Director of Public-Private Partnerships

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

The Governor's Office of Economic Development is seeking a Director of Public-Private Partnerships to build and lead the state's P3 practice. The Director leads the state's P3 development effort and provides advisory support to the Commissioner on investor engagement, moving qualified opportunities from concept to close.

The first priority is public-private partnerships. Utah has significant infrastructure, energy, water, housing, and facilities needs that can be delivered faster and at better value through well-structured P3s. The Director builds the state's capacity to identify, screen, structure, and advance these projects, and connects them to qualified capital. Utah's aligned state government and cooperative public institutions mean P3 projects here can move at a pace few states can match, accelerating projects that improve economic competitiveness and quality of life.

This position reports directly to the GOED Commissioner. The Director serves as the state's lead advisor on public-private partnerships and will coordinate with external advisors, transaction teams, and project-specific working groups.

POSITION DETAILS & COMMITMENT

• Salary – $64.90 - $69.71/hr
  
• Work Format – Hybrid (60 E South Temple, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT)
  
•  Schedule Code – AC - Employees in Offices of Elected Officials
  
• Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
  
• Application Deadline – 11:59 PM (MDT) on August 7, 2026

*This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Public-Private Partnerships

• Build and maintain a statewide pipeline of candidate P3 projects across state agencies, higher education, local governments, and special districts, with screening criteria and feasibility analysis to determine which projects are genuinely suited to P3 delivery
  
• Advise sponsoring entities on delivery models, risk allocation, and procurement, and coordinate outside financial, legal, and technical advisors through to close
  
• Serve as Utah's lead authority on public-private partnership delivery, developing standardized tools and guidance, building P3 literacy across state and local government, and recommending improvements where current frameworks limit viable projects
  
• Establish a clear, defensible process for receiving and evaluating unsolicited P3 proposals that protects the state's interests while keeping the door open to private-sector ideas

Investment Support

• Provide advisory support to the Commissioner on engagement with global capital sources, in coordination with the Nucleus Institute, which operates under the Utah System of Higher Education, including participation in investment forums and trade missions as directed
  
• Assist in qualifying inbound investor interest and connecting investors to opportunities in the P3 pipeline

Government and Stakeholder Coordination

• Navigate applicable statutory requirements and P3 authorization frameworks, coordinate with state agencies, legislative stakeholders, local governments, and university partners, and prepare recommendations for the Commissioner and, as directed, the Governor's Office

SUCCESS PRIORITIES

• Establish a statewide P3 pipeline and screening framework
  
• Advance priority projects from concept through procurement and, where appropriate, financial close
  
• Support the Commissioner in developing strategic investor relationships
  
• Build statewide capacity and guidance for P3 delivery

IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• Preference may be given to candidates with a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, public policy, engineering, law, or related field. Ma