Executive Director

International Economic Development Council; Tennessee; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance stipend

Phone allowance

Vehicle allowance

401(k) employer match

Job summary

The Williamson County Economic Development Partnership (Wilco EDP) seeks an Executive Director to lead the organization, report to the Board, and advance the Partnership's mission with strategic vision and hands-on execution.

The role requires directing organizational leadership, business attraction, and partnership development, while promoting Williamson County domestically and internationally, and coordinating with partners to attract investment and jobs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in economic development, planning, business, marketing, public administration or related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, business recruitment, community development, or a related field.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with business leaders, elected officials, community partners, and private-sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in business attraction, corporate recruitment, and relationship management.
• Strong understanding of site selection processes, location decision factors, and economic development best practices.
• Proven track record in recruiting international and domestic prospects and closing complex corporate investment deals.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Experience managing budgets, organizational operations, and strategic initiatives.
• Strong project management skills, including coordination of multiple, diverse stakeholders.
• Possess the ability, diplomacy, initiative, presence and social skills to work effectively with a diverse group of individuals and partners.
• Ability to respond effectively and quickly to sensitive inquiries.
• Exhibit excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Experience utilizing CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally and maintain a valid passport.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Partnership's strategic plan and annual program of work.
• Develop and administer the annual operating budget while ensuring sound financial stewardship.
• Provide leadership, direction, and performance management for Partnership staff.
• Prepare regular reports for the Board of Directors on organizational performance, financial condition, and economic development activities.
• Support Board governance, committee activities, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the Partnership through sponsorships, grants, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead the Partnership's domestic and international business attraction strategy.
• Develop and cultivate relationships with corporate decision-makers, site selection consultants, commercial real estate professionals, and industry partners.
• Generate qualified business recruitment leads and manage prospects throughout the recruitment process.
• Coordinate responses to requests for information (RFIs) by working collaboratively with local economic development partners.
• Represent Williamson County during recruitment missions, industry conferences, trade shows, and business development events.
• Plan and host corporate prospects, site selectors, business delegations, and international visitors.
• Promote Williamson County's available sites, buildings, workforce, infrastructure, and competitive advantages.
• Oversee ongoing tracking of business development activities and maintenance of accurate project information within the organization's CRM system.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the county's municipalities, county government, regional organizations, state agencies, utility providers, workforce organizations, higher education institutions, and private-sector partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Wilco EDP and local economic development organizations to ensure timely communication and coordinated responses to business opportunities.
• Foster collaboration among partners to strengthen Williamson County's competitiveness and regional economic development efforts.
• Support international partnerships and initiatives, including the Yongin City Sister City relationship and other strategic collaborations.
• Champion the Partnership's marketing and business development initiatives to increase awareness of Williamson County among corporate decision-makers and site selection professionals.
• Represent the organization through public presentations, speaking engagements, media interviews, and community events.
• Work with staff, board and/or external partners to develop effective business recruitment materials, presentations, and promotional content.
• Promote the Partnership's successes and communicate measurable outcomes to stakeholders and investors.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Negotiation

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics/related field

CEcD preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Reports to: Board of Directors

Nature of the Position: The Executive Director serves as the lead economic development professional for the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership (Wilco EDP). Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for advancing the Partnership's mission by providing strategic leadership, cultivating relationships, generating business investment opportunities and promoting Williamson County as a premier location for domestic and international business growth. This is a hands‑on leadership position for an experienced economic development professional who combines strategic vision with active execution. The Executive Director serves as the organization's primary representative to corporate executives, site selection consultants, elected officials, regional partners and economic development stakeholders while leading the Partnership's day‑to‑day operations and business attraction efforts.

Primary Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

• Lead the implementation of the Partnership's strategic plan and annual program of work.
• Develop and administer the annual operating budget while ensuring sound financial stewardship.
• Provide leadership, direction, and performance management for Partnership staff.
• Prepare regular reports for the Board of Directors on organizational performance, financial condition, and economic development activities.
• Support Board governance, committee activities, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the Partnership through sponsorships, grants, and strategic partnerships.

Business Attraction

• Lead the Partnership's domestic and international business attraction strategy.
• Develop and cultivate relationships with corporate decision‑makers, site selection consultants, commercial real estate professionals, and industry partners.
• Generate qualified business recruitment leads and manage prospects throughout the recruitment process.
• Coordinate responses to requests for information (RFIs) by working collaboratively with local economic development partners.
• Represent Williamson County during recruitment missions, industry conferences, trade shows, and business development events.
• Plan and host corporate prospects, site selectors, business delegations, and international visitors.
• Promote Williamson County's available sites, buildings, workforce, infrastructure, and competitive advantages.
• Oversee ongoing tracking of business development activities and maintenance of accurate project information within the organization's CRM system.

Partnership Development

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the county's municipalities, county government, regional organizations, state agencies, utility providers, workforce organizations, higher education institutions, and private-sector partners.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Wilco EDP and local economic development organizations to ensure timely communication and coordinated responses to business opportunities.
• Foster collaboration among partners to strengthen Williamson County's competitiveness and regional economic development efforts.
• Support international partnerships and initiatives, including the Yongin City Sister City relationship and other strategic collaborations.

Marketing & Awareness

• Champion the Partnership's marketing and business development initiatives to increase awareness of Williamson County among corporate decision‑makers and site selection professionals.
• Represent the organization through public presentations, speaking engagements, media interviews, and community events.
• Work with staff, board and/or external partners to develop effective business recruitment materials, presentations, and promotional content.
• Promote the Partnership's successes and communicate measurable outcomes to stakeholders and investors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in economic development, planning, business, marketing, public administration or related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, business recruitment, community development, or a related field. Experience working in business attraction at the state, regional and/or local level.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with business leaders, elected officials, community partners, and private-sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in business attraction, corporate recruitment, and relationship management.
• Strong understanding of site selection processes, location decision factors, and economic development best practices.
• Proven track record in recruiting international and domestic prospects and closing complex corporate investment deals.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Experience managing budgets, organizational operations, and strategic initiatives.
• Strong project management skills, including coordination of multiple, diverse stakeholders.
• Possess the ability, diplomacy, initiative, presence and social skills to work effectively with a diverse group of individuals and partners.
• Ability to respond effectively and quickly to sensitive inquiries.
• Exhibit excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Experience utilizing CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally and maintain a valid passport.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation is preferred.

Compensation

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications
• Annual health insurance stipend
• Monthly phone and vehicle allowance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match

Application Deadline: October 1, 2026