Job Description:

Place matters. Talented people with unique skills and innovative ideas want to carry out their business vision in a place that provides an ecosystem where growth flourishes. In Oregon, we don't need to manufacture our own attractions. We have a breathtaking public coastline, striking mountain peaks, lush forests and high desert. These core assets birthed Oregon's natural-resource based industries. Today our state’s economy is as diverse as our landscape and it could not be possible without our intentional focus on continued growth within each of our local regions.

We are looking for the next leader of Business Oregon, someone who has the leadership, skills, passion, and drive to create prosperous opportunities for all Oregon communities, in both the metropolitan and rural areas of our state. Our next leader must have the skills and ability to build relationships and engage with veteran, women, and minority owned businesses and entrepreneurs to help them bring their visions to life here in Oregon.

As the next leader of Business Oregon your role will be to help foster retention and expansion of existing Oregon businesses within traded sectors, while implementing strategies to create a dynamic startup and entrepreneurial environment. Your business savvy will aid you in growing existing industry clusters while complimenting this work by recruiting companies outside the state to come to Oregon and fill supply chain gaps.

Part of your portfolio of duties will also be to oversee Business Oregon’s infrastructure finance programs through its infrastructure division, while reporting to an Infrastructure Finance Authority Board that oversees these investments. These programs support local municipalities for water systems, wastewater systems, port development, roads and other infrastructure needs that serve as a precursor for business development and meeting community needs.

What you will do!

As the Agency Director for Business Oregon you will have the opportunity to serve as a representative of the Governor in determining direction and policy in areas with economic impact to the state. You’ll work closely with elected officials on critical business development within the state of Oregon and lead the development of the 2018-2022 Strategic plan for the agency which lays out five critical priorities. Those are:

• Grow small- and middle-market companies
• Cultivate rural economic stability
• Innovate Oregon’s economy
• Advance economic opportunity for underrepresented people
• Ensure an inclusive, transparent, and fiscally healthy agency.

In additional the development of the Strategic plan you will also have the opportunity to:

• Market Oregon's global competitiveness and drive the retention, expansion and recruitment of businesses to our state.
• Over see an arts portfolio which includes the Oregon Arts Commission and Cultural Trust which promotes Oregon’s cultural resources inside and outside the state.
• Utilize your ability to develop positive and long lasting relationships with private sector, economic development organizations, other state agencies, members of the academic community, and other state and local government entities in order to develop state-wide economic and community development initiatives and policies and to use all available resources in the effective promotion of Oregon's business environment.
• Oversee the Business Finance section which partners with the public and private sector to aid with retention, expansion and recruitment opportunities for Oregon-based businesses.
• Regularly meet with and serve of different advisory councils and commissions with statutory responsibilities related to Business Oregon.

What’s in it for you?

Our mission is to invest in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. As the person at the forefront leading this cutting edge work, you will have the opportunity to:

• Work with leading minds in government and industry to create new opportunities for business growth and development in Oregon.
• Act as an advocate and catalyst to foster an ecosystem that will allow small business to flourish within our state.
• Work for an agency that lives and breathes the mission, vision and values of Business Oregon.
• Perform in a dynamic environment with a diverse portfolio of business services where each day offers new and interesting opportunities.