Expert Economic Development Specialist

Department Overview 

The Commercial Growth Organization's Economic Development team is responsible for advancing PG&E's role as a catalyst for economic growth and community prosperity throughout Northern and Central California. The team partners with businesses, site selectors, economic development organizations, government agencies, and regional stakeholders to attract new investment, support business expansion, retain existing employers, and enable critical infrastructure development. 
 

As PG&E continues to support California's growing economy, the Economic Development team serves as a strategic resource for organizations seeking to locate, expand, or invest within PG&E's service territory. Through customer engagement, data-driven analysis, site development initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration, the team helps position PG&E as a preferred partner for business growth and economic development. 
 

Position Summary 

The Economic Development Specialist, Expert serves as a strategic advisor and relationship manager supporting business attraction, retention, expansion, and infrastructure development efforts throughout PG&E's service territory. This position develops and maintains partnerships with economic development organizations, local and regional governments, industry associations, site selectors, and business customers to promote investment and job creation opportunities. 
 

A successful candidate will provide economic development expertise, market intelligence, customer consultation, and project management support to facilitate new business growth and accelerate customer entry into PG&E's new business pipeline. This role works closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to identify development opportunities, evaluate site readiness, support load growth initiatives, and advance projects from initial inquiry through application and implementation. 
 

The position requires strong relationship management, strategic planning, analytical, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. 

This position is hybrid (0-3 days per week in office), working from your remote office and in-person based on business need. The assigned work location will be within the PG&E Service Territory and agreed upon between the hiring leader and successful candidate. This position requires travel within the northern service territory (including but not limited to Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, and Sacramento counties) as well as monthly visits to the Oakland office and conferences that may be outside of PG&E territory. 

PG&E is providing the full salary/pay range for this position.  The actual amount paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, and geographic location.  The range to reasonably expect will be between the minimum to the midpoint of the range.  The final decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to the factors above. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs. 

Bay Area Minimum: $122,000.00 

Bay Area Midpoint: $158,000.00 

Bay Area Maximum: $194,000.00 

And/or 

California Minimum: $116,000.00 

California Midpoint: $150,000.00 

California Maximum: $184,000.00 

Key Responsibilities 

Economic Development & Business Attraction 

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, government agencies, site selectors, developers, and industry partners. 

• Identify and cultivate opportunities to attract, retain, and expand businesses within PG&E's service territory. 

• Represent PG&E at economic development events, industry conferences, trade shows, stakeholder meetings, and regional forums. 

• Promote PG&E programs, services, infrastructure capabilities, and economic development resources to prospective and existing business customers. 
   

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for customers exploring new business locations, facility expansions, or infrastructure investments. 

• Provide guidance regarding utility requirements, infrastructure availability, development timelines, and the customer interconnection process. 

• Facilitate coordination between customers, community stakeholders, and internal PG&E teams to support successful project outcomes. 

• Maintain ongoing communication with external partners and customers, providing project updates and proactively addressing issues or barriers. 
   

Project Management & Strategic Planning 

• Lead and support moderately complex to complex economic development initiatives and customer projects. 

• Coordinate cross-functional teams to advance customer opportunities from initial inquiry through application and implementation. 

• Develop project plans, monitor milestones, manage risks, and ensure timely completion of deliverables. 

• Support regional and statewide economic development strategies aligned with PG&E's business objectives and growth initiatives. 
   

Program Administration & Reporting 

• Maintain customer and project information within customer relationship management (CRM) systems and other tracking tools. 

• Prepare reports, presentations, economic development profiles, and stakeholder communications. 

• Monitor program performance metrics and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. 

• Support development and implementation of outreach strategies, marketing campaigns, and economic development programs. 
   

This position requires travel within PG&E Service territory and trade conferences. 

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience 

• Eight (8) years of relevant experience

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) or similar accreditation
• Valid driver’s license

Desired: 

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economic Development, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Six (6) years of professional experience in economic development, business development, account management, strategic partnerships, governmental affairs, community development, sales, customer engagement, or related field. 

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation or related professional certification. 

• Experience working with economic development organizations, local government agencies, chambers of commerce, or regional development organizations. 

• Knowledge of utility infrastructure planning, site selection, business attraction, and economic development practices. 

• Experience supporting commercial, industrial, manufacturing, technology, energy, or infrastructure development projects. 

• Strong customer relationship management (CRM) and stakeholder engagement experience. 

• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, data analysis, project management, and business development. 

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and public speaking skills. 

• Ability to build consensus and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.