Title: Chief Economic Development Officer

Employee Classification: Exec Dir Economic Engagement

Campus: University of North Texas

Division: UNT-Office of the President

SubDivision-Department: UNT-Office of the President

Department: UNT-Office of the President-100000

Job Location: Denton

Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: TRS Eligible

About Us - Values Overview:

Department Summary

As one of the most dynamic economies in the United States, the Dallas-Fort Worth region faces fundamental challenges in developing skilled talent at the necessary scale and speed to meet current and emerging workforce needs. Personnel for the Texas Talent Insights Accelerator connect employers, educational institutions, chambers of commerce, economic development partners, and partner organizations to address systemic and structural challenges in understanding our regional talent and workforce development.

Position Overview

Serves as the strategic leader of the Texas Talent Insights Accelerator, a regional collaborative intelligence network designed to address the widening gaps between current and emerging workforce needs in North Texas. This role focuses on building and managing a high-performing team, cultivating executive-level connections across sectors, and developing data-driven intelligence products that serve the entire region's higher education institutions, employers, and workforce development ecosystem. Serves as the primary liaison with industry leaders, aligned community organizations, and leadership across multiple higher education institutions, ensuring that research inputs are effectively collected and that outputs are effectively communicated and made available to all interested partners. While housed at UNT, the accelerator is designed to serve the entire region. Reporting to the Office of the President, this position will drive regional talent development efforts and contribute to North Texas's continued economic growth and competitiveness.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in public policy, communication, business, economic development, or a related field and 10 years of experience in leadership roles with a focus on relationship building, project management, external communications, reporting, and team management; or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated success in designing and launching new initiatives from concept to implementation
• Proven track record in convening cross-sector stakeholder groups and experience with managing a variety of stakeholders with differing interests
• Experience in creating and managing labor market intelligence centers or similar data-driven workforce development initiatives
• Strong team building and management skills with experience leading diverse teams of analysts, specialists, and support staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven record of managing executive-level relationships with industry, government, and academic leaders
• Ability to think strategically and develop and implement complex plans that incorporate dynamic conditions and a diverse set of stakeholders and interests
• Expert knowledge of economic development, workforce development, and innovation best practices, preferably within a university, community college, or corporate setting
• Experienced public speaker and convener with ability to facilitate industry roundtables and stakeholder meetings

Preferred Qualifications

• CEcD certification through the International Economic Development Council
• Experience with labor market intelligence tools and analytics platforms (Lightcast, JobsEQ, Burning Glass, ESRI/GIS)
• Experience with or strong understanding of workforce development, state agencies, regional economic development, and HR practices
• Familiarity with enterprise technology solutions and data analytics platforms
• Deep understanding and affinity for the dynamics of higher education institutions and/or experience in economic/workforce development programs
• Familiarity with DFW regional economic and workforce development landscape

Required License/Registration/Certifications

Job Duties:

 Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Build and lead a small, high-performing team of employer engagement specialists, data analysts, communications professionals, and support staff

• Define and steer the overall strategic, research, and communications agenda for the accelerator in alignment with regional workforce needs and multi-institutional partnerships

• Generate real-time, actionable intelligence about current and emerging regional industry demands and talent pipelines

• Lead team through organizational growth phases while maintaining operational excellence and preparing for organizational sustainability and scaling 

Strategic Partnership Development & Management

• Lead comprehensive partnership strategy development with higher education institutions, industry leaders, national organizations, philanthropic foundations, and government entities

• Manage relationships with external vendors supplying data sets and support services

• Develop strategies to position the accelerator as a key regional resource for workforce intelligence and economic development 

Data-Driven Intelligence & Analytics

• Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive labor market intelligence capabilities utilizing advanced analytics platforms

• Manage data analysts and research staff to ensure delivery of real-time, actionable intelligence about current and emerging regional industry demands and talent pipelines

• Establish and maintain data partnerships with higher education institutions, employers, economic development organizations, and workforce development ecosystem partners

• Manage employer engagement specialists to ensure data collection aligns with industry partnership strategies

• Develop data products and intelligence reports that inform program design and curricular decisions across regional higher education institutions 

Communications & Convening Responsibilities

• Represent the accelerator at executive meetings and convenings with higher education leaders, policymakers, and industry leaders 

• Oversee the creation of all written products, strategic reports, and messaging outputs, ensuring clarity, consistency, and impact

• Increase engagement with businesses and employers through a consistent, coordinated experience working with education partners across the region 

Higher Education Ecosystem & Regional Impact

• Partner closely with higher education leaders who will use accelerator data and products to inform program design, curricular decisions, and other institutional operations

• Support regional higher education institutions in expanding their workforce development capabilities through data-driven insights

• Monitor and analyze economic trends and identify opportunities for growth and development in the North Texas region and nationwide 

Physical Requirements:

Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Hazards:

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm with flexibility for evening and weekend events as required

Driving University Vehicle:

No

Security Sensitive:

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions:

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits:

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement:

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit -- and takes actions to prevent -- discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking) and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities, facilities and employment practices. The University of North Texas System promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. The University of North Texas System also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist or participate in an investigative proceeding or hearing.