Director, Real Estate & Economic Development, Texas

ABOUT US |   HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) is an employee-owned company advising public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic clients on how to increase opportunity and advance quality of life in cities.       

We believe in creating vital places, building equitable and resilient communities, and improving people’s lives.    

From Brooklyn to London, Medellin to Hong Kong, we have guided hundreds of clients in transforming real estate and economic development concepts, and public infrastructure, first into actionable plans and then into job-producing, community-strengthening assets.      

Our clients include real estate owners and investors, hospitals and universities, cultural institutions and philanthropies, community development organizations, and governments.      

HR&A has offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, Washington D.C., and the Bay Area. We come from diverse backgrounds, have a breadth of lived experience, and share a passion for cities. We are former city officials, executive directors, planners, lawyers, architects, and economists.       

Hear more about the HR&A experience from our staff.   

Learn more about careers at HR&A on our website here.    

ABOUT YOU | You are a strategic and analytical thinker with a passion for equitable urban development, thriving cities and communities, and cross-sector collaboration. You bring hands-on experience in real estate, economic development, urban planning, or public policy, and are excited to lead complex projects that shape the future of cities. You are energized by the opportunity to address the challenges facing cities, institutions, and communities across Texas and the region, helping elevate them as engines of economic opportunity, innovation, and quality of life. You are a collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and is eager to mentor junior staff and contribute to the growth of the firm. 

THE ROLE | HR&A is seeking to hire a Director in our Dallas office. Remote candidates based in a major city in Texas will be considered, provided they are committed to regular trips to the Dallas office. Directors are experienced professionals who lead project teams, manage client relationships, and contribute to business development. The role is part of HR&A’s newly launched Vital Places Studio, a collaborative group of consultants working nationally and regionally across real estate advisory, economic development, climate and resilience, parks and open space, transit-oriented development, and infrastructure projects. As exemplified by HR&A’s diverse and impactful projects in the region, the Director will advise mayors and agency heads, real estate owners and developers, and institutional and community clients on high-stakes real estate and economic development decisions — shaping strategies that unlock investment, expand opportunity, and bring places to life across Texas. Recent projects that exemplify the type of projects the Director could manage include a vision for Fort Worth’s most significant urban development opportunity, strategy development and developer solicitation for a new educational downtown anchor in Dallas, development advisory for an innovation district in Houston, or economic development policy planning in Austin.  

The Director will lead multiple engagements at once and own client outcomes from strategy through implementation. Day-to-day work varies by project and may include: 

• Managing internal and external teams to deliver complex real estate, public-private partnership, and economic development strategies 

• Leading market, feasibility, business planning, and fiscal and economic impact studies 

• Designing public-private partnership strategies and analyzing and crafting public policies 

• Managing developer solicitations on behalf of major landowners and conducting and reviewing pro forma and residual land value analysis for a range of uses  

• Developing and implementing effective and inclusive community and stakeholder engagement strategies 

• Reviewing and presenting client deliverables, including memos, reports, and presentations 

• Supporting and leading business development efforts, including proposal writing, client cultivation and engagement, and participation in local professional and industry networks 

• Mentoring junior staff and contributing to internal culture-building, business planning, and business improvement initiatives 

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED | Successful candidates will bring strong quantitative and qualitative skills, a demonstrated capacity for leadership and management, and a deep curiosity about the challenges and opportunities facing cities today. 

Qualifications include: 

• 8–12 years of experience in government, urban planning, economic development, real estate, housing, public policy, or related consulting fields. 

• Substantial project management experience developing and steering economic development, real estate, infrastructure, or parks and open space projects and proposals 

• Knowledge of the land use and economic development context, stakeholders, politics, regulations, and government processes within Texas cities 

• Experience and comfort with real estate financial modeling and analysis 

• Excellent writing and presentation skills 

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and mentor junior staff 

• Strong client management and communication skills 

• Proficiency in common AI tools and understanding of limitations of AI tools 

• Demonstrated interest in using emerging AI tools to accelerate data analysis, deliverable production and other specialized methodologies 

• Master’s degree or commensurate work experience in city planning, economic development, real estate, public policy, business, or a related field preferred (additional experience may substitute for a graduate degree) 

• A passion for community development and inclusive urban growth 

HYBRID WORK POLICY | HR&A fosters a collaborative and flexible work environment through our hybrid work policy. Employees work from the office at least three days a week, which allows individuals the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams. 

COMPENSATION | The base salary range for this position is $131,600–$153,779, plus the opportunity for a discretionary year-end bonus. Where an offer falls inside this pay range is dependent on experience.  We offer competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience. We are an employee-owned company, meaning you will have the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s growth over time through participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Each year, the firm will contribute funds to this long-term wealth-building account and may make contributions to other retirement accounts. We also provide a comprehensive benefits package, including coverage of 90–95% of healthcare premiums plus dental and vision coverage.  

HOW TO APPLY | HR&A is committed to attracting and retaining a talented, diverse, competitive team of professionals dedicated to solving the challenges of urban life. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. 

To apply, click here. Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single PDF document. Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed. 

As part of our ongoing work to build a hiring system that mitigates bias and is based on candidate merit and performance, we ask that you submit a version of your resume that has your school information removed. Please list your degree (e.g., B.A. Economics), but remove all references to undergraduate and graduate school names. 

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law. 

For more information, please contact us at [email protected].