Now Hiring: Director of Marketing & Business Attraction

The Director of Marketing and Business Attraction will help drive strategic growth and investment to the region through new employer recruitment, strategic marketing, and community promotion. This position supports various partnerships, site development, workforce and entrepreneurial growth, and builds capacity to strengthen the area’s business climate and competitiveness. The Director reports to the President and/or Vice President of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Manage Request for Information (RFI) responses from the Illinois Department of Commerce, Intersect Illinois and independent site selectors.
• Ensure accuracy of available building and site listings at EAKC and partner property portals.
• Understand and regularly communicate shovel readiness and best practices to private property owners and local municipal leaders.
• Effectively evaluate, quantify, and communicate the benefit of existing and proposed development incentives; assist in creating new incentives.
• Application and administration of additional funding streams including but not limited to grants, endowments and investments.
• Establish, continually refine and communicate Kankakee County’s competitive advantage as it relates to industrial/commercial development and investment.
• Manage vendors, interns and partners in all design, development and maintenance related to the website, internet platforms and social media channels.
• Conceive, plan and execute special events as required.
• Effectively communicate with local, regional, national and international development partners on targeted programming that builds local capacity and wealth.
• Participate in a variety of local boards, commissions and events to consciously engage the local community and represent the organization.
• Identify and attend networking and promotional events.
• Create and maintain segmented contact lists for the purposes of targeted communications.
• Identify and implement digital tools that enable collaboration, build capacity, and reinforce strategic goals and objectives.
• Manage vendors, interns, and partners in the production of all print materials and other brand collateral.
• Provide short- and long-term market forecasts and reports by directing market research collection, analysis, and interpretation of market data.
• Systematically assess promotional effectiveness via data analytics and other feedback channels: adjust promotions accordingly.
• Assist President/CEO in preparing stakeholder reports, annual budget and program of work.
• Ensure work product meets or exceeds industry standards as determined by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).