Vice President

Virginia Economic Devel Partnership•Richmond, VA

4d•$165,000 - $190,000

About The Position

VEDP seeks a Vice President of Existing Business Engagement to serve as a senior leader responsible for driving existing corporate engagement, business retention and expansion, workforce alignment, aftercare to new businesses to Virginia and market-responsive solutions. Reporting to the Chief of Talent and Workforce Strategy, this role leads VEDP’s Regional Talent Solutions and Business Outreach team, which cultivates and strengthens relationships with Virginia businesses, translates business insights into actionable strategies, and fosters cross-sector partnerships that advance the Commonwealth’s economic priorities. The Vice President ensures that Virginia companies can access the talent, workforce, and resources needed to expand, compete, and invest. This role operates at the intersection of economic development, workforce strategy, education alignment, industry engagement, and public-sector collaboration. The Vice President must combine strategic leadership, operational rigor, analytical judgment, and people management to execute high-impact initiatives, strengthen organizational performance, and oversee a broad portfolio of concurrent priorities. This position requires a commercially-minded leader who can coordinate delivery with internal and external partners. The Vice President serves as VEDP’s lead executive for identifying business needs across the Commonwealth’s regions and industries, converting employer insights into strategic action, and connecting companies to solutions. The Vice President is expected to continuously improve how the organization delivers value to existing employers and the Commonwealth to support Virginia’s standing as the Top State for Talent and the Best State for Business.

Requirements

At least 10 years of relevant experience in positions of progressive responsibility in economic development, workforce strategy, business operations, public policy, or related fields
Experience leading teams and statewide initiatives
Demonstrated success building high-value partnerships across business, education, workforce, and government sectors
Strong executive communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building capabilities
Track record of translating strategy into operational execution and measurable business outcomes
Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed environment where responsibility and ownership are often shared across teams
Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.
A valid Virginia driver’s license and ability to obtain a passport is required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Virginia's economic development and workforce ecosystem
Experience in business retention, expansion strategy, and employer-facing talent solutions
Experience briefing executive leadership and elected officials

Responsibilities

Lead a focused statewide business engagement strategy that strengthens relationships with key Virginia employers, priority growth sectors, and companies with significant expansion potential
Maintain executive-level relationships with business leaders and serve as a trusted connector to VEDP leadership, regional partners, elected officials, and the Governor’s Administration
Oversee Regional Talent Solutions and Business Outreach Managers by setting clear outreach priorities, engagement standards, and performance expectations
Ensure company engagement is disciplined, coordinated, and consistently delivered across all regions of the Commonwealth
Shape employer-driven regional talent strategies that support business attraction, expansion, retention, and long-term competitiveness
Lead VEDP’s statewide aftercare approach, ensuring companies announcing new or expanding operations in Virginia receive coordinated support from project announcement through production and long-term growth
Promote concierge-level service and proactive issue resolution so companies experience Virginia as a responsive, committed partner
Monitor project progress, employer needs, and emerging risks, and coordinate timely follow-up with internal teams, regional partners, and state leadership as appropriate
Work closely with other VEDP teams who work on talent, such as Virginia Talent Accelerator, Virginia Office of Education Economics, InternshipsVA, and sector teams
Serve as a senior liaison to regional and local economic development organizations, workforce partners, and industry associations to align business needs with responsive supports and referrals
Develop executive-level briefings and strategic recommendations for VEDP leadership, partner agencies, and the Governor’s Office based on employer insights, regional intelligence, and emerging business risks
Strengthen regional ecosystems by connecting businesses to scalable solutions that support growth, retention, and workforce competitiveness