Business and Industry Manager

Prosper Portland is the economic and urban development agency for the city of Portland. We focus on building an equitable economy by carrying out a comprehensive range of economic development programs that support traded sector industries and small businesses, foster equitable and inclusive businesses in the region, and create jobs for Portland residents. We work with partners to drive public attention and resources to different areas of the city, which helps Portland realize capital projects – parks, streetscape improvements, community centers –that would not happen on their own, making it a better place to live for all Portlanders.

Working at Prosper Portland offers a rare opportunity: to be an integral part of a dedicated team that guides the city in its aspiration to become one of the most globally competitive, equitable, and healthy cities in the world.

The Manager of Business & Industry will use their skills to support a dynamic team, strategize for industry cluster development, and foster and enhance collaborative partnerships with public, non-profit, and private sector partners. This role places you at the helm of an innovative and experienced team. As a thought partner and coach, you will support the team in developing and implementing best/emerging practices and programs that foster traded sector growth, support vibrant, competitive and inclusive industry clusters, provide middle wage jobs for priority communities, and equitably grow the Portland economy.

Below are some of the programs under the guidance of this position, centered on creating a more equitable and inclusive economy.

• Portland Means Progress – An initiative for businesses to double down on their racial equity commitments by providing connections for businesses to hire local underrepresented students, purchase from businesses owned by people of color and create diverse and vibrant workforce and company cultures. 
• TechTown – A collaborative program between the Portland’s technology ecosystem and Prosper Portland to showcase Portland’s emerging tech hub, commit to cultivate a more diverse workforce and provide connections to workforce development opportunities in the industry. This program centers the experiences of women of color to inform its programming and measure its impact.
• Industry Support – Prosper Portland supports four industry sectors (Technology & Media, Green Cities, Metals & Machinery, and Athletic & Outdoor) through partnerships, initiatives, and technical assistance. The region hosts a concentration of talent and companies in these high–growth industries. The Business & Industry team provides programming to drive inclusive growth by supporting these competitive industries that provide high-quality job opportunities and working to fill those jobs with people of color and low-income residents.
• Ezone – A state economic development program that incentivizes firms to invest major capital outlays and retain quality jobs through tax exemptions that are tied to innovative public benefit agreements that focus on culture change inside companies and social impact in the community. 
• Portland Film Office – Serves as a vital connection between the film and media industry by supporting productions within the city and actively cultivating an eco-system that supports and attract production investment in the city. 
• B2B Matchmaking – An innovative initiative that establishes and builds connections in traded sector industries by facilitating unique networking opportunities that allow businesses to increase sales, make supply chain connections and strengthen the competitiveness of the industry overall. 

The ideal candidate will possess strong self-awareness, sharply honed management and team building skills, an intuitive ease with broad engagement across varied sectors and industries (both public and private), cross-cultural relationship and bridge building, and a passion to find smart solutions for complex issues.