the client is seeking a senior executive to serve as Executive Vice President & Chief Economic Development Officer (EVP/CEDO). In this role, you will provide strategic oversight of the organization’s core economic development functions and lead efforts to advance an inclusive and equitable economic development agenda that prioritizes wealth-building opportunities for historically underserved communities. You will report to the President and CEO and provide integrated leadership across strategy and knowledge management, economic development, business development, and real estate development teams.
As EVP/CEDO, you will lead and coordinate multiple senior leaders and their teams, driving alignment across program areas and ensuring delivery of measurable outcomes. Responsibilities include developing and implementing inclusive economic development strategies; establishing strategic priorities and performance targets related to business attraction, retention, expansion, and real estate development; and overseeing sector-based economic development with an emphasis on historically underserved business participation. You will also provide executive leadership for the development and ongoing management of a comprehensive economic development strategy and related compliance expectations tied to federal requirements, while developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with regional and government economic development stakeholders.
You will oversee business attraction and investment efforts, guide business retention and expansion programs for existing businesses, and provide leadership for strategic real estate initiatives such as commercial development, asset management, and priority-area coordination. The role also includes ensuring that small business technical assistance and resourcing programs meet the needs of historically underserved entrepreneurs, and overseeing commercial corridor revitalization and anti-gentrification strategies. In addition, you will provide strategic direction for marketing, brand development, and communications, and represent the client at senior levels with government officials, corporate executives, developers, and community stakeholders.