Vice President of Small Business Development and Business Retention

Location: Wilmington, NC
Position: Vice President of Small Business Development and Business Retention

SUMMARY:

PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Identify and advocate for the recruitment, retention and expansion of small, businesses to/in Wilmington and New Hanover County (<25 full-time employees). Work will include advocating for the talent, capital, and regulatory needs of the existing business and industry within the area especially those business categories identified in New Hanover County’s Economic Mobility Report.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Daily work duties will include working with local business leaders and area partners to identify the needs of small business and assure access to resources and information as well as the availability of a skilled workforce needed to grow a vibrant and sustainable economy in the Wilmington area.

Other duties will include:
▪Serve as Chamber staff member to the Wilmington Small Business Coalition, a volunteer consortium of small business and entrepreneurial organizations operating in the region.
▪Assist with content and speaker opportunities as it relates to the Chamber’s growing members, especially the organization’s business councils (AABC, LABC, Supply Chain, Young Professional and Women’s Business Owners Council, etc.)
▪Implement and maintain a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program that includes confidential interviews with small business owners to assess the local business climate, identify opportunities and challenges, connect businesses with appropriate resources and partners, and use data insights to guide Chamber, city, and county efforts to retain and grow investment and jobs.
▪Raise the level of awareness of the resources available to existing industry via chamber, city and county communications channels such as websites, social media channels, printed materials, etc.
▪Serve as a resource for research, data and general information requests from existing and potential new small businesses especially as it relates to economic trends, wage and talent benchmarks by using platforms such as Lightcast and/or JobsEQ.
▪Act as Chamber liaison to business and industry via participation in various professional networking groups including 1 Million Cups-Wilmington, Cape Fear Manufacturing Association and NC Tech.
▪Serve as a connector to local resource partners such as Wilmington Business Development, Wilmington Downtown, Inc., Cape Fear Community College’s Small Business Center & Customized Training divisions.
▪Identify and develop proposals for grant funding, in collaboration with Chamber President that can catalyze strategic growth in Wilmington’s emerging small business categories.
▪Performing other duties as requested by the Chamber President and CEO

JOB KNOWLEDGE:
Requires excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Requires strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contacts at all levels as well as government officials and the public at large. Should be familiar with community agencies/resources addressing workforce and sustainable development issues. Must be highly organized, energetic and a self-starter.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Prior work experience in the area is desirable: business development, human resource development/training, sales, public relations, project management, and marketing.

EDUCATION & EQUIVALENT:
A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or equivalent combination of education/related experience or training would be required.

CONTACT WITH OTHERS:
Has frequent internal contact with the Chamber staff and members. External contacts are with public officials, city/county agencies, local business owners and various companies throughout the United States. All contacts are for the purpose of exchanging or providing information and require tact, courtesy and professional decorum.

CONFIDENTIAL DATA:
Has access to and works closely with information regarding companies and clients that would be considered confidential and not in the best interest of the Chamber to disclose.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCURACY:
Works with numbers and information, which requires a high degree of accuracy. Most errors could be detected through proofing procedures and computer systems in place. Undetected errors could range in severity from slight to far reaching.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL/VISUAL EFFORT:
The degree of concentration varies depending on the task at hand. Position is subject to frequent interruptions, which require varied responses. While performing duties of this job, incumbent is routinely required to be mobile, sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. Requires visual acuity and manual dexterity.

RESOURCEFULNESS & INITIATIVE:
Initiative and resourcefulness are required to accurately complete job responsibilities. Creativity is used to formulate and implement marketing strategies and programs.

ENVIRONMENT:
Works in a normal office environment but spends a considerable amount of time in the field.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter and resume to info@wilmingtonchamber.org.