DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COLAB | Louisiana’s Bayou Region

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

COLAB | Louisiana’s Bayou Region

About COLAB

COLAB is the regional economic development organization serving Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes. We work with businesses, communities, and regional partners to support business growth, attract investment, and expand economic opportunity throughout Louisiana’s Bayou Region.

Position Overview

The Director of Business Development leads COLAB’s efforts to help existing businesses grow and prepare sites for investment, while aiding in business prospecting and recruitment to the Bayou Region. This individual will oversee the Business Retention & Expansion Program and Site Certification Program, serve as COLAB’s liaison for Louisiana Economic Development’s FastSites Program, and support targeted prospecting and recruitment alongside COLAB leadership and partners through site selector relationships and conferences.

Primary Responsibilities

Business Retention and Expansion

• Lead a proactive BRE program through regular business visits, outreach, and timely follow-up across the four-parish region.
• Identify business needs, barriers to growth, expansion plans, and potential retention concerns; connect companies with workforce, financing, infrastructure, and other appropriate resources.
• Maintain accurate visit records and track assistance provided, emerging industry trends, and project outcomes to inform COLAB’s strategy and reporting.

Site Certification and FastSites

• Lead COLAB’s Site Certification Program by identifying promising properties and coordinating with landowners, local governments, utilities, engineers, and LED to advance site readiness and certification.
• Coordinate site information, due diligence documentation, infrastructure assessments, and certification submissions; maintain current property profiles and marketing information.
• Serve as COLAB’s liaison for Louisiana’s FastSites Program, communicating program opportunities and requirements, coordinating regional partners, and tracking applications, milestones, and follow-up with LED.

Prospecting and Recruitment Support

• Aid COLAB leadership and partners in prospecting and targeted recruitment aligned with the Bayou Region’s industry strengths, available sites, workforce, and growth opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with site selection consultants, corporate decision-makers, brokers, developers, and state and local economic development partners.
• Represent COLAB at site selection conferences, industry events, and prospect meetings; assist with lead development and follow-up in coordination with the team.
• Assist with responses to requests for information and proposals, recruitment materials, prospect visits, and site tours in coordination with COLAB staff and partners.
• Help maintain COLAB’s prospect pipeline and track recruitment activity, project status, and results while protecting confidential business and project information.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, economic development, public administration, urban or regional planning, marketing, or a related field. An equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience will also be considered.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, business development, business recruitment, commercial or industrial real estate, community development, or a related field.
• Experience managing programs or projects, working directly with businesses, and coordinating multiple public and private partners.
• Familiarity with business retention and expansion, site selection, industrial site development, site certification, or infrastructure planning.
• Knowledge of Louisiana’s business environment and economic development resources, with familiarity with the Bayou Region considered an asset.
• Professional credentials such as Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) or Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), or progress toward a relevant credential, are welcomed but not required.

Candidates with transferable experience and a demonstrated ability to build relationships, manage projects, and learn economic development programs are encouraged to apply.

Skills and Professional Qualities

• Relationship building: Approachable, attentive, and comfortable engaging business owners, executives, site selectors, elected officials, and community partners.
• Initiative and accountability: Able to work independently, take ownership of assignments, manage competing priorities, and follow through on commitments.
• Communication: Strong writing, presentation, and listening skills, with the ability to explain regional assets and business information clearly and persuasively.
• Judgment and discretion: Professional, dependable, and able to handle sensitive business information with confidentiality.
• Problem solving and collaboration: Curious, resourceful, adaptable, and able to bring partners together to address business needs and move projects forward.
• Research and technology: Able to interpret economic, workforce, and property data; proficient in Microsoft Office, with CRM or database experience preferred.
• Comfortable using artificial intelligence (AI) tools and other automation software to improve efficiency, with attention to accuracy and confidentiality.

Travel and Schedule

The role involves travel throughout the Bayou Region for business visits, partner meetings, and site tours, along with out-of-region travel for conferences and recruitment activities. Occasional evening or weekend commitments may be necessary. COLAB offers a flexible schedule that accommodates business and program responsibilities.

Benefits

• COLAB pays 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium.
• Flexible schedule and mileage reimbursement for work-related travel.

Learn more about COLAB at bayouregion.com