Economic Development Director

New Castle County Chamber of Commerce; Wilmington (DE); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Plan

PTO & Holidays

Flexible Schedule

Hybrid Work Environment

Job summary

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce seeks an experienced Director of Economic Development to lead strategic direction and operations for NCCEP, reporting to the President & CEO. The role focuses on BRE, business attraction, site selector outreach, and lead generation, coordinating with county/state agencies and regional partners.

The Director will guide flagship forums, secure public/private funding, and shape local policy with a collaborative, results-driven approach in Delaware.

Qualifications

• 4-6+ years of progressive leadership experience in economic development, chamber operations, BRE, and/or government affairs.
• Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or equivalent experience.
• Deep understanding of Delaware's economic landscape and government structures.
• Experience with grant writing, compliance, and managing public funds.

Responsibilities

• Direct all NCCEP operations and strategic leadership, including quarterly meetings and sponsorship relations.
• Maintain government liaison with county/state officials and regional partners.
• Identify and manage grant opportunities; oversee compliance and reporting.
• Guide high-level strategy for events, budgeting, and KPI reporting.
• Advance BRE, business attraction, lead generation, and workforce connections.

Skills

Economic development leadership

Chamber operations

BRE experience

Grant writing

Policy liaison

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Public Administration, Business Admin, Urban Planning

Tools

Grant management tools

Job description

New Castle County Chamber of Commerce (NCCCC)

Job Title: Director, Economic Development

Reports To: President & CEO

Department: Economic Development

Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000 annually (commensurate with experience) + Benefits

Position Overview

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative Director of Economic Development to join our team. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Director leads the strategic direction, operational execution, and stakeholder management of the New Castle County Economic Partnership (NCCEP). This role focuses on driving regional economic prosperity through a proactive, balanced approach to business retention and expansion (BRE), business attraction, site selector outreach, and lead generation.

The Director serves as a primary liaison and convener across county/state government agencies, higher education, corporate leadership, and regional economic development partners. Key priorities include advancing business development pipelines, informing local public policy, securing public/private grant funding and program sponsorships, and guiding the strategic vision for flagship economic forums and initiatives.

Responsibilities

1. New Castle County Economic Partnership Operations & Strategic Leadership

• Partnership Management. Direct all operational, strategic, and convening activities for the New Castle County Economic Partnership (NCCEP), including managing quarterly meetings, setting annual deliverable calendars, issuing ecosystem advisories, and maintaining sponsor relations.
• Government Liaison. Maintain consistent, strategic communication with New Castle County Government officials and state economic agencies, serving as a Chamber point-person on shared deliverables and regional policy.
• Grants & Public Funding Administration. Identify, write, and manage public and private grant opportunities (including county, state, and federal sources such as ARPA or EDA grants). Oversee compliance, reporting, and administration to support strategic economic initiatives.
• Event Oversight. Guide the high-level strategy for economic development events, leveraging the Events team for planning, communications, logistics, and on-site execution.
• Budget & Performance Management. Track departmental KPIs, manage allocated budgets, and deliver regular performance updates to executive leadership and stakeholder boards.

2. Business Retention, Expansion (BRE) & Talent Alignment

• Retention & Expansion (BRE). Conduct proactive outreach and executive site visits with existing New Castle County businesses to identify growth opportunities, understand pain points, and assist with retention challenges.
• Business Attraction & Recruitment. Serve as a key point of contact for business attraction inquiries, site selectors, and expanding companies evaluating relocation or expansion within New Castle County.
• Proactive Lead Generation & Partnerships. Actively build business recruitment pipelines through close collaboration with state-level economic development partners, leveraging regional marketing initiatives and joint outreach efforts.
• Data & Pipeline Management. Maintain accurate tracking of site inquiries, commercial real estate listings, business development leads, and BRE metrics to evaluate regional economic health and project impact.
• Workforce & Resource Connection. Facilitate connections between employers, educational institutions, workforce development agencies, and financing programs to support talent pipelines and capital access.

Qualifications

• 4-6+ years of progressive leadership experience in economic development, chamber of commerce operations, BRE, and/or government affairs.
• Bachelor's degree in Economic Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or equivalent experience (technical economic development credentials are a plus).
• Deep understanding of Delaware's economic landscape, legislative processes, municipal/county government structures, and industry clusters.
• Demonstrated experience or technical familiarity with grant writing, compliance, and managing public funds (e.g., state, federal/EDA/ARPA, or local grant programs).
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive presentation skills; comfortable engaging with C-suite executives, elected officials, and regional business leaders.

Work Requirements

• Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation for local travel.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 lbs for event and meeting setup.
• Occasional early morning or evening hours are required for events and meetings.

The Chamber is committed to internal and market equity. In addition to a competitive salary range of $65,000 - $80,000, we offer a robust perks package:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
• Flexible Schedule Perks (including a Monthly Mental Health Day and Modified Summer/December Friday Hours to support work-life balance)
• Collaborative Hybrid Work Environment (Wilmington Riverfront office base)

About Us

Our Mission. Simple - accelerate business growth. Since 1922, Delaware's businesses have leveraged the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce to build awareness, grow revenue, and develop new business relationships. The Chamber helps you grow your business through networking, business growth training, referral groups, marketing opportunities, and more. The Chamber advocates for our members in the local and state government and works closely with elected officials to create economic prosperity and enhance the quality of life in the community.

Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.