RECRUITMENT NOTICE - Senior Advisor, Downtown Innovation

RECRUITMENT NOTICE

Agency Title: Senior Advisor, Downtown Innovation
Job ID: 32812
Date Open: 07/09/2026
Date Close: 07/23/2026

About DMPED:
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) coordinates, plans, supervises and executes economic development efforts in the District of Columbia, toward the goals of creating and preserving affordable housing, creating jobs and increasing tax revenues. DMPED develops and implements policies and programs that drive equitable economic growth and provide District residents with pathways to the middle class.

The Deputy Mayor oversees a cluster of agencies that are central to the District's economic development strategies, including the Office of Planning (OP), Department of Small Local Business Development (DSLBD), Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Office of Cable Television Film Media and Entertainment (OCTFME), Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB).

Position Description:
The Senior Advisor for Downtown Innovation will serve as the principal advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (Deputy Mayor) on DC's efforts to create a more mixed-use environment, activated, and economically productive downtown. "Downtown" (for purposes of this position's portfolio) includes the area currently covered by the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID), DowntownDC BID, and Southwest BID. The Senior Advisor will lead the development, implementation and coordination of initiatives that advance the Deputy Mayor's goals for repositioning downtown, recruiting and expanding business, and creating jobs.

This role requires deep knowledge of business incentives, project management, activation strategies, and cross-sector collaboration. As a senior role in DMPED, the individual is expected to have excellent communication skills, ability to coordinate and influence, and ability to resolve issues.

The position reports to the Deputy Mayor.

Specific Duties Include:

• Design and recommend tools, policies, and programs aligned with the Mayor's economic and neighborhood development goals for Downtown.
• Lead cross-agency planning and coordination to ensure alignment and execution of the strategies and plans for Downtown, including funding and incentives, events and activation, project delivery, placemaking, and branding and marketing.
• Analyze, monitor and report on key metrics for Downtown vitality and economic growth.
• Oversee, coordinate and implement strategies to activate public spaces, improve the public realm and ensure efficient use of DC's public spaces.
• Represent DMPED in meetings with BIDs, community members and groups, DC government instrumentalities, industry associations and other external stakeholders.
• Represent DMPED in meetings and coordinate with federal agencies most involved in Downtown revitalization (in coordination with applicable DC government offices), which are (primarily) the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and National Park System (NPS).
• Prepare briefings, talking points, reports, and presentations to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and other executive leadership.
• Advise the Deputy Mayor, government partners, and stakeholders on policy implications and advocate for the Mayor's and Deputy Mayor's policy priorities.

Experience/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (required) or Masters degree (preferred), with a focus in public policy, real estate, economic development, urban planning, or related field preferred.
• At least 10-12 years of relevant or transferable experience.
• Deep understanding of commercial real estate, public financing or incentive tools and public-private partnerships.
• Experience working in or with government agencies, federal and/or city government experience preferred.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and program management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects from conception to completion.
• Experience evaluating and presenting policy options to executive leadership.
• Exceptional planning and organizing skills with strong attention to detail.
• Desire to leverage skills to serve the public interest required; interest in local economic and urban planning preferred.

Salary: This position is a grade CS-15 on the District government's career service salary scale. The salary ranges from $116,736 to $164,746. Actual salary is determined by a variety of factors including: years of experience, applicant qualifications, internal equity comparisons and the agency organizational structure.

Application Process: This position is posted on the DC government's Department of Human Resources website. Interested applicants are encouraged to follow the steps below to apply for the position:

• Click on the following LINK
• In the Search Jobs section, enter: 32812
• Click on the job requisition titled: Special Assistant

If you are having technical issues, please contact DCHR at (202) 442-9700.