Vice President of Economic Development

Position Summary

Organization Overview

Louisiana Central is a 10-parish regional economic development organization located in the heart of Louisiana. Louisiana Central is dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and expanding businesses; creating quality jobs; advancing talent attraction and workforce development; improving site readiness; and supporting industrial development across the region. The organization works closely with local governments, utilities, employers, developers, educational institutions, and state and federal partners to strengthen the region’s long-term economic competitiveness.

Region Overview

Central Louisiana is a strategically located region anchored by Alexandria, offering a strong foundation for industrial growth, a competitive cost of doing business, and a workforce ready to meet the demands of a modern economy. Positioned at the crossroads of Louisiana, the region provides efficient access to Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Dallas, supported by interstate, rail, port, and regional air connectivity that moves goods and people with reliability and speed.

With deep roots in manufacturing, forestry and timber, logistics and distribution, and energy, Central Louisiana offers the industrial assets, available land, and infrastructure backbone that businesses need to locate, expand, and thrive. Ongoing investment across these sectors continues to reinforce the region's position as a hub for industrial activity and long-term economic growth.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Economic Development is a senior leadership role responsible for executing the organization’s economic development strategy while leading day-to-day business attraction, expansion, and retention efforts across the region.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO and serving as a member of the executive leadership team, the VP represents the region in competitive site selection processes, aligns regional assets with market opportunities, and translates long-term vision into measurable outcomes.

This role requires a leader who can operate at both the high-level strategic and granular technical levels, equally effective in boardrooms and C-suites, during site selector negotiations, and in complex multi-jurisdictional collaboration environments.

Core Responsibilities

Economic Development Strategy & Leadership

• Partner with the President & CEO and staff to execute the organization’s economic development strategy.
• Translate regional vision into actionable priorities, initiatives, and performance metrics.
• Ensure alignment between business recruitment efforts, site readiness investments, talent initiatives, and industry development strategies.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and represent the organization in high-level engagements as needed.

Business Attraction, Expansion & Retention

• Lead and own the regional business attraction, expansion, and retention strategy.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for active recruitment and expansion projects.
• Oversee and execute Requests for Information (RFIs), proposals, and presentations with speed, accuracy, and strategic clarity.
• Coordinate site visits, tours, and prospect engagements across the 10-parish region.
• Build, manage, and track a robust pipeline of prospective companies and investments.
• Work with regional and state partners to assemble competitive incentive packages, infrastructure solutions, and workforce strategies.
• Support retention and expansion efforts through direct employer engagement and collaboration with workforce and education partners.

Industry, Talent, & Site Readiness Advancement

• Advance targeted industries as laid out in the organization’s strategic plan.
• Maintain working knowledge of:
  • Available site and building inventory
  • Infrastructure and utility capacity
  • Industry clusters and major employers
  • Workforce and education assets
  • Local, state, and utility incentive tools
• Support site readiness efforts including development, positioning, and investment prioritization.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with:
  • Local and regional governments
  • State economic development agencies

• • Utilities and infrastructure providers
  • Workforce and education partners
  • Site selectors, brokers, and consultants
  • Corporate leaders and investors
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the organization and the region.
• Act as a connector across business, civic, workforce, and institutional partners.

Organizational & Team Leadership

• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability for the economic development team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, performance, innovation, and execution.
• Manage budgets and monitor expenses related to economic development programs.
• Prepare regular updates and performance reports for executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in economic development, site selection, corporate/industrial real estate, regional development, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading or materially influencing business attraction or expansion projects.
• Strong understanding of economic development tools, incentives, and site selection processes.
• Experience working in multi-jurisdictional environments involving public- and private-sector partners.
• Financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, and applied market analysis.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• CEcD or similar professional credential preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally and nationally.

Attributes for Success

• Strategic thinker with disciplined execution mindset
• Credible, confident, and service-oriented deal leader
• Strong relationship builder and coalition manager
• Politically and organizationally astute
• Data-driven and results-oriented
• Comfortable operating in high-autonomy, high-expectation environments