Director Business & Economic Development

The Port of Portland is hiring a

Director, Economic & Business Development

The Port of Portland is hiring for a Director, Economic & Business Development to lead the Port's efforts to create inclusive economic growth with efforts that expand quality jobs, enhance global market access, increase productive use of Port assets, and strengthen the region's competitiveness with a broad range of partners.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Lead the design and execution of initiatives to expand economic opportunity, increase traded-sector employment, and strengthen global market access.
• Oversee programs that support firms in overcoming growth barriers, accessing resources, and creating accessible employment opportunities across key industry clusters.
• Drive business retention, expansion, and attraction in alignment with business objectives.
• Guide annual planning, performance measurement, and continuous improvement to ensure initiatives align with organizational goals and market conditions.

Trade & Global Market Development

• Work with partners to advance a unified statewide trade strategy and increase international trade-related employment.
• Oversee the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program and other tools that improve business competitiveness in international markets.
• Lead team responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with shippers, carriers, logistics providers, and industrial tenants to identify market access needs and expand service options through Port assets.
• Support trade missions and develop partnerships that enhance global connectivity for traded-sector industries.

Regional Economic Development & Policy Alignment

• Collaborate with regional, state, and local partners to align economic development priorities, attract investment, and shape strategies that promote inclusive growth.
• Lead engagement in policy analysis and advocacy that strengthens the region's traded-sector ecosystem and infrastructure.
• Analytics, Reporting & Market Intelligence
• Strengthen the Port's economic and market analytics capacity to inform business decisions, strategic priorities, and investment.
• Monitor emerging trends affecting economic opportunities and competitiveness and recommend adaptive strategies.

Team Management

Full job description available upon request.

• Bachelor's Degree - Economics, Business, Public Administration, or related field (additional experience may substitute for the education qualifications).
• Master's Degree (preferred, not required) in Economics, Business, Public Administration, or related field.
• Ten (10) + years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, international trade, or business development, including at least 5 years in management.
• Demonstrated success managing complete initiatives involving multiple public and private stakeholders.
• A United States Passport is required for this role, as international travel is required.

Selection Process: (tentative schedule):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of the education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources until this role closes on 11/23/2025.
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials.
3. Our goal is to notify candidates who are selected for interviews by 11/26/2025. We will then schedule virtual first round of interviews with candidates who successfully passed the SME evaluation at the beginning of December. Panel Interviews will be held afterward.

About us:

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region's success. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.