Assistant Director of Economic Development

Economic Development Assistant Director City of Fort Worth, Texas Mackenzie Eason & Associates has been retained by the City of Fort Worth to recruit the next Assistant Director of Economic Development.  Reporting to the Director, the Assistant Director will provide leadership over the Business Recruitment and Retention operations and activities .  The vision for the Assistant Director is to assess the current internal processes, models, and team to better align the department with the City Manager’s vision to partner with and support the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, develop unique incentive packages that support economic growth and community investment, and provide tangible returns to the community and city.  This role will work with the Director to effectively plan, design, develop and evaluate economic initiatives that support the City’s strategic vision and goals.  THE OPPORTUNITY Fort Worth is experiencing incredible growth—having just eclipsed one million residents while emerging as a national hub for aerospace, advanced logistics, and data‑driven innovation.

This role is the day‑to‑day operating lead on active corporate projects and employer expansions.

You will qualify prospects with the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (FW EDP), size incentive requests with discipline, and move projects from first call to Council action.

The focus is practical :

• build a reliable pipeline, recommend incentives only when there is a clear public return, and deliver measurable results for Fort Worth.
• ABOUT THE CITY & DEPARTMENT Fort Worth’s Economic Development Department (EDD) is a 21‑person team responsible for diversifying the tax base and improving the city’s quality of place.
• The department manages a $190   million portfolio, oversees ten active Tax‑Increment Financing (TIF) districts, and directs projects that support growth across Fort Worth.
• The Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (FW   EDP) markets Fort Worth to companies, site selectors, and real‑estate professionals before projects reach City Hall.
• The EDD supports these projects by using policy tools, such as incentives, land, and infrastructure, to meet city goals.
• The FW EDP builds the project pipeline by promoting Fort Worth.
• The Department evaluates each opportunity, structures incentive packages, and guides projects through approval.
• The Assistant Director works at this intersection—translating interest into clear proposals, aligning City resources, and ensuring timely decisions.
• The department manages a multi‑fund portfolio, oversees multiple active Tax‑Increment Financing (TIF) districts, and advances projects across Fort Worth’s major employment centers and corridors.
• KEY FUNCTIONS & IMPACT Recruitment & Site Selection Qualify prospects with FW EDP; align sites, zoning, utilities, workforce, and timing needs.
• Business Retention & Expansion (BRE)   Leads proactive outreach to priority employers and legacy anchors such as Lockheed Martin, Bell Textron, BNSF, and American Airlines, ensuring expansions stay in Fort Worth; develop account plans and early‑warning indicators; coordinate rapid‑response solutions to protect jobs and capital investment .

Deal Screening & Term Sheets Apply consistent ROI and risk standards; recommend incentives only when there is a defined gap and public benefit.

Deal Architecture   Deploys Chapter   380 performance grants, tax abatements, TIF reimbursements, Public Improvement Districts, and state incentives to achieve ≥   10 :

Working closely with the FW   EDP, you will review project proposals, analyze their financial impact, and decide when to apply Chapter   380 grants, tax abatements, TIF reimbursements, and other tools to support responsible growth.

Some challenges that the Assistant Director will help overcome in the next 2-3 years include :