Old Dominion University seeks an Executive Director of the Center for Economic Development to establish and lead the activities of the Center for Economic Development in order to enhance the economic development of the Hampton Roads area by bringing to bear the capabilities and organizational resources of Old Dominion University. The newly-established Center for Economic Development (CED) will work to enhance the Hampton Roads area through its six working units that include: the Monarch Business Innovation Gateway, the Monarch Accelerator Partnership, the Services Division, the Monarch Innovation Foundation, the Monarch Innovation Laboratory and the Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Old Dominion University, located in the City of Norfolk in the metropolitan Hampton Roads region of coastal Virginia, is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive institution serving 24,000 students in six academic colleges through its 700+ full-time and 500+ part-time faculty, and almost 1,500 full-time and 400+ part-time staff. In 2013, according to the Economic Forecasting Project at ODU, the Hampton Roads region had a gross regional product of about $88B (including about $20B in taxable sales) and civilian employment of almost 760K (and an unemployment rate of 5.9%).
The Position
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Director will: provide strategic leadership to the units of the Center for Economic Development to provide various economic development capabilities to the Hampton Roads region; develop policies and procedures, and business practices for the CED and its units to achieve its mission; work with ODU leadership to establish appropriate relations with various academic and administrative units, and to create appropriate business entities and partnerships to conduct CED activities; develop, implement and maintain marketing and communications plans; lead fundraising activities through the Monarch Innovation Foundation to identify and create a network of angel investors for client businesses; brief appropriate university leadership on CED activities and review and report budget performance; conduct program evaluations of units that include recommendations for enhancing performance; and, serve as the Director of the Monarch Innovation Foundation.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have comprehensive knowledge of economic and business development practices in areas such as business retention and expansion, strategic planning, marketing/attraction, technology-led economic development, and/or entrepreneurial and small business development strategies. The candidate should also have working knowledge of programs and services that universities offer that are relevant to CED activities, with a preference for knowledge of such programs and services at ODU. Demonstrated ability to establish effective relationships and engage local and state business, municipal, and elected officials on CED initiatives. The candidate will have strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to manage budgets, staff, and multiple priorities, and an earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Application
Applicants must include a cover letter, a resume, and contact information for three professional references. Screening of applications will begin June 17, 2014 and continue until the position is filled.
Please submit applicant packages to:
Dr. Craig Bowen, Assistant for Special Projects to the Chief Operating Officer
President’s Office
Old Dominion University
204A Koch Hall
Norfolk, VA 23529
Old Dominion University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution and requires compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
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