Chief Economic Officer

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

Position: Chief Economic Officer 

Organization: Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC)  

Location: Baltimore, MD  

Reporting Relationship: President & CEO 

Website: https://gbc.org/ 

ABOUT THE GBC 

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region on equitable economic growth and civic issues. With the merger of the GBC and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, the organization is advancing a vibrant, future-ready Greater Baltimore region. The GBC Team—composed of experts in public policy, research, economic development, and communications— supports more than 400 partners to align the region’s resources to equitably increase opportunity and deliver a thriving economic environment for the region’s diverse communities. 

In May 2024, GBC released “All In | 2035 Ten-Year Economic Opportunity Plan.” To assist in this initiative, GBC engaged TIP Strategies (TIP), an Austin-based consulting firm with a national portfolio of strategy work focused on economic development, talent, equity, and organizational development. The firm’s three-phase planning model—discovery, opportunity, and implementation—guided the 11-month process. 

Our engagement included more than 200 partners and economic stakeholders, including: 

• 10-Year Plan Steering Committee 

• Roundtable sessions with regional county partners, and representatives from the real estate, community, and industrial development sectors 

• Working group sessions on sector-specific topics 

• Survey of site selectors to understand how they perceive the Region and how that drives their decision making 

• Coordination with Baltimore Development Corporation, Downtown Partnership, the State, and all six regional Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) 

• Briefings with GBC’s Executive Officers, Executive Committee, and optional sessions open to all partners and board members 

TIP also undertook extensive quantitative analysis of the region’s economy to understand where opportunities lie and what barriers need to be brought down to realize them. 

About the Plan: 
TIP authored the Plan with significant input from staff and strategic partners. The report is written for collective action and outlines four guiding principles: (1) Global Ambition; (2) Future-focused; (3) Equitable Growth; and (4) Regional Collaboration 

The Plan focuses on five key opportunity areas: (1) Regional Innovation Ecosystem; (2) Export and Industrial Infrastructure; (3) Coordinated Business Expansion and Attraction; (4) Physical Development and Quality-of-Life, and (5) Workforce 

It highlights seven foundational growth industries and three long-term opportunity sectors: (1) Life Sciences and Predictive Technologies, (2) Logistics, and (3) Creativity and Culture 

Identifies priority hubs for development in the region, which requires coordinated alignment of economic development efforts and place-focused investments 

Lastly, the Plan defines GBC’s role (Lead, Partner, or Support) and clarifies the existing and focused capabilities for the organizations’ long-term capacity. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Chief Economic Officer will: 

• Lead the development of the economic investment function of the organization, primarily to support investment attraction strategies to grow the regional economy.  

• Cultivate a pipeline of investment opportunities and implement the successful marketing of the Baltimore Region to galvanize new economic growth and expansion at a local, domestic, and international level.  

• Ensure high-level strategic execution of the Regional Innovation Office, including execution of the governance, operationalization and global brand development of the Baltimore Tech Hub 

• Be a thought partner with the GBC management team to inform economic investment strategic initiatives and decisions. 

• Strategically leverage market research and data to pinpoint obstacles and opportunities to strengthen the regional economy, 

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional team to develop creative ideas for addressing challenges and capitalizing on opportunities 

• Engage in complex projects and initiatives that require high-level oversight and unconventional solutions 

• Represent the CEO on behalf of the organization when called upon by the CEO. 

• Manage external contracts and contractors working on GBC projects. 

• Work collaboratively at all levels across the organization in support of mission execution and team success. 

• Self-start improvement initiatives beyond directed efforts. 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships across the organization and with external stakeholders, including Consortium members and elected officials. 

• Be a vocal and visible champion of the GBC culture and values. 

• Participate in a variety of other activities and duties as assigned. 

Requirements

• Five or more years in an executive leadership role in economic development, business or foreign direct investment attraction, or industrial real estate marketing and attraction. 

• Demonstrated success developing and executing a business attraction and retention strategy. 

• Knowledge of local, state and/or federal government business incentives and policy. 

• Experience winning and executing game-changing federal opportunities. 

• Ability to use independent judgment and to impart information to a range of internal and external organizations and constituencies. 

• Skilled in economic brand marketing and messaging. 

• Excellent customer service skills. 

• Proven problem solving and business investment package development skills. 

• Advanced ability to convene stakeholders and influence outcomes. 

• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals. 

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills. 

• Strong organizational skills 

• Desire and ability to work with cognitively diverse teams to produce high-quality, results-oriented work products as a motivational leader. 
• Bachelor's degree required. MBA, MPA or other master’s degree in a relevant field preferred. Exceptional experience may be substitute for educational requirement. 

Benefits

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

In addition to benefits including health, vision, dental, and life insurance, paid leave and a 401(k) plan, the GBC offers opportunities for professional development.