Economic Development Manager

JOB PURPOSE

This role works closely with member cooperatives, Wabash teams, and external partners to collaboratively pursue and shape large load opportunities such as data centers and advanced manufacturing. It helps align sites, infrastructure, and decision‑making early, defining readiness, surfacing constraints, and coordinating inputs so opportunities advance transparently and responsibly. Serving as a connective point among co‑ops, site selectors, developers, and internal teams, the role establishes shared expectations, clear process, and timely communication throughout pursuit and early structuring. The role works in close collaboration with the Community Development arm of the Wabash Economic Development team to strengthen long‑term cooperative relationships and community outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Large Load Pursuit & Early Project Leadership Lead early pursuit and pre‑development of large load opportunities through defined internal handoff. Maintain a disciplined pipeline and alignment across member co‑ops, internal teams, and leadership. Prepare decision‑ready framing for executives, including options, tradeoffs, risks, and timing considerations. Site Development Strategy & Readiness Coordinate site development strategy for greenfield, brownfield, and transmission‑ready sites. Help define site “readiness” by aligning infrastructure, permitting, timelines, and partner expectations. Relationship Management Build and manage relationships with site selectors, developers, and intermediaries. Serve as a key coordination contact for Central Indiana large cooperatives involved in large load opportunities. Cross‑Functional Coordination Coordinate complex, multi‑year pursuits involving power supply, transmission, legal, finance, regulatory, and communications teams. Identify and elevate major constraints early to ensure appropriate governance and decision‑making. Economic Development Collaboration Work closely with the Community Development team to align large load pursuits with local and long‑term community priorities. Support shared event and engagement strategies that strengthen Wabash’s large‑load positioning.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Team player and service‑minder professional Experience in economic development, site development, large‑scale infrastructure projects, or related fields. Demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple internal teams and external stakeholders. Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complexity into clear, decision‑ready information.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Economic development professional credentials such as EDFP (Economic Development Finance Professional) or CEcD (Certified Economic Developer). Experience working with electric cooperatives, utilities, or public‑power entities. Familiarity with large load projects, site selection, or capital‑intensive, multi‑year developments.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Large load opportunities advance with clarity, alignment, and trust among member cooperatives. Sites are positioned realistically and competitively, with risks understood early. Strong, durable relationships are maintained with co‑ops, communities, and economic development partners. Seamless cooperation with Community Development teammates. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. #J-18808-Ljbffr Industrial Asset Management Council, Inc