New Castle County Chamber of Commerce (NCCCC)

Job Title: Director, Economic Development

Reports To: President & CEO

Department: Economic Development

Position Type: Full-Time, Hybrid Schedule (Minimum 3 days/week in-office + in-person events)

Salary Range: $65,000 – $80,000 annually (commensurate with experience) + Benefits

Position Overview

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative Director of Economic Development to join our team. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Director leads the strategic direction, operational execution, and stakeholder management of the New Castle County Economic Partnership (NCCEP). This role focuses on driving regional economic prosperity through a proactive, balanced approach to business retention and expansion (BRE), business attraction, site selector outreach, and lead generation.

The Director serves as a primary liaison and convener across county/state government agencies, higher education, corporate leadership, and regional economic development partners. Key priorities include advancing business development pipelines, informing local public policy, securing public/private grant funding and program sponsorships, and guiding the strategic vision for flagship economic forums and initiatives.

Responsibilities

1. New Castle County Economic Partnership Operations & Strategic Leadership

Partnership Management. Direct all operational, strategic, and convening activities for the New Castle County Economic Partnership (NCCEP), including managing quarterly meetings, setting annual deliverable calendars, issuing ecosystem advisories, and maintaining sponsor relations.
Government Liaison. Maintain consistent, strategic communication with New Castle County Government officials and state economic agencies, serving as a Chamber point-person on shared deliverables and regional policy.
Grants & Public Funding Administration. Identify, write, and manage public and private grant opportunities (including county, state, and federal sources such as ARPA or EDA grants). Oversee compliance, reporting, and administration to support strategic economic initiatives.
Event Oversight. Guide the high-level strategy for economic development events, leveraging the Events team for planning, communications, logistics, and on-site execution.
Budget & Performance Management. Track departmental KPIs, manage allocated budgets, and deliver regular performance updates to executive leadership and stakeholder boards.

2. Business Retention, Expansion (BRE) & Talent Alignment

Retention & Expansion (BRE). Conduct proactive outreach and executive site visits with existing New Castle County businesses to identify growth opportunities, understand pain points, and assist with retention challenges.
Business Attraction & Recruitment. Serve as a key point of contact for business attraction inquiries, site selectors, and expanding companies evaluating relocation or expansion within New Castle County.
Proactive Lead Generation & Partnerships. Actively build business recruitment pipelines through close collaboration with state-level economic development partners, leveraging regional marketing initiatives and joint outreach efforts.
Data & Pipeline Management. Maintain accurate tracking of site inquiries, commercial real estate listings, business development leads, and BRE metrics to evaluate regional economic health and project impact.
Workforce & Resource Connection. Facilitate connections between employers, educational institutions, workforce development agencies, and financing programs to support talent pipelines and capital access.

Qualifications

4-6+ years of progressive leadership experience in economic development, chamber of commerce operations, BRE, and/or government affairs.
Bachelor’s degree in Economic Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or equivalent experience (technical economic development credentials are a plus).
Deep understanding of Delaware’s economic landscape, legislative processes, municipal/county government structures, and industry clusters.
Demonstrated experience or technical familiarity with grant writing, compliance, and managing public funds (e.g., state, federal/EDA/ARPA, or local grant programs).
Excellent written, verbal, and executive presentation skills; comfortable engaging with C-suite executives, elected officials, and regional business leaders.

Work Requirements

Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation for local travel.
Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 lbs for event and meeting setup.
Occasional early morning or evening hours are required for events and meetings.

Employment Details

The Chamber is committed to internal and market equity. In addition to a competitive salary range of $65,000 – $80,000, we offer a robust perks package:

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
Flexible Schedule Perks (including a Monthly Mental Health Day and Modified Summer/December Friday Hours to support work-life balance)
Collaborative Hybrid Work Environment (Wilmington Riverfront office base)

About Us

Our Mission. Simple – accelerate business growth. Since 1922, Delaware’s businesses have leveraged the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce to build awareness, grow revenue, and develop new business relationships. The Chamber helps you grow your business through networking, business growth training, referral groups, marketing opportunities, and more. The Chamber advocates for our members in the local and state government and works closely with elected officials to create economic prosperity and enhance the quality of life in the community.

Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

TO APPLY: Please email your cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Chief of Staff Danielle Murabito at murabitod@ncccc.com.

New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

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Economic Development Director