Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, responsiveness, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
Promote thoughtful cross-team collaboration and avoid operational silos across the division.
Ensure effective allocation of staff resources, workloads, budgets, and operational priorities across teams and initiatives.
Identify opportunities to strengthen organizational structure, workflows, processes, and team effectiveness over time.
Maintain situational awareness regarding major projects, organizational priorities, and pipeline activity to ensure Research Division efforts remain aligned with business needs and organizational objectives.
Support the development and continuous refinement of Virginia’s industry, competitiveness, and business value proposition materials and related strategic resources.
Strengthen operational processes, quality assurance, workflow coordination, prioritization approaches, and service delivery models across teams.
Ensure high-quality, timely execution of project support deliverables and analytical products supporting VEDP’s business development and marketing efforts.
Foster a culture of innovation and thoughtful experimentation around technology, analytics, automation, and operational improvement.
Oversee Research Division support for organizational surveys, pipeline analytics, operational reporting, and other performance management initiatives.
Support organizational initiatives requiring cross-functional coordination, strategic analysis, operational problem-solving, or executive-level communication support.
Research capabilities are increasingly viewed as a strategic differentiator for VEDP, helping strengthen Virginia’s value proposition through distinctive insight and operational excellence.
Requirements
Responsibilities Leadership & Division Management Lead and manage a multidisciplinary division of approximately 25 staff spanning analytics, client communications, business presentations, GIS, application development and Salesforce administration.
Technology & Data Systems Provide strategic oversight for VEDP’s Salesforce CRM platform, GIS capabilities, application development efforts, and related technology-enabled operational tools.
Experience Required At least 10 years of progressively responsible
experience in research, analytics, economic development, strategy, consulting, operations, technology-enabled business functions, or related fields. Significant leadership and people-management
Experience managing or partnering closely with analytical, operational, and/or technology-oriented teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and persuasively for executive audiences.
Strong organizational judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to balance competing priorities and operate effectively in fast-moving environments.
Experience operating in a fast-paced, client-service-oriented or project-driven environment.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and building collaborative relationships across teams and stakeholders.
Operational management experience, including process improvement, workflow management, resource allocation, and organizational coordination.
High degree of initiative and accountability.
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving, high-profile environments.
Ability to maintain composure and perspective under pressure.
Technology, analytics, CRM, GIS, and application development capabilities are increasingly integrated into broader organizational strategy and operational improvement efforts.
Education Bachelor’s degree in economics, business, public policy, statistics, geography, information systems, communications, management, or related field required.
Advanced degree preferred.
Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter.
A valid Virginia driver’s license and ability to obtain a passport is required.
Benefits
Compensation Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Contact
All candidates must apply through our website https://www.vedp.org/careers.
Applicants requiring more information or requiring assistance may contact VEDP Human Resources at 1-804-545-5634 or vedphr@VEDP.org. TDD 1-800-828-1120.
Additional details
VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH Richmond, Virginia Position Overview The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) seeks a Vice President, Research to provide strategic, operational, and cultural leadership for VEDP’s Research Division.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications & Research, this role leads a diverse, multidisciplinary division of approximately 25 staff responsible for conducting solutions-oriented business analysis supporting business investment efforts, communicating Virginia’s value proposition through compelling deliverables, and delivering technology-enabled operational support across the organization.
This is a highly collaborative, player-coach leadership role requiring a combination of strategic thinking, operational management, analytical capability, organizational judgment, and people leadership.
The Vice President must be capable of contributing substantively to high-profile initiatives and analytical work while also building effective systems, strengthening processes, supporting team development, and ensuring the division operates effectively at a high level across a large volume of concurrent workstreams.
The Vice President will interact professionally, collaboratively, and strategically with colleagues across all divisions of VEDP, helping align Research capabilities with organizational priorities and continuously evolving how the division delivers value to internal and external stakeholders. Core
Provide clear direction, priorities, and expectations for the division while fostering a collaborative, high-trust, mission-oriented culture.
Provide ongoing coaching, performance management, professional development, and organizational support for direct reports and broader team members.
Help shape and strengthen organizational culture by modeling maturity, professionalism, sound judgment, authenticity, and collaborative leadership.
Strategic Insight & Analysis Serve as a strategic thought partner to VEDP leadership on issues related to economic development, competitiveness, industry trends, business climate dynamics, and organizational strategy.
Provide high-level analytical support, strategic framing, and problem-solving support for executive leadership, major initiatives, and priority projects.