small area plans
Ensure neighborhood priorities are integrated into SLDC’s broader economic development strategy
Develop systems that translate neighborhood plans into executable implementation priorities, project pipelines, and investment strategies
Coordinate neighborhood implementation efforts across varying market conditions and geographies
Identify catalytic opportunities that strengthen neighborhood stability, economic activity, and long-term investment potential
Lead, coach, and manage a team of Neighborhood Managers responsible for assigned geographies across the City
Establish clear implementation priorities, performance expectations, and accountability systems
Ensure Neighborhood Managers operate as high-capacity place-based implementation leaders
Support development of staff capabilities related to:
economic development,
development coordination,
partnership management,
corridor revitalization,
and community-centered implementation
implementation tracking,
project escalation,
stakeholder coordination,
and cross-functional collaboration
Lead SLDC’s small business empowerment strategy and related implementation efforts
Oversee the Northside Economic Empowerment Center (NEEC) and related business support initiatives focused on technical assistance, workforce development, access to capital, and entrepreneurial support systems
Coordinate SLDC’s broader small business ecosystem initiatives, including:
business technical assistance,
entrepreneurship support,
contractor and supplier development,
certification assistance,
training programs,
and neighborhood business support services
Coordinate partnerships with lenders, technical assistance providers, workforce organizations, educational institutions, and community-based partners
Support alignment of public, private, philanthropic, and institutional capital around neighborhood priorities
Coordinate implementation of small business grant, lending, and capacity-building initiatives
Support development of investable neighborhood and small business pipelines
Identify opportunities to leverage incentives, grants, financing tools, and strategic partnerships to support neighborhood economic growth
Support coordination with philanthropic and institutional partners on place-based initiatives
Oversee neighborhood commercial corridor revitalization efforts citywide
vacancy reduction,
business attraction and retention,
public realm improvements,
façade enhancement,
and corridor activation
Coordinate corridor-level investment and partnership strategies
Ensure corridor revitalization efforts align with neighborhood plans and broader
economic development priorities
SVP, Real Estate / Major Projects
Incentives team
Ensure neighborhood and small business priorities are integrated into:
development pipelines,
incentive strategies,
land assembly efforts,
infrastructure planning,
and capital deployment decisions
Facilitate cross-department coordination to remove barriers to implementation and improve organizational responsiveness
Community Development Corporations (CDCs)
neighborhood organizations
small business support organizations
anchor institutions
lenders and CDFIs
workforce development providers
philanthropic partners
chambers and business associations
Serve as an executive-level representative of SLDC in neighborhood and economic empowerment settings
Ensure SLDC maintains strong credibility and visibility within neighborhoods and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem
Develop and maintain implementation dashboards and performance systems leveraging CRM (i.e. Salesforce) and other software platforms related to:
neighborhood plan implementation,
corridor activation,
small business growth,
stakeholder engagement,
and investment activity
business support outcomes,
neighborhood implementation progress,
corridor vitality,
partnership development,
and investment coordination
Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and the Board
Ensure initiatives are measurable, coordinated, and outcome-oriented
Neighborhood plans move from vision documents into visible implementation and investment
Commercial corridors demonstrate increased activity, occupancy, and economic momentum
Small businesses experience improved access to capital, technical assistance, training, and growth opportunities
SLDC is recognized as a trusted and effective neighborhood and economic empowerment partner
Neighborhood Managers operate as strong place-based implementation leaders
Public, private, philanthropic, and institutional investments are better aligned around neighborhood and economic empowerment priorities
SLDC’s small business ecosystem becomes more coordinated, scalable, and impactful
Neighborhood stakeholders experience SLDC as responsive, strategic, and action-oriented
QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS
Experience & Education
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in:
Business
Or related field
10+ years of progressively responsible experience in:
economic development,
community development,
small business ecosystem development,
place-based initiatives,
neighborhood revitalization,
public-private partnerships,
or related fields
managing teams and complex stakeholder environments
leading cross-functional implementation initiatives
coordinating capital and partnerships
advancing neighborhood and economic empowerment strategies
neighborhood development dynamics
commercial corridor revitalization
small business ecosystem development
economic empowerment strategies
public-private partnerships
economic development incentives and financing tools
entrepreneurship and workforce development systems
lead complex place-based initiatives
build trust across diverse stakeholder groups
align multiple organizations and systems around shared priorities
translate strategy into implementation systems
operate effectively in politically and operationally complex environments
Strong communication, facilitation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills
Strong organizational leadership and operational management capabilities
Thinks systemically while remaining highly execution-oriented
Understands the intersection between neighborhood development, economic empowerment, and small business growth
Builds credibility across neighborhoods, institutions, businesses, philanthropy, and government
Operates collaboratively while maintaining a strong bias toward action
Brings structure, accountability, and strategic coordination to complex place-based initiatives
Understands that successful neighborhood revitalization requires both relationship- building and operational execution
Full-time, exempt position
Combination of office, field, and community-based work
Frequent attendance at neighborhood meetings, business events, trainings, and site visits required
Evening and weekend work as needed
Valid driver’s license required
Requires St. Louis City residency within timeframe established by SLDC policy
This is a full-time, exempt position with health benefits and paid time off. While our traditional work hours are from 8:00
am to 5:00 pm, SLDC follows a standard work schedule of 40 hours per week for full-time employees. Evening and
weekend work is required as job duties demand.
SLDC is committed to building a team with a wide range of experiences and perspectives. SLDC strongly encourages applications from people of
color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates, and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin,
ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, or any statuses protected by law.
Imagine, Innovate, Invest
St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is the City’s economic development arm. SLDC’s mission is to stimulate the market for private investment in City real estate and business development and improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in, works in and visits St. Louis. *Real estate management, site assembly, preparation and development *Neighborhood and Commercial District development *Port development and management *Support and administration of City economic development incentives, boards and authorities *Minority- and Women-Owned Business inclusion and support *Business Assistance Center *Coordinate regional economic initiatives impacting the City
Offices: 1520 Market St, St Louis, Missouri, US
Imagine, Innovate, Invest
St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is the City’s economic development arm. SLDC’s mission is to stimulate the market for private investment in City real estate and business development and improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in, works in and visits St. Louis. *Real estate management, site assembly, preparation and development *Neighborhood and Commercial District development *Port development and management *Support and administration of City economic development incentives, boards and authorities *Minority- and Women-Owned Business inclusion and support *Business Assistance Center *Coordinate regional economic initiatives impacting the City
Offices: 1520 Market St, St Louis, Missouri, US
