L. Scott Associates (KLSA) is a mission-driven management and technology consulting firm that partners with public-sector organizations to modernize operations, strengthen data and AI capabilities, and deliver measurable impact.

Requirements

into scalable, high-quality solutions. Economic Development Consultant KLSA is seeking an Economic Development Consultant to support government clients and public-sector partners on economic development strategy, land use policy, infrastructure investment, housing, and program evaluation engagements. This role will help assess how local, regional, state, and federal policies, plans, and public investments influence economic outcomes, development readiness, fiscal resilience, housing affordability, and community revitalization.

The ideal candidate combines rigorous policy analysis, strong writing, practical understanding of public-sector decision-making, and the ability to translate complex planning, zoning, economic, and real estate information into clear findings and actionable recommendations. The consultant will support projects ranging from transit-oriented and infrastructure-adjacent development assessments to broader economic development strategy, grant readiness, performance evaluation, and technical assistance for public agencies.

, and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive, procurement-related, proprietary, or pre-d

Key Responsibilities

Review and synthesize economic development strategies, comprehensive plans, land use plans, zoning codes, form-based codes, housing strategies, capital improvement plans, redevelopment plans, grant applications, maps, project descriptions, and supporting documentation. Assess whether local plans, policies, incentives, and implementation tools are aligned with desired economic development outcomes, including job growth, investment attraction, development capacity, housing production and retention, equitable growth, infrastructure readiness, and neighborhood revitalization. Evaluate project readiness and policy strength for public investments such as transit, transportation, broadband, utilities, housing, mixed-use development, downtown revitalization, industrial districts, innovation corridors, brownfield redevelopment, and other place-based economic initiatives.

Identify missing, inconsistent, unclear, or unsupported information in client or sponsor materials; prepare concise clarification requests and recommended follow-up questions. Prepare written assessments, technical memoranda, summary profiles, executive briefings, slide content, and decision-ready recommendations for government audiences and stakeholders. Develop defensible evaluation frameworks, scoring rubrics, performance indicators, and qualitative/quantitative rating approaches for economic development programs and project portfolios.

Conduct best-practice research on land use policy, affordable housing tools, development incentives, value capture, tax increment financing, public-private partnerships, workforce development, industry clusters, small business support, rural development, and inclusive economic growth. Analyze demographic, employment, land use, housing, fiscal, real estate, infrastructure, and program performance data; translate results into clear tables, charts, maps, and narrative insights. Support the development or update of policy guidance, procedural manuals, templates, workbooks, training materials, and webinars for government staff, applicants, grantees, and project sponsors.

Collaborate with project managers, analysts, planners, economists, data specialists, legal/compliance teams, and client stakeholders to deliver high-quality work on time and within scope.