Director, Attractions South

State of Indiana; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Education reimbursement

Job summary

State of Indiana is seeking a Director, Attractions South for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to manage regional business development and negotiate economic deals. The role leads South Indiana attractions strategy, collaborates with partners, and represents the state in complex projects to attract capital and create jobs.

Ideal candidate has a background in economic development, strong negotiation skills, and extensive knowledge of regional business climates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in economic development, urban planning, real estate, or related fields.
• Eight years of post-graduate professional work experience, or equivalent background.
• Minimum five years’ experience in economic development.
• Knowledge of Indiana government structure, IEDC programs and processes.
• Ability to engage a broad range of business professionals to achieve project outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Manages high-profile economic development projects and negotiations for South Indiana.
• Builds relationships with state and regional partners to support deals and opportunities.
• Leads responses to RFPs and site visits with state and local partners.
• Travels within Indiana and nationally to support economic development initiatives.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in economic development/related fields

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Bring your biggest and boldest ideas to life as an employee of the IEDC. We are a fast-paced and forward-thinking team charged with pursuing economic development opportunities for current and future Hoosiers in our state and around the world. Our culture embodies the spirit of being bold and working collaboratively to create the economy of the future.

The IEDC is organized as a public private partnership led by the Secretary of Commerce and governed by a board chaired by the Governor of Indiana.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has been recognized as one of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Top Workplaces by Indianapolis Star.

Role Overview

The Director, Attractions South serves as the key Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) project representative for South Indiana Attractions strategy and projects. The Director is responsible for overall management of the IEDC regional office business development activities, successful negotiation of economic development deals taking place within the region, and other critical functions outlined herein.

The salary range for this position is $80,011 – $85,000, commensurate with education and work experience.

A Day in the Life

• Manages and negotiates high-profile and highly competitive projects with emphasis on attracting new capital investment resulting in new job opportunities for Hoosiers; manages and oversees negotiations for other competitive projects within the South Region.
• Builds and maintains relationships with economic development partners within the State and in particular within the South region and other regions as needed, acting as a professional resource for education and training of economic development and local elected officials.
• Lead state and local economic development partners in presenting unified responses to company requests for proposals and site visits.
• Visits local businesses, local elected officials and development-related organizations to asses needs and identify opportunities for the IEDC.
• Serves as primary South Indiana regional Attractions liaison, utilizing and regularly updating IEDC leadership on regional activities.
• Encourages collaboration between economic development partners within the IEDC and the South region.
• At the direction of and/or approval by IEDC leadership, provides representation on economic development related partner organizations assisting Indiana’s economic development ecosystem.
• Maintains confidentiality to protect the integrity of the client and State of Indiana.
• Supports outside sales trips and other outside sales efforts in order to generate leads and raise Indiana brand awareness; responsible for attending conferences, out of state meetings, and events as needed.
• Other critical Business Development functions as identified by Business Development and IEDC Leadership.

WhatYou’llNeed for Success

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) and equivalent experience including, but not limited to, the following fields: economic development, community development, urban planning, real estate, sales/ business development, tax/ regulatory law, or any of the core industries listed below.

Experience

• Eight years of post-graduate professional work experience, or other equivalent background and experience, preferably in a client-facing role.
• Minimum five years’ experience working in the field of economic development.
• Appropriate business development/ professional experience and background, in particular with an emphasis of business deal negotiation and/or government relations.

Knowledge of

• Core industries to the State of Indiana such as agribusiness (preferred), manufacturing, life sciences, mobility, microelectronics, and information technology.
• IEDC and other government-agency programs and processes; both in-state and other states.
• IEDC business development processes and account management processes.
• Region’s community and business development- organizations, including local government officials, economic development leaders, business executives and non-profit and community development organizations.
• Region’s business climate, quality of place offerings, workforce makeup, and state economic development laws and trends.
• Indiana government structure, including local government structure and how it engages with state government structures.
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM program or other similar client management system.

Ability to

• Engage a broad range of business professionals in order to generate desired project outcomes.
• Identify the leverage of each side in a business deal via analysis of the overall context within which the deal is taking place.
• Negotiate on behalf of the State of Indiana in complex business transactions, optimizing the outcome for Hoosier taxpayers.
• Lead state and local economic development partners in presenting unified responses to company requests for proposals.
• Develop relationships with local economic development officials, brokers, site selectors, consultants to help develop economic development projects.
• Mentor and grow project managers in their business transaction management and business negotiation abilities as well as interaction with businesses, government agencies and local economic development offices.
• Analyze and evaluate needs of businesses and communities to determine the appropriate level of IEDC and other state, public and private sector services to meet those needs.
• Communicate clearly and directly both orally and in writing, including public speaking and presentations.
• Navigate, use and understand CRM-based databases and spreadsheets.
• Travel in-state and nationally as needed.
• Maintain residency within the South Region, and preferably near the IEDC’s primary offices, or willingness to locate within region.

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 plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b)account (similar to401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A 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 mothers
  • Up to 16 hours of paid community service leave
• Combined 192 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parkingfor most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learningaccess

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 [e-mail] .