Job Description

Jorgenson Pace has been retained to conduct this executive search.

BACKGROUND AND OPPORTUNITY

The CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE is a regional economic development organization. CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE seeks to push the Southwest Louisiana Area beyond the status quo, unleash its potential, and support a vibrant business community that believes the finish line does not exist.  CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE represents Louisiana’s five-parish Southwest Region of Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Beauregard and Allen Parishes, working with local and state entities to advance economic development, for everyone. Today, some 1,200 businesses and organizations invest in CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE as members and funders of its mission.

The incoming President and CEO will play a pivotal role in leveraging the region’s significant assets and steering CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE through the dynamic political landscape. This leadership position demands exceptional relationship-building skills to collaborate with regional leaders, promote a unified vision, and ensure that CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE remains a leading voice on issues related to economic growth, job creation, talent attraction and workforce development, infrastructure and quality of place, business climate, and quality of life.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The President and CEO has authority over the business and all facets of CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The President and CEO will lead a team and have an annual operating budget of ~$2M.

The President and CEO will be expected to work collaboratively with the business community, government, nonprofit organizations, academia, and other key regional stakeholders to stimulate inclusive economic development and growth in the Southwest Louisiana region. The successful candidate will also be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization internally, including strategic planning and execution, board and member relations, external affairs and communications, staff leadership and fiscal management, and general administration. The President and CEO will foster an innovative and inclusive culture, where staff is empowered and accountable for achieving the CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE’s goals and objectives.

Strategic Vision

• Provide executive leadership for the CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE strategy, communications, public affairs and government relations, business development, capitalization and fundraising, business operations, hiring and personnel decisions, and the delivery of financial products and services.

• Develop and execute a visionary strategic plan, in conjunction with the Board of Directors and key stakeholders, to focus the organization on the key priorities that are critical to advancing a diverse, inclusive, and prosperous economy for all in the region.

• Foster an entrepreneurial and agile culture that anticipates trends and proactively develops strategies to capitalize on opportunities and overcome challenges, to maximize the chance of economic development success amidst the backdrop of rapidly changing economic and social dynamics.

Operational Leadership

• Develop and improve processes and systems to enhance operational excellence.

• Manage and develop the professional and administrative staff and ensure an organizational structure with clear roles and accountabilities.

• Review the organizational structure and evaluate positions for relevance and reporting structure while evaluating incumbents for suitability to current and potential roles.

· Facilitate the organization’s commitment to economic inclusion.

• Deliver clear, communicable results to various stakeholder constituencies based on the aforementioned Strategic Plan.

Advocacy

• Forge relationships with a wide range of diverse constituencies across the region, building coalitions and alliances to identify mutual goals and solutions to pressing opportunities and challenges.

• Serve as an influential advocate to advance the CHAMBER SWLA/ ALLIANCE’s robust public policy agenda before government, business, media, and other key external stakeholders.

• Collaborate effectively with elected officials and other regional leaders to influence outcomes with the goal of advancing priority economic development initiatives for the region. 

• Support the development and adoption of public policies that address the most critical opportunities and challenges facing the region.

External Relations and Strategic Partnerships

• Represent CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE to external audiences locally, regionally, statewide, nationally and internationally, foster strong relationships and image, and communicate the CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE mission in a compelling and clear way.

• Continually communicate and demonstrate the value of membership and association with the organization to potential partners within the service region of the organization.

• Participate and drive government relations and public policy initiatives that compliment and support economic growth on behalf of CHAMBER SWLA/ALLIANCE, including outreach and engagement with city, parish, State, and Federal elected officials as necessary.

• Initiate and build strong relationships with clients, investors, stakeholders, and other external constituencies around job growth and development throughout the five -parish region.

• Engage with staff and stakeholders to identify new business opportunities, structures, and policies that promote inclusive growth and development.

• Identify potential partner organizations throughout the State of Louisiana and actively pursue cooperation and coordination with them.

Board Relations

• Work with the Board of Directors to fulfill the mission and strategic goals of the organization.

• Serve as principal liaison to the Board and key committees and councils.

• Communicate effectively with the Board, providing timely and accurate information necessary for the Board to make informed decisions.

• Develop, maintain, and support a strong Board and related committees and councils, representing the most influential thought leaders and investors in the region. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be a charismatic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial thought leader with at least 10 years of proven relevant executive level leadership with an organization of similar scale and complexity within a dynamic and evolving environment. The candidate must be an innovative strategic thinker with proven transformational change leadership, strategic communications, relationship building, and advocacy skills. The candidate must possess strong executive gravitas, essential for garnering credibility and inspiring positive momentum on priorities and initiatives to advance the region.

Other required functions include the following:

• Be an inclusive leader with a record for effectively convening and working with diverse stakeholders to forge a consensus on a strategic vision and execute upon that vision with appropriate urgency, timeliness, and responsiveness against established metrics and benchmarks. 

• Possess business and financial acumen.

• Be a s trategic visionary thinker   who   can plan for the future and bring “outside the box” ideas.

Demonstrate knowledge and experience implementing current and innovative economic and community development practices.

• Possess experience working effectively with a diverse executive-level Board of Directors to forge a trusting relationship, set the strategic direction of an organization, and ensure continuous engagement.

• Demonstrate the ability to attract, inspire, and drive a results-oriented, entrepreneurial staff and ensure accountability for execution of the strategic plan.

• Possess interpersonal savvy; superior interpersonal and organizational communication skills; and project management skills.

• Be diplomatic and influential, with apolitical savvy.

• Possess unquestionable integrity, authenticity, and ethical behavior.

• Demonstrate the ability to build and support an effective, results-oriented staff.

• Possess strong public speaking skills, which may be leveraged to inform, persuade, and inspire stakeholders.

• Possess knowledge of the dynamics and potential of the Southwest Louisiana region or a demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge within a relatively short timeframe.

• Exhibit emotional intelligence, authenticity, and a broad perspective.

• Possess the ability to deal calmly, rationally, and tactfully in a creative, demanding environment.

• Possess strong investor development and relations skills, with a proven track record of fundraising and developing a board of directors which represents the most influential thought leaders in the region.

EDUCATION

Four-year degree from an accredited school in Business, Economics, Management, or Economic Development. Advanced degree preferred. CEcD, EDFP, IOM, and/or other industry certifications preferred.

PROJECT WINS

Required. Any Candidate must demonstrate they either led or directly supported actual business recruitment and/or expansion projects.

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