Website Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC
Position Scope
The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC is the largest economic development, chamber of commerce, and business advocacy organization in southern Colorado. We work with industry leaders, educational institutions, military personnel, government, and community agencies and a wide array of community professionals dedicated to developing economic prosperity for our region.
A director leads projects, programs, and/or people with some supervision and high autonomy. The Director of Business Development, Economic Development is responsible for the full range of activities related to attracting companies from outside of Colorado to the Colorado Springs metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The Director executes and manages all new-to-market business and investment activities from lead generation to request for proposals (RFPs) submission. The Director may assist with project management when needed.
Relationships
The Director reports to the Vice President, Economic Development. Internally, the Director works closely with other members of the economic development team to contribute to a collaborative body of work that supports and enhances the organization’s economic development programming and impact. Additionally, the Director collaborates with other staff in the organization to enhance attraction efforts and support other program areas within the organization. Externally, the Director interacts with business/investment prospects, existing businesses, site selectors, the real estate/brokerage community, and community and state partner organizations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Business Attraction Program Development & Implementation – Responsible for establishing, enhancing, and executing business attraction outreach, travel, and lead conversion with measurable goals that contribute to the organizations and community’s success.
- Serves as a point of contact for attraction and new-to-market investment leads, inquiries and Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions, including initial outreach, introductory meetings, and execution of RPF and follow-up packages.
- Proactively pursues firms in target industries nationally and internationally as outlined by the organization’s economic development strategic plan (and future FDI strategy).
- Build relationships with site selectors, companies, and partners to grow the sales pipeline.
- Develops, plans, and executes familiarization tours, tradeshow participation (domestic and international), trade missions, and out of market visits (in partnership with other staff, i.e. defense, business retention and expansion, etc.).
- Prepares CEO and VP, Economic Development for any travel/events that have a business attraction component.
- Maintains a suite of collateral material and website content to assist with attraction efforts.
- Lead relationship management and involvement of Titans of Economic Development Council in the business attraction and regional competitiveness efforts.
- Works in collaboration with all Pikes Peak region communities to oversee site inventory, promotion of available buildings, sites, etc.
- Provides coordination of local and state incentives and programs in collaboration with local and state program partners/representatives.
- Empowers other staff and community partners to promote the region and its competitive advantage through networks and contacts.
- Knowledge Management
- Relationships, processes, plans, and protocol are documented and accessible to allow for continuity of service delivery.
- Contributes to an internal database (CRM) detailed tracking and reporting of the outcomes on the full portfolio of attraction and investment activities. Responsible for providing real-time, detailed metrics and insights to support communications to internal and external audiences.
- Follows protocol for knowledge management of the organization (file storage, archive of proposals, etc.).
- Communication
- Development of content to track metrics and trends and communicate economic conditions and programmatic successes.
- Work seamlessly with the greater team and partners on regional pitches and proactive initiatives that focus on target sectors and industry related events.
- Partner and communicate with staff, volunteers, and partner organizations to ensure the highest levels of collaboration within and outside of the organization.
- Initiate, maintain, and grow effective working relationships with aligned organizations and public partners on a regional basis.
- Interacts with site selectors, business clients, the Colorado Office of Economic Development, the Metro Denver EDC, other collaborative EDOs as necessary and organizational volunteers with excellent customer service skills and a positive attitude.
- Other Duties
- Perform other tasks and duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Vice President, Economic Development and CEO.
- Ensure all project and programmatic deadlines are met with an exceptional work product.
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- Knowledge of economic development industry best practices preferred.
- General knowledge of various economic development incentive concepts, programs, and tools (local, state, federal) preferred.
- General knowledge of chamber/membership-based organizations preferred.
- Project management.
- Team player, self-starter, and an effective written and verbal communicator.
- Confident and engaging as a presenter in front of large and small audiences.
- Professional standards, especially as they pertain to client and partner confidentiality.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Commitment to professional development in the economic development field.
- Effective time management skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, or similar software programs.
- Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, especially Salesforce, is a plus.
Minimum Education & Work History
- Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, marketing or a related field is preferred.
- 3+ years of professional experience in economic and/or business development/sales, site selection, real estate, or corporate business is preferred.
- An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
Typical office environment for daily operations, and typical physical demands required in an office environment. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Participation or attendance may be requested occasionally at events during evenings and on weekends.
Nothing in this job specification restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. These may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed and should not be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees in this position. This job description does not constitute a contract for employment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $64,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person