Central Region Manager

Position Overview

The Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is looking to hire a Regional Economic Development Manager. This position will join a field team of sixteen managers in the Regional Economic Development (RED) bureau to serve as the face of the DCEO in communities statewide.  Team RED works with businesses, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, consultants, legislators, and other stakeholders to develop and execute strategies for regional economic development, coordinate workforce development efforts, business development/attraction/expansion, local investments, and partnerships.  Most importantly, Team RED represents the State to communities to bring programs, dollars, and new ideas to help their economies grow and attract businesses and jobs with an equity lens.  If you are interested in joining our team of compassionate and community-oriented managers, we invite you to apply for the Regional Economic Development Manager with DCEO.

Essential Functions

• Serves as region manager and represents the Agency for the Central Region.
• Acts as senior field representative, executes critical assignments in providing technical assistance to linchpin industries, specifically focused on areas of business and workforce development and transportation and logistics, and manufacturing.
• Creates Regional Economic Development Plans in consultation with the Senior Region Manager that coordinate and synchronize regional development, transportation, workforce and other related government entities.
• Conducts site searches for business firms considering location in the Central Region.
• Establish and maintains working relationships with business representatives and government officials.
• As spokesperson and senior representative, travels to and conducts seminars at regional level meetings with business representatives and local government officials.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualfications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four (4) years of college, preferably in economic development, marketing and business administration.
• Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization or economic development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer three or more years of progressively responsible administrative experience in business development, marketing, stakeholder engagement, sales, or economic and workforce development (i.e. Community Relations, Business Attraction, Expansion, Retention, External Affairs, Government Affairs, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Small Business Support).
• Prefer one or more years of experience in federal, state, or local government.
• Prefer one or more years of experience in Customer Relations Management System (CRM).
• Prefer Economic Development of Finance Professional Certification or Certified Economic Development Certification.
• Prefer one or more years of experience in analyzing and reporting on outreach and stakeholder engagement data.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Required completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.