Executive Director

The Waukesha County Center for Growth, Inc., a countywide economic development organization uniquely situated along the thriving corridor between Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, is seeking an experienced, growth-oriented leader to serve as its Executive Director.

The Center for Growth serves as the lead economic development organization for Waukesha County.  Waukesha County is part of the Milwaukee Metropolitan area and southeast Wisconsin region, otherwise known as the Milwaukee 7 (M7) region.  Its strategic location is just 20 minutes west of downtown Milwaukee and less than an hour east of Madison.  Waukesha County is home to name brand companies like GE HealthCare, Milwaukee Tool, Generac, and Kohl’s. The county is also a hub for advanced manufacturing, with a high concentration of companies in the medical device, food and beverage, and power and controls sectors.

The Executive Director is charged with achieving the vision and objectives of the organization, including strategies for business attraction, retention and expansion.

This position is accountable for the overall performance and growth of the organization, including budgeting, strategic development, and program/project implementation.  The Executive Director works closely with strategic partners for the implementation of organizational responsibilities.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Plan and coordinate economic development and business outreach activities with a focus on business retention, expansion, and attraction.
• Serve as a central point of contact and information resource for businesses seeking financial, site selection and other assistance.
• Foster relationships with municipal partners, key stakeholders and the business community to increase awareness, support, and use of Center for Growth services.
• Lead the development and execution of the Waukesha County Business Growth Strategy.
• Increase investment in and deployment of the GROW Fund in support of economic development projects and financial sustainability of the Center for Growth.
• Administer and manage the day-to-day operations of the organization, supervise any designated staff, and manage Center for Growth Board activities.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Implement proactive business outreach strategies, including a Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program, to identify the needs of businesses seeking to expand in Waukesha County.
• Work with key funding partners, including municipal and county officials, to retain existing public funding and identify and secure new public funding partners for annual operational funding.
• Identify and confirm additional investment into the organization’s revolving loan fund (the GROW Fund) by securing investments from financial institutions and foundations.
• Periodically attend and/or present at public and community meetings.
• Meet with and present to financial institutions about the GROW Fund and its ability to provide gap financing.
• Effectively collaborate with economic and community development professionals in Waukesha County, as well as state and regional economic development groups such as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Milwaukee 7.
• Work closely with the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on its administration of the GROW Fund, including the existing loan portfolio and the pipeline of potential loan prospects.
• Build strong relationships with board members, industry experts, business leaders, public officials, the real estate community, and other stakeholders.
• Develop economic development marketing initiatives, including ongoing updates to the Center for Growth website and Annual Report.
• Seek out and coordinate preparation of applications for federal and state assistance grants related to economic development.
• Identify and facilitate access to financial tools for business needs.
• Collaborate with the Waukesha County Business Alliance President/CEO to define shared resource requirements and expectations and coordinate in staff utilization.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• High degree of knowledge and significant skills in economic development practices including business retention, expansion, attraction, financing, and marketing.
• Thorough knowledge of business and economics.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with board members, associates, business leaders, public officials, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to plan, organize and effectively present ideas, concepts, and recommendations.
• Ability to develop, interpret and apply policies and procedures; and federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of administrative practices, including budgeting, planning and program evaluation.
• Ability to appropriately deal with confidential information.
• Ability to prepare and negotiate agreements.
• Ability to anticipate and address challenges proactively.
• Ability to multi-task and meet adjusting deadlines.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Administrative skills in the areas of research, organizing information and broad computer skills.

Education and/or Experience: five (5) years of professional experience in economic development, business development, commercial real estate, banking and finance, government administration, community development, or related fields. Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation preferred but not required.

To Apply:

The Waukesha County Center for Growth offers a competitive salary and benefits based upon experience. Application submissions will be confidential. Please submit letter of interest, resume and salary expectations to info@waukeshagrowth.org.