Economic Development Director - Stockbridge, GA
Economic Development Director
Sumter Local Government Consulting is pleased to be assisting Stockbridge, GA, in conducting a recruitment for their next Economic Development Director.
The City of Stockbridge is part of the rapidly growing Atlanta metropolitan area and sits within Henry County. The city is a thriving and strategically positioned community just 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta and a short 12-mile drive from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport. Its strong residential base, excellent workforce pipeline, and expanding commercial sector position the city as a premier destination for economic development and investment.
The City of Stockbridge operates under a Mayor–Council–City Manager form of government that blends strong elected leadership with professional administrative management. The Mayor and five City Council members, all elected at-large by the residents of Stockbridge, provide policy direction, adopt ordinances, set strategic priorities, and approve the annual municipal budget.
The City of Stockbridge is seeking a forward-thinking, highly skilled Economic Development Director to guide the city’s continued growth and strengthen its position as one of the most dynamic communities in the Atlanta metropolitan region. Reporting directly to the City Manager, this influential leadership role is responsible for shaping and implementing the city’s economic development vision, cultivating strong relationships with the business community, and driving initiatives that expand the local tax base, create jobs, and enhance Stockbridge’s long-term economic vitality.
The Director will take the lead in identifying and recruiting new businesses, assisting existing businesses with expansion needs, and promoting redevelopment in key corridors and strategic areas of the city. They will manage incentive programs, negotiate with developers, support site selection activities, and provide high-level customer service to ensure that companies view Stockbridge as a premier location for business. The position also requires researching market trends, conducting economic and demographic analysis, and preparing reports and presentations that help city leadership make informed decisions.
To be successful, the Director must be a strategic thinker and a strong communicator with a talent for building trust-based partnerships. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience in business recruitment, redevelopment, incentive negotiations, and the commercial real estate process. They should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, rapidly growing community and be able to collaborate effectively across departments and with regional economic development organizations.
The ideal candidate must be:
- Problem solver and project finisher with demonstrated ability to re-energize stalled development projects, resolve obstacles, and move initiatives from concept to completion
- Effective communicator with excellent written and verbal skills, capable of preparing high-quality reports, presentations, and promotional materials for diverse audiences.
- Ability to solve problems and make decisions using independent judgment.
- Considerable knowledge of land and building values, urban design, municipal finances, tax credit incentives, and funding sources for economic development or redevelopment.
- Ability to gather, analyze, and interpret industrial and economic data and to make sound recommendations from the information.
- Contributes to the profession and actively engages in professional development.
- A commitment to professionalism, integrity, and public service is essential.
- Tech-savvy professional proficient in modern office technology, website management tools, and analytical software used for economic development research and communications.
- Skilled negotiator comfortable navigating incentive programs, development agreements, and public–private partnerships to secure successful outcomes.
- Creative marketing and branding professional able to leverage the city’s new economic development website, social media, and communication channels to promote Stockbridge as a premier business destination.
- Exceptional relationship builder skilled at working collaboratively with elected officials, the City Manager, the DDA, regional partners, developers, business owners, and community leaders.
- Ethical, transparent, and trustworthy professional who brings integrity and builds confidence with residents, businesses, and elected officials.
Salary
The compensation range for this role is between $101,000 and $130,000.
Application Process
For more information on this position, including supplementary documents and resources, visit the recruitment page at:
https://sumterlocalgovconsulting.com/recruitments/economic-development-director-stockbridge-ga/
The first review of resumes will take place on January 28, 2026.
Please refrain from communicating with the City of Stockbride's staff or elected officials. Please direct inquiries to Sumter Consulting through the Executive Recruiter.
Billy Grogan
770.403.8086
www.sumterlocalgovconsulting.com
Click this link to apply: