Job: Vice President of Business Development - Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (California)

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) is a non-profit organization that unites regional industry and government leaders to attract, retain, and expand diverse businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV). SCVEDC focuses on sectors such as Aerospace & Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital Media & Entertainment, Information Technology, and Medical Devices. The Vice President of Business Development reports directly to the President & CEO and collaborates with colleagues and partners to achieve strategic economic development goals that benefit the community.

Job Overview

The Vice President of Business Development supports SCVEDC's core economic development activities by leading business retention and expansion efforts, supporting business attraction and site selection projects, coordinating employer engagement, and assisting with domestic and foreign investment initiatives. This role is responsible for the execution and coordination of business development initiatives; strategic direction, and external positioning in coordination with the President & CEO.

This role works collaboratively with local businesses, partners, and public agencies to support employer needs, promote investment, and help position the Santa Clarita Valley as a competitive location for business growth. Familiarity with the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County, and the broader Southern California business environment is strongly preferred. The position requires regular in-person attendance at meetings, business visits, and community events throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, as well as periodic travel to national trade shows and industry events. Existing relationships with local employers, public agencies, brokers, or regional partners are a plus. The Vice President of Business Development is an exempt position that exercises independent judgment and discretion in the performance of job duties.

General Responsibilities

Business Retention & Expansion (BRE)

• Conduct regular business retention meetings, check-ins, and on-site visits with local employers to understand operational needs, growth plans, and potential challenges.
• Support businesses considering expansion, consolidation, or relocation within the Santa Clarita Valley by connecting them with appropriate local resources and partners.
• Assist in organizing and administering the Annual Employer Survey and Largest Employers Survey, including outreach, coordination, data collection, and summarizing key findings.
• Track employer feedback and identified issues and coordinate internally and with partners to support timely follow-up.
• Document employer meetings, key discussion points, and follow-up actions within SCVEDC's designated tracking systems and CRM platforms (knowledge of HubSpot is a plus).

Workforce Development & Incentives

• Partner with business leaders to identify workforce training needs and develop strategies to address talent challenges.
• Collaborate with educational institutions to refine curricula and deliver workforce development programs aligned with industry needs.
• Explore new opportunities for workforce incentives and grants to support apprenticeships and preapprenticeship programs.
• Serve as an intermediary for workforce development initiatives, connecting stakeholders to scale apprenticeship programs.
• Provide labor force insights, including data on skilled labor availability, wage rates, and training resources.

Business Attraction & Site Selection

• Support business attraction efforts by responding to RFIs and site selection inquiries.
• Compile and maintain information on available properties, workforce data, infrastructure, utilities, and regional assets.
• Coordinate site tours, meetings, and follow-up materials for prospective businesses and site selectors.
• Assist businesses with navigating zoning, land use, permitting processes, and available local, state, and federal incentive programs.
• Maintain confidentiality for all active projects and related communications.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• Assist with foreign direct investment outreach by supporting inquiries from international firms seeking to establish or expand operations in the Santa Clarita Valley.
• Coordinate with state, regional, and international partners to support inbound and outbound trade missions, investor meetings, and international delegations.
• Support international companies with site selection coordination, workforce considerations, and general market-entry information.

Documentation, Project Tracking & Follow-Through

• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of employer meetings, outreach activities, and active projects.
• Track project status, communications, and next steps to ensure continuity and follow-through.
• Provide regular updates to the President & CEO on assigned activities and project progress.

Industry Support & Partnerships

• Lead industry coalition meetings for key sectors, including Aerospace & Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Medical Devices/Biosciences, and Digital Media & Entertainment.
• Support Aerospace & Defense external partnership engagements as one of SCV's leading growth sectors, including representing SCVEDC at industry committee meetings or industry engagements on behalf of the President & CEO when specifically delegated, and conducting outreach to SCV industry leaders as directed.
• Maintain strong relationships with educational institutions and industry associations to enhance business support services.

Data & Relationship Management

• Conduct surveys and gather data on local businesses to identify trends and address potential challenges.
• Document business interactions and maintain a database through SCVEDC's internal CRM to track engagement, issues, and opportunities for growth.
• Additional responsibilities include managing various industry-led collaboratives, delivering business retention reports to the President & CEO on a regular basis, overseeing the Larger Employers Survey, and leading the planned 2026 Business Survey.

Community & Organizational Representation

• Represent SCVEDC at City Council meetings, industry forums, and partner events.
• Contribute to SCVEDC's newsletter, reports, and key projects.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Five years of experience in economic development or a related field.

Skills & Abilities

This role requires professionalism, accountability, timely communication, accurate recordkeeping, adherence to organizational policies, and the ability to work effectively under the direction of the President & CEO.

• Adhere to SCVEDC policies and procedures related to expenses, reimbursements, travel, recordkeeping, and administrative requirements.
• Submit accurate and timely documentation required for reimbursements and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal staff, partners, and leadership in a transparent and professional manner.
• Maintain discretion and confidentiality regarding internal discussions, personnel matters, and sensitive business or site selection projects.
• Communicate clearly and responsively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct all external outreach, communications, and follow-up in alignment with SCVEDC priorities.
• Ensure commitments made to employers, partners, or stakeholders are consistent with approved organizational messaging and direction.
• Ability to effectively present information and provide reliable client service.
• Experience with internal CRM platforms, management, reporting and dashboards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and analytical abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to quickly learn specialized software.

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting.
• Standing for prolonged durations during events
• Close visual acuity for computer use and reading documents
• Moving light office equipment or materials
• Repetitive motions (e.g., typing, using a mouse, writing)
• Moving objects up to 20 pounds.

Compensation

The target salary for this position is $110,000-$145,000 (negotiable based on experience).

Procedure for Candidacy

No relocation assistance will be provided. For consideration, all candidates must apply through this job board with their resume and availability.

For more information about SCVEDC, visit www.scvedc.org.