Next city manager must have economic development chops

The role of the city manager, crucial in steering Dallas toward future prosperity, demands more than routine oversight. It requires a strategic, innovative approach tailored to Dallas’ unique challenges and opportunities. As a former chief of economic development for Dallas, I witnessed the profound need for visionary leadership in setting a city’s economic trajectory.
Dallas is at a critical juncture. The city adopted a strategic plan for economic development at a time when the revenue forecast was more advantageous than it is now. With the revenue deficit projected now, it is important for someone who understands economic development to be at the helm because effective economic development generates revenue.
Dallas needs a city manager with proven abilities in strategic planning, innovative revenue generation, leveraging grant and philanthropic funding, supporting sustainable development and giving the business community confidence that city management understands how to ride out the lean years.
Interim leadership, while providing operational continuity, is a major deterrent to attracting the best talent to the organization. Dallas needs top talent to deliver on the ambitious plans and studies it has invested in over the last decade. With the departure of five top executives, it’s clear that the capabilities of the current leadership have been outstripped.
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Here are three critical pitfalls to avoid in the search for the right city manager to lead Dallas’ economic future.
Economic development is not just about managing resources but about aggressively fostering growth, innovation and sustainability. It requires a forward-looking perspective that anticipates and prepares for future trends.
Dallas needs a city manager who acts as both a steward and a catalyst, with a proven track record of seeking out innovative economic opportunities in vital sectors like technology, green energy and urban redevelopment. And it needs a visionary leader who can think beyond the next budget cycle to future generations.
Effective economic development requires building strong relationships with local businesses, investors and community groups. These relationships are crucial for understanding and responding to the economic landscape. Dallas needs a leader who has successfully engaged stakeholders across all demographics, focusing on the performance that aligns with local needs and aspirations, rather than just the quantity of meetings held.
Importantly, Dallas’s diverse demographic profile, particularly its significant Mexican immigrant community, presents a unique opportunity to capitalize on near-shoring business trends. Near-shoring can bring substantial economic benefits by relocating business services closer to the U.S., leveraging Dallas’ strategic location and cultural ties. This could dramatically influence sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, trade and export services, tech and IT services, business process outsourcing, health care and financial services to name a few.
Recognizing and harnessing this potential could be a transformative economic development strategy for Dallas fostering significant job creation and robust economic growth.
Under its current leadership, the city seems to be perpetually reworking its plans rather than executing them, especially in development services. This is a major impediment to growth. It indicates a need for a strategic thinker who can navigate challenges such as infrastructure demands, housing affordability and integration of advanced technologies in city services.
These are critical considerations and can significantly impact the progress for a city. During this period of interim operational stability, Dallas is poised to redefine its economic landscape, and stability is merely the starting point. The city urgently needs a leader who can actively drive and shape the economic future of Dallas.
As the search for a new city manager unfolds, I urge city leaders and stakeholders to prioritize those candidates who have a documented track record of not only managerial excellence but also a profound understanding of economic development strategies that are tailored to urban settings like Dallas.
Dallas needs a leader committed to the long haul, with bold visions and capable of making tough decisions that align with the aspirations to be a leading global city while maximizing benefits locally.
City manager is one of five important positions the mayor and council fill. It is an opportunity to affirm their commitment to economic growth and resilience.
Raquel Favela is executive managing director of Grow America and former head of Dallas economic development services.
Part of our Leading Dallas opinion series, this essay points out the economic development opportunities facing the city, and hiring pitfalls to avoid.
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