Economic and Community Development Director

Under the direction of the Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development, the Economic and Community Development Director will support the economic development functions of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for OVPRIED. The Director will lead the recruiting efforts for private and public partners that are needed to maximize the University’s economic impact to the region and State. Additionally, in collaboration with appropriate and relevant university personnel, the liaison will help develop and manage OVPRIED's strategy for strengthening relationships with economic development agencies, industry associations and elected officials. Additional duties include engaging constituents inside and outside the University in support of the University's research and economic development agenda and measuring the progress and impact of the University’s economic development activities.

Primary Duties

• Strategic Leadership and Cross-Functional Management: Lead economic development efforts in the OVPRIED by developing strategic directions, cultivating internal relationships, managing day-to-day operations, and ensuring sustainability of the office.
• Roadmap Creation: Analyze and evaluate opportunities to prioritize activities and clearly define key milestones in support of the University’s goals.
• Evaluate and Measure Impact: Identify key data points to consistently measure and report against in order to track success and identify opportunities for continued improvement.
• Partnership Expansion and Engagement: Actively work to recruit, expand and deepen relationships with a diverse range of partners, including technology companies, educational professionals, privately held businesses, state agencies, and funding organizations. Cultivate these partnerships to leverage additional resources and expertise that support economic development and move large-scale projects forward within the region.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Serve as a key leader in nurturing the University’s existing public-private partnerships while creating new relationships in the connect of advancing the economic development mission of the University. Stay up to date on emerging trends within this space as a thought leader and resource both within the University and our broader community.
• Network Coordination: Oversee the coordination of an expanding network structure to optimize collaborative efforts and resource sharing to prevent duplication of efforts. Implement systems and processes that enhance the effectiveness of the network and promote the integration of new members and partners. Participate in existing efforts and serve as a convener of additional strategic conversations and activities.
• Grant Proposals and Management: Actively seek out and secure economic development-centered funding from federal, state, and local governments and other funders. Working in collaboration with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and other university divisions, develop a growing portfolio of grant funding to drive economic impacts for the state and region.
• Constituent Relationships: Build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships with other EDOs, federal state, and local government and agency partners to support collaboration and outcomes. Serve as a visible, active, and accessible leader on behalf of the University.
• Performs other duties as required/assigned by leadership.

Position Summary:
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL) is in a region known for incredible food, music, hospitality, and joie de vivre — an exuberant enjoyment of life. Located in the heart of Cajun and Creole country, you will find this rich heritage celebrated within our traditions and day-to-day life.

What you will find also is a Carnegie R1 Top-Tier Research University with multi-year, multi-million-dollar strategic partnerships with federal agencies, state agencies, and industry. Only about 3% of the nation's colleges and universities have R1 status, which is synonymous with academic excellence, research, innovation, and global impact. As of 2023, R&D has topped more than $200 million dollars for the first time, more than triple expenditures in 2013. The National Science Foundation recently ranked UL Lafayette in the Top 7 Universities in the US for industry-funded research.

The Office of the Vice President of Research, Innovation and Economic Development (OVPRIED) has as one of its principal functions the production, support, application, and dissemination of various research activities to enhance the development of knowledge economies in Louisiana and throughout the U.S. and to bring innovations to the marketplace to foster economic regional development. The economic and community development functions operate within the OVPRIED and responsible for building strong, supportive alliances with local, regional, state, and national business, governmental, and industrial leaders that will result in bringing funding, equipment, services and other resources to the University and to the Acadiana region and state of Louisiana. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development (AVPIED), the Director will lead economic development initiatives with the synergistic goals of:

Supporting place-based innovation in the University Commons Research Park, across all university owned properties (including labs, studios, etc) and inclusive workforce development initiatives to meet the needs of Louisiana’s growing economy.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, economic development, entrepreneurship, project management, innovation, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience working in economic development, governmental relations, or public-private partnership spaces.
• Experience in building relationships with academic institutions on initiatives involving workforce development, facility planning, and real estate development.
• Experience in strategic planning, particularly in economic development, education, business, non-profit, or related fields.

Skills, Abilities, Etc:

• Proven track record of recruiting businesses and investment through economic development efforts
• Proven administrative and technical skills in project management, financial planning, and communication.
• Strong ability to build relationships and influence across multiple levels and organizations.
• Strong network within the economic development and public-private ecosystem.
• Passion for transformative education and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strategic thinker that is driven for action and innovation.
• Strong ability to communicate and implement a clear vision.
• Exceptional organizational skills with proven leadership abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in economic development and at a minimum interfacing with higher education and other public institutions.
• A proven track record with, and first-hand knowledge of, the following is preferred: local, state, and federal legislative and executive processes; public affairs principles and practices; and project management and planning principles and practices.