Senior Economic Development Specialist

Flatwater Group

Senior Economic Development Specialist providing economic development expertise for Indian mineral owners and Tribal communities. Leading project management and financial analysis in renewable energy and mineral resources.

Posted 6/25/2026full-timeRemote • Colorado • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $70,000 - $85,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Tableau

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serves as a leadership position within the economic development functional area, providing day-to-day direction of technical work as required by specific Task Orders
Provides expert support to the DEMD Business Development Team, focusing on energy and mineral resource projects that stimulate economic growth in Indian Country
Performs analysis of grant budgets from tribal organizations and provides recommendations for allowable amounts; conducts program evaluations to determine grant efficacy and performs related policy analysis
Evaluates grant proposals from Tribal organizations, such as the Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant, assessing the viability of project proposals and alignment with program goals
Monitors assigned grants throughout their full lifecycle, from award to closeout
This includes performing project management duties, conducting site visits to grantees, and serving as a liaison between the funding agency and the grantee to ensure compliance and project success
Performs agency-wide public relations functions, including the development of marketing strategies and materials, website and social media content management, and creating public information for dissemination
Researches, analyzes, and applies economic development approaches to address specific challenges on reservations, such as lack of collateral, infrastructure, and entrepreneurial know-how
Supports the preparation and execution of conferences and industry trade shows to promote tribal resource information to potential industry partners and stimulate development interest

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Public Policy, or a closely related field; Master’s preferred (e.g., MBA, MPP, MPA, MS Finance)
6-8 years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, project finance, or investment/feasibility analysis for energy, minerals, infrastructure, or industrial development, ideally including work with Tribal governments or on trust lands
Demonstrated success building investment-grade business cases (market analysis, demand forecasting, operating models, sensitivity/scenario analysis) and presenting bankable pro formas to support go/no-go decisions
Significant experience leading feasibility studies (technical, economic, and land-use considerations), capital stack design (grants, loans, NMTC/HTC/LIHTC, SSBCI, tax incentives), and grant strategy (EDA, DOE, DOI/BIA, Treasury, state/local) from application through award, compliance, and closeout
Experience representing project owners enterprises in commercial negotiations (term sheets, PPAs/offtake, leases/rights-of-way, JV/operating agreements), including coordination with counsel and regulatory bodies
Track record of delivering executive-level presentations and advising senior stakeholders (Tribal leadership, boards, agency program managers, lenders/investors) with clear recommendations, risks, and mitigation strategies
Supervisory experience managing and developing analysts/consultants; setting workplans, overseeing day-to-day technical tasks, and conducting QA/QC on models, memos, and deliverables
Fluency with financial and data tools (advanced Excel/Google Sheets modeling, Power BI/Tableau dashboards; comfort interpreting GIS outputs to inform siting and market access)
Working knowledge of regulatory and program contexts relevant to Tribal and rural development (e.g., NEPA touchpoints for schedule/cost, procurement basics, economic impact methodologies, federal grant compliance) preferred
Willingness to travel and engage respectfully with Tribal communities; commitment to cultural competency and the Federal trust responsibility context.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive federal benefits package available to full-time employees, including health insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan participation

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

economic developmentproject financeinvestment analysisfeasibility studiescapital stack designgrant strategybusiness case developmentmarket analysisdemand forecastingsensitivity analysis

Soft Skills

leadershippresentation skillsstakeholder engagementsupervisory skillsanalytical thinkingcommunicationcultural competencynegotiationstrategic planningproblem-solving

Certifications

Bachelor's degreeMaster's degree (MBA, MPP, MPA, MS Finance)