NOLA Business Alliance – Chief Executive Officer
Application Deadline: October 15, 2010

“NEW ORLEANS – The Board of NOLA Business Alliance is now seeking a Chief Executive Officer. For the right individual, the CEO position could be an extraordinary opportunity – to lead a critical new organization, for a world-famous city heading in a promising new direction.

The CEO will lead NOLA Business Alliance’s economic development efforts in New Orleans to attract new business and industry into the area, retain existing businesses and promote new business development efforts. The CEO will report to the 17-member Board of Directors, and specifically to the Executive Committee and its Chairman.

Other important working relationships include: owners/executives of businesses with operations in New Orleans; representatives of prospective businesses, both domestic and international; representatives of other economic development organizations in Louisiana, chambers of commerce, port authorities and other entities; the Governor and his administration; federal officials and members of the media.

Anticipated compensation is to be in the range of $150,000-$200,000 per year, commensurate with experience and salary history, in addition to a competitive benefits package.

Major Duties and Responsibilities of the CEO

Overall management and performance of the NOLA Business Alliance
Develop and implement the organization’s vision and mission
Develop and implement the economic development strategic plan
In partnership with the Mayor, GNO, Inc. and others, recruit new businesses to Orleans Parish
Develop a proactive effort to retain existing businesses and help them expand
Build collaborative partnerships, align organization’s activities, and structure development plans with both local, regional, state and federal economic development organizations and stakeholders
Advise the Board of economic development issues that affect Orleans Parish’s economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats on a regular basis
Prepare and execute an annual operating budget and economic development plans
Identify and procure new sources of revenue to support the general organization purposes as well as specific programs
Hire and manage a professional staff capable of meeting the goals of the organization
Create and manage measurable performance benchmarks for staff and organization
Serve as a spokesperson with the media and as primary liaison with elected and appointed governmental officials, major trade and professional organizations and other constituencies
Represent the City of New Orleans at official functions on local, regional, state, national and international levels

Minimum Qualifications of the CEO

A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree in business, law, public administration or related discipline is preferred.
Five to ten years of progressively responsible experience in economic development or comparable experience in public administration, business administration, not-for-profit organization or closely related field.
CEcD designation a plus, but is not required.
Residency in Orleans Parish upon accepting the position.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities of the CEO

Economic development: economic development experience and expertise that has led to a comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of economic development. This includes the full range of economic development skills, retention, entrepreneurship, marketing, economic development finance, real estate development, redevelopment and tech-led economic development.
Government relations: experience in the process of local, state, regional and national government and government organizations.
Fiscal management: demonstrated ability to manage financial affairs of an organization.
Communication: strong background in interacting and communicating with multiple audiences at the public, private and media level.
Organization management: ability to analyze, assess and direct operations for the entire organization; establish and implement program procedures, policies or guidelines. Experience with governance issues and Board of Director interactions.
Public/private relationships: demonstrated track record of developing effective partnerships between the public and private sector. Must be able to establish and maintain strong work rapport with leading government officials, business executives, and community leaders.
Community/regional development: effectively manages interactions with community and regional organizations.
Management experience: strong human resource and staff development skills, can effectively coach, mentor and empower a staff and create a team focus.
Strategic planning: experience in developing and implementing strategic plans.
Entrepreneurial: takes initiative; a proactive person who demonstrates leading edge thinking with strong initiative and results oriented personality.
Key Personal Traits of CEO

Collaborative: demonstrates a willingness and ability to work with and through others; values consensus-building. Must be able to seamlessly interact in a synergetic environment that exists between local, state and federal officials.
Communication skills: excellent listener; outstanding written and oral communication skills; effective presentation skills to multiple audiences.
Leadership: a take-charge individual with vision and the means to get there; can lead change, manage, motivate, challenge and delegate to others.
Energetic: a self-starter; genuinely enthusiastic; strong personal work ethic.
Organization skills: results oriented; meets established goals and objectives.
Ethical: possesses honesty, integrity and the highest ethical and moral standards.
Analytical: a problem-solver with the ability to analyze problems carefully and conceptualize solutions.
Political savvy: able to maneuver through complex situations effectively and quietly to leverage local, regional, state and federal economy and resources.
Strategic thinker: has the vision to see beyond daily operations toward broader strategic goals; understands “the big picture.”
Application Deadline and Procedure

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, a resume and salary history by email to Patrick McHugh at pmchugh@iedconline.org no later than midnight CT on October 15, 2010.

NOLA Business Alliance Structure and Mission

The NOLA Business Alliance is a not-for-profit corporation that will serve as the City of New Orleans’ official public-private partnership for economic development. Its mission is to grow jobs and wealth in the City of New Orleans, with a focus on business retention, business expansion, prospect engagement, prospect negotiation, small business services, entrepreneurship and strategic planning.

A start-up organization, its formation and its Board were announced by Mayor Mitch Landrieu on August 13, 2010. It is led by a 17-member Board of Directors composed of a cross section of New Orleans leaders including the Mayor and a variety of business professionals. To fund the operations of this public-private partnership, the City of New Orleans will contribute $1.5 million from its Economic Development Fund and the private sector will contribute a minimum of $500,000 annually.

The “new” New Orleans – the New Orleans that is emerging from the extraordinary challenge of Hurricane Katrina – is a place of remarkable potential. The culture and history that have made New Orleans a beloved international city are being celebrated with renewed pride, while the issues that have kept New Orleans from reaching its full potential are being addressed with unprecedented vigor and success. In the five years since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has created and maintained over 90,000 jobs bringing local employment up to 86% of pre-storm levels. The City has been touted as one of the top cities in the nation where Americans are relocating and a “hive of entrepreneurial initiative.” For more information on the City’s progress in the aftermath of the storm, see, for example, An Overview of New Orleans Index at Five: From Recovery to Transformation and Twenty Indicators Measuring Greater New Orleans’ Progress Toward Prosperity (http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2007/08neworleansindex.aspx).

A major driver of this turn-around will be economic development: the creation of quality, high-paying jobs and the growth of successful businesses. To this point, however, New Orleans has lacked an organization with the mandate and resources to lead economic development for the City. Now, that has changed. The newly created NOLA Business Alliance, working in close partnership with the City and the Mayor, will be that leading economic development entity and will drive the economic success of the “new” New Orleans.

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NOLA Business Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law.”

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