Executive Director

Job Summary

The official economic development organization of St. Bernard Parish, the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF), is seeking a passionate and self-motivated leader to serve as the organization’s Executive Director.

The Executive Director will be responsible for carrying out the organization’s mission of creating and retaining jobs, building prosperity, and improving quality of life in St. Bernard Parish. The Executive Director will report to an 8-person Executive Committee, and the full Board of Directors consisting of 31 civic and business leaders.

The position will be responsible for all facets of the organization including but not limited to board management, financials, fundraising, business development, business recruitment and expansion, program management, marketing, public relations, policy development, incentives analysis, and various administrative tasks. Working in concert with the Chair and Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be looked upon to guide the long-term vision and growth of the organization. Visit our website: https://www.sbedf.org/

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 3-6 years economic development, advocacy, business, or public works experience. Advanced economic development coursework is preferred.

The desired candidate should have extensive and varied economic development experience with demonstrated success and strong leadership skills. Experience with strategic planning, fundraising, financial management, real estate development, community relations, and political knowledge is preferred.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is capable of being the face of the organization and capable of growing the SBEDF and St. Bernard brands inside and outside the local community. He or she will be an excellent communicator, able to effectively make an “elevator speech” to CEOs, elected officials, prospective businesses donors, and the person in line at the grocery store. The candidate will have strong emotional intelligence, able to read any room. He or she will be aggressive about growing the local economy and the revenues of the organization via fundraising.

Equal Opportunity Employer

St. Bernard Parish Economic Development Foundation is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information.

Knowledge & Skills

The candidate must show acumen in the highly specific field of economic development and have the following skills:

• Must have the ability to communicate oral and in writing effectively (communication with board and staff, pitching businesses by using data and persuasion) is required. Preparation of documents, collateral, marketing materials, and reports is key.
• Must be able to manage an organization and be influential in discussions with board members, businesses, elected officials, and community leaders with the ability to sell ideas and be efficient in high pressure situations.
• Must have a strong grasp of economic development drivers such as tax structures, incentives, utility costs, housing, demographics, workforce, transportation, site locations, public relations, and the latest trends and theories in the economic development field.
• Ability to fundraise.
• Manage resources and staff to achieve the organization’s mission of retaining and creating jobs, building prosperity, and improving quality of life in St. Bernard Parish.
• Administer personnel and administrative functions of organization such as financial management, operations, performance evaluations, and work analysis.