CEO, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation

The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is the leading economic development organization for Monroe County, serving a community of over 100 member organizations and collaborating closely with the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, and Ellettsville governments, Indiana University Bloomington, and Ivy Tech Bloomington. BEDC works in partnership with our members, government and academic leaders to strengthen the local economy through focused efforts in business retention, expansion, and attraction. BEDC seeks a strategic, collaborative, and outcomes-driven leader to guide and grow our impact as the county’s premier economic development organization. THE POSITION The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to BEDC. The CEO will drive the organization’s mission to support existing businesses, attract new investment, and facilitate growth opportunities while maintaining strong partnerships with municipal and county governments, educational institutions, economic development partners, and BEDC members. The CEO is responsible for budgeting, program execution, staff development, fundraising and grant administration, policy alignment, and external communications. This role reports to the BEDC Board of Directors, leads a small team of three staff members, and oversees an annual operating budget of approximately $700,000. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Leadership and Governance Develop and execute a clear, measurable strategic plan that advances BEDC’s mission to strengthen the local economy through business retention, expansion, and attraction; align partners around site readiness and targeted attraction priorities. Partner with the Board of Directors to establish and monitor annual goals, performance metrics, and long-range initiatives. Convene and coordinate with local and regional economic development organizations (LEDOs), employers, utilities, and community partners to strengthen regional competitiveness. Maintain strong working relationships with local, state, and federal elected and appointed leaders, higher education leaders, and other key community and regional stakeholders. Economic Development and Program Management Drive a disciplined, urgent, and responsive deal pursuit process – from first contact through site visit coordination, stakeholder briefing, follow-up, and close – with a focus on BEDC’s target industries: Life Sciences, Technology, Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Microelectronics and Semiconductors, and related innovation sectors. Build and maintain a structured, active business development pipeline including target prospect lists, outreach cadence, lead qualification criteria, and stage-by-stage deal tracking. Identify, cultivate, and manage a targeted outreach program with existing member companies and prospective investors. Facilitate site readiness, permitting, workforce development, and incentive discussions across public and private partners, including utilities, municipalities, higher education institutions, and workforce development organizations. Proactively identify capacity, infrastructure, and regulatory constraints before they become obstacles and drive solutions. Stakeholder Collaboration and Partnerships Foster strong, transparent relationships with municipal leadership, county government, utilities, universities, and the BEDC member network. Act as a neutral convener to align public initiatives with private sector needs, ensuring inclusive and equitable economic development. Financial Management and Resource Development Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and fiscal oversight for a $700,000 annual budget. Lead all fundraising, grant applications, sponsorships, and public-private funding strategies to sustain and grow BEDC’s programs. Ensure the organization operates efficiently while providing accountability and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Operations and People Lead a small team of three staff, including hiring, performance management, professional development, and workload planning. Ensure robust administrative systems, data management, reporting, and outcome tracking. Champion a positive, inclusive organizational culture that reflects the community BEDC serves. Public Relations and Communications Represent BEDC to the public, media, partners, and stakeholders; articulate a compelling value proposition and success stories. Oversee external communications, branding, and marketing efforts to raise BEDC’s profile. The CEO must be proactive and able to compellingly articulate BEDC’s case for support to acquire investment. Board Engagement and Compliance Maintain open, proactive communication with the Board; prepare regular reports, dashboards, and strategic updates. Ensure compliance with governance best practices, ethics, and fiduciary responsibilities. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED 7+ years of progressive, high-quality leadership in economic development, public/private partnerships, or a related field. Demonstrated hands-on success in the craft of business retention, expansion, and attraction, including direct experience managing prospect relationships, coordinating site visits, leading negotiations, and seeing deals through to completion. Experience managing a budget and leading a small team; capability to wear multiple hats in a lean organization. Strong relationship-building skills with government entities, universities, and the private sector. Range and authenticity in relationship-building are both required. Excellent written, verbal, and public-facing communication skills. Strong negotiation and strategic thinking abilities, with a track record of translating ideas into action and delivering measurable outcomes. Knowledge of or strong ability to quickly learn the Bloomington/Monroe County economic landscape, including major industries, workforce dynamics, and key stakeholders. Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community engagement in economic development. PREFERRED Experience working with or in collaboration with City/County government, higher education institutions, and regional economic development networks. Prior success in fundraising, grant management, or sponsorship development. Familiarity with incentive programs, permitting processes, and business regulatory environments. Background in or direct experience working with the national site selection community is a meaningful differentiator. WORK ENVIRONMENT Full-time executive leadership role in a small, dynamic organization with a budget of $700,000 and a team of three. Collaboration with local government, two universities (Indiana University Bloomington and Ivy Tech Bloomington), and a broad member and partner network. PERFORMANCE METRICS Annual metrics aligned with BEDC strategic plan, such as: • Number and value of expansion projects supported. • New business attraction metrics (jobs, investment, capital investment). • Retention rate of existing member businesses. • Job creation and economic impact measures. • Successful completion of funded programs, grants, and sponsorship initiatives. • Stakeholder satisfaction and partner engagement levels. • Financial health indicators, including budget adherence and fund development progress. #J-18808-Ljbffr