INTEGRATED MARKETING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Overview                                                                                                      

The Integrated Marketing Executive Director is a senior-level manager and member of the Louisiana Economic Development Office of Strategic Communications. This position provides strategic and creative direction in the planning and implementation of the department’s marketing and branding program and supports all LED teams and initiatives with marketing campaigns. The executive director leads a team responsible for designing and executing marketing strategies and tactics that are aimed at fostering economic growth and diversification across the state. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies that amplify strategic messaging promoting our state as an attractive location for business investment and expansion. The executive director plays a key role in advancing LED’s vision of positioning Louisiana to win. This pivotal role requires a blend of marketing expertise, knowledge of economic development principles, and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders. This position supervises a creative, digital and events staff in addition to student workers and contractors. LED offers a dynamic, high-profile, fast-paced environment where a strategic, integrated, action-oriented approach to marketing is the standard.

Responsibilities                                                                                                  

The Integrated Marketing Executive Director has six major responsibility areas:

1.    Creative direction/project management: Creative direction, integration and implementation of marketing projects and       tactics, as  defined by LED’s annual Marketing Strategic Plan.

2.    Strategic Outreach: Planning, management and implementation of LED’s positioning to win strategy to in-state and out-of-state stakeholders and influencers including site selection consultants, rankings organizations, economic development influencers and business leaders.

3.    Business development support: Department-wide support across a wide range of business development efforts including lead generation activities, proposal and presentation preparation, trade show and conference participation, and events in addition to strategic marketing support and management of workforce recruitment efforts through traditional and new media.

4.    Strategic planning: Strategic planning and development of the department’s annual Marketing Strategic Plan, business plan initiatives and oversight of all facets of the LED brand (positioning and visual identity) and Louisiana’s business image.

5.    Leadership and administration: Leadership, management and development of internal staff and external contractor relationships, including managing the Marketing request for proposal process, agency contracts, resource allocation and budget/invoice processing, and tracking progress against division goals.

6.    Best practices: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, economic data, and technological advancements to ensure that LED’s marketing strategies are on the leading edge.

 Qualifications                                                                                                         

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, mass communication, journalism, English or related field. Master’s degree in marketing, mass communication or related field a plus, but not required.
• Ten years or more of national marketing, communication and branding experience in private and/or public sectors. Business-to-business marketing experience a plus
• Strategic planning, creative development, brand management, paid advertising, digital marketing, website development, graphic design management, marketing collateral management, production oversight, public relations, event management, lead generation, proposal development
• Integrated approach to branding and marketing
• Division/department management, resource allocation and project delegation
• Management of internal direct reports and external contractors
• Project leadership and management, working within external/internal cross-functional teams
• Support of organization-wide business development and sales efforts
• Budget/contract preparation and administration
• Qualitative/quantitative consumer research and insights
• Creative thinker with a strong analytical mindset
• Verbal and written communication expertise
• Metrics and tracking performance
• Marketing request for proposal process
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and adapt to evolving business needs

 Working Conditions                                                                                             

• Standard office environment with regular office hours and remote work, but may require additional hours for events, meetings, and other activities.
• Frequent local travel and occasional national/international travel will be required.

Application Instructions                                                                                        

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references. Please highlight your experience and achievements in economic development and business growth strategies. Applications should be sent to Dawn.Thibodeaux@la.gov.

Join us in shaping the economic future of our community and driving transformative growth through strategic marketing initiatives. We look forward to your application.