Overview
Greater New Orleans, Inc. is the nonprofit regional economic development organization serving the 10-parish Greater New Orleans region. Our mission is to create a region with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life, for everyone. The ultimate indication of our success will be the presence of a robust, accessible, and growing middle class in Southeast Louisiana where our children and grandchildren can live and prosper.
 
The Business Engagement Director plays an essential support role in engaging GNO, Inc.’s corporate investors and other priority regional businesses in GNO, Inc.’s target sectors. As such, the Business Engagement Director will support the Senior Vice President of Advancement, as well as the Vice President of Growth and Retention. This role requires knowledge of fundamental sales or fundraising principles, excellent communication skills, and high attention to detail.
 
In addition to the specific duties of the Business Engagement Director detailed below, GNO, Inc. operates with a cross-functional mentality. It is a job with both significant responsibility and reward and is an opportunity to play an important role in the economic future of the Greater New Orleans region. The Business Engagement Director reports to the Senior Vice President of Advancement.
 
Job Responsibilities
- Develop deep familiarity with Greater New Orleans businesses, particularly GNO, Inc. investors, and how their interests correlate to GNO, Inc.’s day‐to‐day work and long‐term priorities
- Act as the internal lead for GNO, Inc. corporate investor engagement, monitoring involvement in GNO, Inc. and helping to provide value that supports business stability and growth
- Meet with an average of 4-5 businesses each week, comprised of GNO, Inc. investors and other priority regional businesses in GNO, Inc.’s target sectors; coordinate necessary follow-up action items with the appropriate GNO, Inc. staffers
- Develop a pipeline of prospective GNO, Inc. investors, working closely with the Sr. VP of Advancement and other GNO, Inc. staff members to cultivate and expand the GNO, Inc. investor base
- Function as one of GNO, Inc.’s CRM (Salesforce) leads, supporting and guiding effective use of the system for tracking business engagement
- On occasion, assist the VP of Business Retention & Growth with project management for retention and expansion projects
- Play an integral role in GNO, Inc. communications to maximize business engagement, including:
    - Management and execution of GNO, Inc. investor communications and maintaining a calendar of events; actively seeking opportunities to highlight and engage GNO, Inc. investors
    - Coordination with GNO, Inc. communications staff to highlight relevant announcements from GNO, Inc. investors on social media channels
- Support the development, solicitation, and fulfillment of sponsorship benefits for GNO, Inc. signature events as a function of business engagement

Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree required
 
Experience: 7+ years of full‐time work experience in fundraising, economic development, business, sales, and/or marketing
 
Skills, Background, and Capabilities:
The ideal candidate will possess many of these professional and personal abilities and attributes:
- Demonstrated success in fundraising, economic development, business, sales, and/or marketing
- Experience, confidence, independence, and self‐starting with a strong sense of urgency
- Strong written and verbal communications skills
- Ability to work independently and make intelligent decisions
- Intermediate to advanced‐level knowledge of Salesforce and MS Office products
- Produces accurate work while meeting deadlines, with extraordinary attention to detail
- Works in a team-oriented, goals-driven organization that emphasizes a friendly culture and takes ownership of work responsibilities
- Ability to travel to all 10 parishes across the GNO, Inc. region
- Love of Greater New Orleans!
 
Allowable Substitutions: A combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the required knowledge and skills for the position may be considered in lieu of education and/or experience at GNO, Inc.’s discretion.
 
Compensation
Compensation commensurate with experience; generous benefits package available; potential for performance bonuses. 
 

Greater New Orleans, Inc. believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to the success of the company; that contribution should not be limited by the work identified assigned tasks, and overall responsibilities. Each employee is expected to offer his/her talents, expertise, and services whenever necessary to ensure the achievement of organization goals.
Interested candidates are asked to apply via WorkNOLA.com.