Reports to:  VP of External Affairs

Interfaces with:   Business Recruitment, Marketing, Engagement and Advocacy Teams

Objective:   Build, maintain and articulate information gathered for the Charlotte Region for internal teams and CLT Alliance investors.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities (Including, but not limited to):

1. Build and maintain a data resource library, perform research, and analyze information pertaining to the Charlotte region using a variety of data sources including proprietary software, federal and state databases, media outlets, and internal data.
2. Help develop and lead the research strategy that promotes the growth of the region’s economy
3. Oversee the preparation of business recruitment project research, including but not limited to workforce analyses, industry demographics, business costs, education outcomes, and real estate developments
4. Supervises the development of data for the Alliance’s research publications, market research, speeches, collateral material and consulting projects
5. Create a strategy for target sector research and annual topics
6. Working knowledge of economic development tools including Lightcast or JobsEQ, federal data sources including U.S. Census, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Reserve databases, State-level data sources, business directory software (i.e. Dunn & Bradstreet Hoovers, Crunchbase) or any other propriety economic software  and other tools necessary to find the data needed and share with clients and stakeholders
7. Communicate with the various economic development agencies in the region and North and South Carolina to learn of specific assets that help to market and promote the region
8. Create and present standardized and customized presentations for senior leadership, investors, and the business community
9. Collaborate with local research leaders and economists
10. Confers with business community and prospects in both written and verbal forms to create strategic partnerships surrounding development and use of data.
11. Communicate with investors and additional resource organizations
12. Participate in and initiate special projects as needed
13. Track and report insights on regional economic growth indicators including population, workforce, demographics, and industry trends.
14. Prepares annual budget, with input and assistance of Vice President, External Affairs. Is responsible for maintaining records of the financial activities of the department as well as managing the budget on a day-to-day basis

Handles all other duties as assigned by the VP, External Affairs.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of economic and demographic data sources, including US Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Advanced experience using Excel and other data organization tools
• Experience using a CRM system such as Salesforce and data visualization software such as Tableau Power BI and Canva.
• Knowledge of databases and tools such as U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lightcast, ArcGIS, Costar, etc.
• Experience with economic impact analysis or related software (i.e. IMPLAN)
• Experience in R, Python or SQL is a plus.
• Creative and leadership minded with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally with strong writing and oral skills

Job Requirements:

• Extremely detail-oriented with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Advanced level skills in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel).
• Candidate must be database-savvy with the ability to learn and adapt quickly to using various databases.
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, geography, statistics or related field, plus five years experience in economic research, economic development, real estate or public administration fields. A master’s in economics, geography, public administration or related field is a plus.
• At least 7 years of experience in a research-related role.

Evaluation of Job Performance:

Bi-annual review with VP of External Affairs.

CLT Alliance

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance champions, serves and works to unite a region comprised of people from all walks of life. We honor diversity, inclusion, and equity internally and externally. We are committed to advancing economic opportunity and prosperity for the Charlotte Region.

Please download and complete the application, forward with cover letter and resume to careers@charlotteregion.com.

Position Overview
The Vice President of Small Business Acceleration is a senior leader responsible for architecting and advancing the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s strategy to accelerate the growth, competitiveness, and market integration of small businesses across the region.

Supporting the leadership team, this role elevates small business engagement from programmatic activity to a core economic strategy, aligning supplier readiness, capital access, and procurement pipelines with the region’s largest employers, infrastructure investments, and policy priorities.

This executive serves as the Alliance’s strategic convener and market connector, ensuring small business acceleration is fully integrated into the organization’s economic development, workforce, and member value strategy.

Primary Responsibilities

Enterprise Strategy & Executive Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of the Alliance’s small-business acceleration strategy, aligned with regional competitiveness goals and Small Business Committee priorities.
• Integrate small business engagement into corporate member priorities, economic development initiatives, and public policy objectives.
• Advise executive leadership and board members on small business trends, ecosystem gaps, and growth opportunities.
• Position the Alliance as the region’s premier platform for demand-driven small business acceleration.

Acceleration Strategy & Program Execution

• Design and scale high-impact initiatives including:
  o Small Business Scale Up Program
  o Contract and procurement readiness pipelines
  o Sector-focused acceleration strategies
  o Supplier and workforce alignment models
• Ensure programs are market-driven, outcome-oriented, and tied to measurable metrics such as revenue growth, procurement wins, capital access, and talent pipeline integration.
• Establish performance dashboards and continuous improvement frameworks.

Employer & Member Integration

• Engage with members of the Small Business Committee, executive roundtables, industry working groups, and cross-sector convenings.
• Partner with corporate and mid-sized members to align small business acceleration with:
  o Supplier engagement goals
  o Infrastructure and capital investments
  o Workforce and apprenticeship pipelines
• Serve as a senior liaison to small business members, creating clear pathways to engagement, value, and growth.

Regional Ecosystem & Public-Private Collaboration

• Build and steward strategic partnerships with:
  o Public-sector agencies
  o Workforce boards
  o Industry associations
  o Community and capital partners
• Align Alliance efforts with regional infrastructure investments, economic mobility initiatives, and industry sector strategies.
• Represent the Alliance in regional and statewide discussions related to entrepreneurship, supplier ecosystems, and inclusive growth.

Operational Stewardship & Financial Sustainability

• Oversee budgets, staffing, and operational systems supporting small-business acceleration.
• Partner with investor relations and communications team to secure investments, grants, and strategic funding.
• Ensure initiatives are scalable, financially sustainable, and operationally sound.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience in economic development, business growth, workforce development, or enterprise ecosystem leadership.
• Strong experience working in and/or with small business enterprises.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-sector partnerships involving corporations, government, and community stakeholders.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into measurable, market-facing outcomes.
• Experience engaging executive-level stakeholders and governing boards.
• Strong financial and operational oversight experience.

Core Competencies

• Market-Driven Strategy & Growth Acceleration
• Executive-Level Partnership Development
• Performance Management & Data-Driven Execution
• Financial Stewardship & Program Sustainability
• High-Level Communication & Influence

Small Business Acceleration Mission

The Small Business Acceleration and Support team exists to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners by leveraging the collective strength of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance community. Through strategic partnerships with leading businesses, non-profit organizations, and public agencies, we provide the resources, mentorship, and connections needed to help start, sustain, and scale small businesses. Our mission is to create an inclusive and thriving regional economy where small businesses have the tools and support to innovate, grow, and succeed.

CLT Alliance

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance champions, serves and works to unite a region comprised of people from all walks of life. We honor diversity, inclusion, and equity internally and externally. We are committed to advancing economic opportunity and prosperity for the Charlotte Region.

Please download and complete the application, forward with cover letter and resume to careers@charlotteregion.com.