Executive Vice President, Regional Economic Development and Statewide Growth

Role Overview:The Executive Vice President (EVP) of Regional Economic Development and Statewide Growth serves as the senior leader responsible for advancing Indiana’s regional economic development strategy across the state’s 15 economic regions. This role drives coordination between state government, regional development organizations, local communities, and private-sector partners to accelerate long-term economic competitiveness and growth.Unlike a traditional centralized recruitment model, this position focuses on empowering regions to lead on economic strategy and execution efforts while ensuring alignment with statewide priorities, accountability measures, and measurable economic outcomes.The EVP acts as Indiana’s primary state-level liaison for regional economic development initiatives, providing strategic leadership, cross-agency coordination, operational problem-solving, and executive oversight of initiatives including READI, strategic site development, infrastructure readiness, regional growth planning, and marketing.Salary Statement:The salary range for this position is $170,000 - $190,000, commensurate with education and work experience.A Day in the Life:Regional Economic Development LeadershipLead and execute Indiana’s statewide regional economic development strategy across all 15 economic regionsBuild and manage a regional support structure aligned to READI and other state economic initiativesServe as the primary executive relationship manager for regional development organizations, local leaders, and strategic stakeholdersEnsure regional strategies align with statewide economic priorities and long-term competitiveness goalsStrategic Research, Performance & Sector GrowthSupporting regions in developing long-term economic strategies and execution plans by leveraging economic, labor market, demographic, and industry dataAssisting regions in identifying specific sector strengths, emerging industries, workforce needs, and competitive economic opportunitiesDeveloping performance metrics and accountability systems tied to state-supported investments while partnering with research teams to provide actionable insightsTracking and evaluating regional progress, economic outcomes, and return on investment to monitor advancement toward statewide development goalsA Day in the Life Continued:READI Initiative OversightProvide executive leadership and strategic oversight for the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI)Coordinate with regional stakeholders to drive execution of READI projects and investmentsEnsure transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes for state-supported initiativesSupport regional collaboration focused on talent attraction, placemaking, housing, and quality-of-life investmentsStrategic Sites & Economic Development Real EstateProvide strategic oversight of IEDC-supported economic development sites, innovation districts, and regional development assetsCoordinate with executive leadership responsible for site readiness, infrastructure planning, and real estate developmentSupport development of regionally significant sites and infrastructure required for long-term growth and investment attractionAlign site readiness, utility planning, housing, logistics, transportation, and land-use strategies with regional growth prioritiesEnsure state-supported real estate and infrastructure investments are tied to measurable economic outcomesResponsibilities:State Government Coordination & Problem Resolution Serve as the central point of coordination between regional partners and Indiana state governmentFacilitate cross-agency collaboration to remove barriers to economic growth and project advancementSupport regions in addressing permitting, infrastructure, workforce, housing, utility, transportation, and regulatory challengesImplement a responsive “no wrong door” approach to regional support and problem-solvingMarketing & Strategic CommunicationOversee communications and marketing efforts supporting regional economic development initiativesCoordinate statewide and regional storytelling, branding, and economic positioning strategiesSupport communications related to major announcements, investments, and economic development successesEnsure Indiana’s economic value proposition is consistently communicated to national and international audiencesAdditional Responsibilities:Leadership & Organizational Development Build and lead a high-performing regional economic development team.Develop operational processes and leadership capabilities that improve execution and collaboration.Promote a culture of accountability, responsiveness, innovation, and partnership.External Engagement & Representation Represent Indiana at regional, national, and international economic development forums and events.Present updates and strategic recommendations to the IEDC Board, Governor’s Office, and other key stakeholders.Serve as a leading advocate for Indiana’s regional growth strategy and collaborative economic development model.What You'll Need for Success:Key Success Metrics:Regional economic growth and competitivenessAchievement of regionally established goals and performance metricsPerformance outcomes tied to READI and other state-supported investmentsJob creation and wage growthEffectiveness and responsiveness of state coordination effortsGrowth and performance of strategic industry sectorsAdvancement of strategic sites and infrastructure readiness initiativesReturn on investment for state-supported programs and development projectsStrength and effectiveness of regional partnershipsAdditional Qualifications:Education: Bachelor’s degree required.MBA, MPA, JD, or other advanced degree preferred.Experience: 10+ years of senior leadership experience in economic development, regional development, business strategy, real estate development, public-private partnerships, or related fields.Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and regional collaboration efforts.Experience working across government agencies, regional organizations, and private-sector stakeholders preferred.Strong understanding of economic competitiveness, regional strategy, performance measurement, and economic development real estate.Core Competencies:Strategic LeadershipRegional Collaboration & Partnership BuildingPublic Sector CoordinationData-Driven Decision MakingEconomic Development Real Estate StrategyOrganizational LeadershipEconomic & Sector Strategy DevelopmentExecutive Communication SkillsPolitical Acumen & Stakeholder ManagementSupervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plansWellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewardsHealth savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contributionDeferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer matchTwo (2) fully-funded pension plan optionsA robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:160 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothersUp to 16 hours of paid community service leaveCombined 192 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off12 paid holidays, 14 on election yearsEducation Reimbursement ProgramGroup life insuranceReferral Bonus programEmployee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visitsQualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ProgramFree Parking for most positionsFree LinkedIn Learning accessEqual Employment Opportunity:The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.