Director of Commercial Development and Investment

The Position

The Port of Portland is hiring a director of commercial development and investment. Are you someone who loves figuring out how to unlock the potential of complex industrial properties? Do you enjoy bringing together real estate strategy, investment, partnerships, and public policy to turn ambitious ideas into projects that can happen? You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of three marine terminals and five industrial business parks - leading how we lease, invest in, develop, and reposition these assets for long-term financial and economic value. Beyond individual properties and projects, you’ll help advance broader industrial land and infrastructure priorities and work with partners to shape and advance long-term visions for some of the region’s most important industrial areas -- from Portland’s North Reach to East Multnomah County. It’s a great opportunity for a leader who likes working at the intersection of real estate, finance, economic development, and public policy - and wants to help shape the future of our region’s industrial economy.

Director of Commercial Development and Investment

Essential Job Duties

Direct and Manage the Real Estate and Investment Department

• Direct TED’s commercial real estate development and investment functions, including industrial leasing strategy, redevelopment initiatives, commercial partnerships, capital investment planning, and portfolio optimization activities across marine terminals and business parks.
• Lead teams responsible for identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and implementing revenue-generating development opportunities and strategic real estate transactions.
• Lead and approve the structuring of complex transactions, ensuring alignment with Port-wide financial and policy objectives.
• Oversee consultant teams, development advisors, and external partners engaged in planning, financial analysis, market analysis, and project implementation activities.

Revenue, Portfolio, and Investment Strategy

• Develop and implement long-range commercial, leasing, redevelopment, and investment strategies for TED’s industrial and marine assets to support long-term financial sustainability and alignment with Port strategic objectives.
• Lead portfolio-level financial analysis, capital planning, investment prioritization, and redevelopment funding strategies in partnership with Finance, Planning, and the Director of Marine Operations & Property Management.
• Drive capital allocation decisions and oversee portfolio risk, return on investment, and cost optimization strategies, serving as a key advisor to executive leadership and the Commission on complex investment and financial matters.

Partnerships & Project Delivery

• Establish and steward high-value partnerships with developers, investors, and public agencies to leverage capital and accelerate project delivery.
• Ensure development and investment initiatives are grounded in sound due diligence, market positioning, infrastructure and site-readiness needs, and land-use and permitting considerations.

Enterprise Collaboration and Regional Leadership

• Lead the development of a regional advisory framework to support traded-sector expansion, directing internal partners in its design and execution.
• Represent the Port in forums involving industrial lands strategy, traded-sector competitiveness, infrastructure investment, site readiness, maritime redevelopment, and regional economic policy.
• Promote integrated decision-making across TED functions to ensure alignment between real estate strategy, marine operations, property management, infrastructure planning, and economic development priorities.

Full position description available upon request.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ten (10) + years of progressive experience in commercial real estate development, investment, or economic development.
• Including 5+ years of management experience in complex public or private organizations.
• With demonstrated success structuring complex transactions, public-private partnerships, or major capital projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree – real estate, finance, economics, urban planning, or related field (additional experience may substitute for the education qualifications).

Preferred

• Master’s degree in business, real estate, finance, economics, urban planning or related field.
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced experience with Real estate development, financing, and investment strategies, including public-private partnerships and joint ventures.
• Advanced experience with infrastructure and site readiness planning processes
• Advanced experience with Federal, state,