Chief trade and development officer

Portland, OR, United States

The Port of Portland is hiring for a Chief Trade & Economic Development Officer!

About Us At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have – our three airports, four marine terminals, five business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them – to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region.

Our mission is to build shared prosperity for the region through travel, trade and economic development. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone’s life better. And we’ll use our power and influence to pull down barriers, unlock new opportunities, ensure more people share in our region’s success and include those who have been excluded in the past. With YOUR help – together with our partners, customers, and community – we’ll help drive meaningful change!

About the Role

We are seeking an outstanding leader to become our next Chief Trade & Economic Development Officer (CTEDO). The CTEDO should have a proven track record for providing strategic leadership and business direction to internal and external customers, while leading with integrity and a commitment to equity and inclusion. The successful candidate will be an authentic leader and a big picture thinker offering enterprise-wide solutions. They should be analytical, results oriented and collaborative in nature, and will serve as a thought partner with the executive leadership team and Port commissioners.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Trade & Economic Development Officer (CTEDO) oversees all functions of the Port’s General Fund business line, driving strategic outcomes aligned to the Port’s mission of shared prosperity through trade, travel and economic development. The CTEDO will develop and execute strategies to enhance trade, promote economic growth and optimize all elements of the general fund to ensure a sustainable cost structure and provide regional and statewide leadership on matters related to trade, industrial lands, economic development, and maritime commerce. The CTEDO leads a highly skilled team of five department directors and a team of up to 125 members that comprise the Business Development & Properties, Economic Development, Harbor Environmental, Marine Operations and Navigation functions.

For consideration, please complete the entire online employment application and be sure to include a detailed resume and a cover letter that demonstrates why you would be the best person for the position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Trade & Economic Development Officer contributes to the organization’s success by demonstrating Port values while successfully achieving or exceeding performance goals and objectives for the following major job functions.

Contribute to the strategic and business direction of the Port and provide thought leadership and collaborative support to the Commission, Executive Director and colleagues on the Executive Team. Engage effectively to assure business and strategic decisions reflect thoughtful analysis and input.

In partnership with finance, oversee the management and strategic planning of the Port’s general fund to ensure financial health and sustainability, and ensure a sustainable cost structure. Identify and pursue funding opportunities that may include grants, private/public partnerships and investments to support organizational initiatives.

Provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure sustainable economic growth and development. Drive internal and external leadership of the Port’s international trade and economic development programs and initiatives to create new business opportunities, foster sustainable growth and regional shared prosperity, with a focus on increasing access to quality jobs and wealth for Black, Indigenous, people of color, low income and differently-abled communities. Promote and facilitate international trade activities to expand market access and increase import and export opportunities.

Maximize the Port’s industrial real estate portfolio to assure strategic planning goals and sustainable financial results are met for the Port and the region. Develop Port assets for maximum economic outcomes with clear metrics focused on quality jobs and wealth generation. Lead efforts to leverage public and private sector investments in Port development projects that are relevant and responsive to market demand and generate economic uplift for communities experiencing widening income and wealth disparities. Create financially sustainable pathways reflecting Port General Fund capital constraints and maximizing grant support.

Maximize the Port’s marine business portfolio to achieve financial sustainability while expanding and growing Oregon’s access to global markets. Develop, drive and assure a more sustainable path for the container business and be willing to lead change to assure improvement in the Port’s General Fund.

Provide external and internal leadership for the Port’s navigation program including capital asset allocation, operations, contractual guidance with the Corps of Engineers associated with Dredge Oregon operations.

Direct the work of the Port’s Lower Willamette Program to achieve comprehensive goals related to cost management, liability management, cleanup project implementation, creative financing to assure a financially sustainable path over the long term.

Minimum Qualifications Successful candidates must be visionary, mission driven and skilled at using sound judgement, in order to make thoughtful and practical recommendations to executive leadership, the Commission and stakeholders. In addition to being strategic and tactical, the CTEDO must be a leader with integrity, values and humility. Of primary importance, the Port is seeking a CTEDO who embraces an authentic servant leadership style, possesses strong emotional intelligence and understands and prioritizes the critical importance that people play in building a successful organization.

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Political Science, Marketing or Real Estate Development, or the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience.

At least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible and proven senior-level management and leadership experience within a government, private sector, or non-profit organization, preferably leading multiple departments and preferably in at least one of the disciplines this position oversees, such as business and economic development, international trade, industrial lands, and maritime commerce.

Demonstrated knowledge:

Proven track record of exceptional leadership and strategic planning in a complex, multidisciplinary environment.

Strong working knowledge and solid understanding in the following areas: commercial development and maritime activities; public, private, partnerships; financial acumen; processes and practices; regulatory matters with a focus on environmental compliance and cleanup; labor practices and trends; global economics, business, and international trade. In addition, business development, industrial lands, maritime commerce, economic development, real estate, and public policy.

Demonstrated skills: Proven and inclusive people leader who is adept at assessing, recruiting and retaining exceptional talent through motivating, coaching and mentoring team members in a manner that promotes collaborations, accountability, professional development and growth.

Demonstrated commitment to valuing differences among individuals and a passion for being inclusive. Ability to lead and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and advocate for cultural change and openness to new ideals and approaches to building an outstanding and high-performing team.

Ability for long-term planning, execution of complex commercial strategies and visioning, international trade, economic development, industrial lands, marketing, real estate development coupled with maritime commerce and environmental complexity. Strong analytical ability to interpret economic, trade and financial data.

Ability to multi-task on a broad range of complex issues at any given time. Strong negotiation skills and problem solving. Ability to manage people, coalitions, and operate at the technical detail level with strong understanding of the big picture.

Proven leadership and management in carrying out the vision, mission, goals and objectives; skill in communicating effectively with individuals or groups across a spectrum of technical capabilities; plan, organize and direct work and resources to achieve desired outcomes; ability to work effectively as part of a management team.

Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with executive leadership, senior management, and staff, understanding the dynamics and factors influencing strategy and consider future impact when weighing decision. Ability to think creatively, strategically and analytically to identify issues and solve problems with executive-level skill.

Ability to identify and analyze organizational problems, and determine effective forward-thinking management solutions, act decisively, and show good judgement. Establish and maintain productive relationships internally and externally. Skilled in providing leadership and direction applying ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities.

SELECTION PROCESS:

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of education, training and experience of submitted application packets along with a detailed resume and thorough cover letter, will take place by Human Resources the week of July 8, 2024.

2. A Hiring Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials including resume and cover letter.

3. Our goal is to schedule oral panel interviews with candidates that successfully passed the SME evaluation step as soon as possible.

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