Job Description

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC)

San Francisco, CA

April 2025

About the DDC

Launched in April 2025 through a coalition of business, labor, and philanthropic leaders, the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) is a new nonprofit that will help finance and execute the City’s vision for downtown San Francisco. The DDC will work in close coordination with elected and appointed City officials to make investments that advance the revitalization of downtown.

The DDC’s founding board is chaired by David Stiepleman, Co-President and Co-Founder at Sixth Street and includes Sam Cobbs, CEO of Tipping Point Community; Bob Fisher, Chair of the SFMOMA Board of Trustees; Rebecca Foster, founding CEO of the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund; Chris Larsen, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Ripple; Olga Miranda, President of SEIU Local 87; and former U.S. Ambassador Meg Whitman. The board is anticipated to grow to include action-oriented leaders from additional sectors.

The Opportunity

San Francisco has long been a city of reinvention—rising from past setbacks to become a global symbol of innovation, culture, and resilience. Today, downtown stands at another such crossroads, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine its role both locally and globally.

Downtown San Francisco is unique in its architectural beauty, transit connectivity, and economic significance. While only 4% of the City’s land area, downtown contains over 82 million square feet of office space, generates a disproportionate share of the City’s tax revenue, and serves as a center for arts, culture, commerce, and global innovation—making its recovery critical to the economic health of the city and region.

The DDC was created to meet this moment—with urgency and optimism—and is focused on accelerating opportunities for downtown by:

• Collaborating with the City of San Francisco: Working closely with the City and business, labor, and civic leaders to identify high-impact downtown initiatives.
• Deploying Private Capital: Mobilizing significant private resources and expertise to quickly and efficiently launch immediate and medium-term projects, making our downtown core more vibrant and welcoming for locals, visitors, and businesses. 
• Exploring Sustainable Public Financing Tools: Researching public financing vehicles in partnership with City leadership to support long-term vibrancy.

The DDC will serve as a “get it done now” group—a central organizing hub for coordination, speed, and execution. It will identify and fast-track “shovel-ready” projects to make downtown safer, cleaner, and more vibrant. From physical upgrades like trees and outdoor dining to economic tools like credit and small business support, the DDC will deploy private capital and civic expertise to deliver visible results. Simultaneously, the DDC will work with City leadership to lay the groundwork for a long-term public financing vehicle.

By leveraging this collaborative model and strong civic leadership, the DDC is poised to transform downtown San Francisco into a more vibrant, resilient, and inclusive urban core for residents, workers, businesses, and visitors alike.

More information can be found at

Key Responsibilities

The inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead the DDC’s operations and drive its mission to revitalize downtown San Francisco. Working closely with the founding board, City leadership, and cross-sector partners, the CEO will deliver early and tangible projects, advance ambitious fundraising efforts, and shape the DDC’s long-term vision. This pivotal role comes with a clear mandate, a high-caliber board, and the active backing of San Francisco’s civic, business, and philanthropic leaders.

This role offers a rare chance to build a civic-minded organization from the ground up—one focused on delivering visible results, strengthening public-private collaboration, and helping define the future of San Francisco for generations to come.

Position responsibilities include:

Strategic Vision & Execution

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan that balances near-term downtown projects, such as a new small business fund, with long-term transformation.
• Identify and deliver high-impact "shovel-ready" projects that create tangible improvements in downtown San Francisco—from safety and cleanliness to street activations and placemaking.
• Plan and advance innovative public financing tools to support sustainable downtown investment.

Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building

• Serve as the primary ambassador for the DDC, articulating a compelling vision for downtown revitalization to diverse audiences.
• Build and nurture productive relationships with key stakeholders including City officials, business leaders, labor representatives, funders, and civic and community organizations.
• Represent the DDC professionally in local and regional forums, raising its profile while advancing its mission.
•  Convene and facilitate cross-sector collaboration, finding common ground among diverse interests to advance shared goals.

Organizational Leadership & Fundraising

• Develop a business plan with key objectives and metrics, along with a financial sustainability plan to support those objectives.
• Advance fundraising efforts to secure significant private investment from corporations, foundations, and philanthropists, while ensuring transparent and accountable management of financial resources.
• Build and lead an initial core team, scaling staffing structure appropriately as the organization evolves.
• Create an organizational culture that balances urgency with thoughtful execution, fosters collaboration, and stays focus on results.
• Effectively scale the day-to-day operations of the DDC focusing on the highest impact and priority areas.

The DDC anticipates a small initial staff, which could include a Chief Operating Officer, Fundraising / Development support, and Administrative support.

Candidate Profile

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the DDC’s work, a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences could make an individual well qualified for the CEO role. Strong candidates will display the following qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Execution Orientation

• Balances early wins to build momentum with maintaining focus on longer-term vision and priorities.
• Demonstrates sound and independent judgement.
• Driven by action and a sense of urgency.
• Holds the organization and team accountable for achieving its goals.
• Balances consensus building and collaboration with decisive action.

Operational Excellence

• Ensures quality performance and efficient resource allocation through effective prioritization.
• Leverages data to drive decision-making.
• Proven track record of financial stewardship and resource management.

Team Leadership

• Builds and supports a culture that is strategic, inclusive, and adaptable.
• Models high emotional intelligence, collaboration, and integrity.
• Proven track record in scaling an organization.

Fundraising, Communications, and Network Building 

• Able to execute, through prior fundraising experience or strong partnership, ambitious fundraising goals across philanthropic, corporate, and individual audiences. 
• Exceptional relationship builder—able to build collaborative partnerships with varied internal and external stakeholders.
• Engaging spokesperson across a variety of mediums and forums.

Domain Expertise

• Deep understanding of public finance, economic development, or urban revitalization.
• High political acumen; Can navigate within a political environment.

Compensation and Location

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. The DDC is located in San Francisco, CA. The CEO must be willing to spend significant time in downtown San Francisco, in alignment with the organization’s mission.

Contact

To express interest in the role, please submit a resume or CV to jobs@sfddc.org. If desired, you may submit a cover letter or additional supporting materials. All applications will be considered confidential.

Nominations or recommendations may also be sent to jobs@sfddc.org —all nominations will be considered confidential.

Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

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