Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Position Overview

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) seeks a Vice President, Marketing & Communications to lead the Commonwealth’s efforts to promote Virginia as a Top State for Business. This role oversees integrated marketing strategies that showcase Virginia’s competitive advantages—including digital branding, trade show engagement, and site consultant outreach—and interacts with all divisions of VEDP as well as local, regional, and state partners. It is critical to cultivate relationships with site selection consultants who represent companies seeking the best destination for relocation or expansion. The role is part of VEDP’s Business Development Core Group and reports to the Sr. Vice President, Marketing, Communications & Research and Chief of Staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership: Develop and execute marketing & communications strategies, provide clear direction, oversee staff performance and budgeting, foster employee engagement, and promote teamwork and collaboration.
• Branding & Advertising: Collaborate with internal and external partners to position Virginia as the premier destination for living, investing, and growing; integrate messaging into marketing materials and digital platforms.
• Site Consultant Cultivation & Outreach: Lead proactive site consultant engagement, coordinate targeted media campaigns and high-quality events, and support lead generation initiatives through strategic resource coordination.
• Communications Management & Media Relations: Direct earned media communications, support press release and media event production, and develop an internal communications strategy to enhance VEDP’s exposure and stakeholder engagement.

Required Qualifications

• At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in marketing and communications at senior levels.
• Strong managerial, strategic analysis, and communication skills with a proven record of developing and leading teams.
• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, especially PowerPoint and Excel, with the ability to multitask in fast-paced environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., business, economics, marketing, communications) is required; a graduate degree is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with economic development, government agencies, or industry organizations.
• Innovative, detail-oriented, and capable of excelling under pressure in dynamic, high-profile environments.
• Strong relationship building, collaboration, and communication skills with a passion for public-sector impact.

Benefits & Perks

• Compensation: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Equal Opportunity Employer with comprehensive background and reference checks.
• Opportunity to work in a high-impact public-sector environment with a collaborative and innovative culture.