President and CEO

President & CEO

Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)

Anchorage, Alaska

(Initial recruitment open to Alaska-based applicants only)

About the Organization

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is a private nonprofit 501(c)(6) dedicated to building a prosperous, sustainable, and diverse economy for Anchorage. Established by the Municipality of Anchorage and now operating as a public–private partnership, AEDC is governed by a 15-member Board representing 200 private-sector member companies.

AEDC leads key initiatives that strengthen business vitality, expand the skilled workforce, enhance Anchorage’s quality of place, and support critical infrastructure development. Its signature initiative, Choose Anchorage, provides a community-driven strategic framework built around four pillars: Business Vitality, Talent, Quality of Place, and Infrastructure. The President & CEO plays a central leadership role in advancing these priorities and driving measurable community impact through strong cross-sector partnerships. Additional information about the organization can be found on our website at https://aedcweb.com.

Position Overview

AEDC seeks a dynamic, enthusiastic, and experienced leader who believes deeply in Anchorage’s future and brings the vision, credibility, and strategic capacity to guide the organization. The President & CEO serves as the chief executive of AEDC, responsible for setting strategic direction; overseeing key initiatives; managing organizational operations and staff; and representing AEDC as a leading voice for economic development in Anchorage.

This role requires a proven leader with strong business acumen, coalition-building expertise, fundraising experience, and the ability to navigate complex public policy issues. The successful candidate will be a visible ambassador for Anchorage—engaging media, policymakers, investors, and community partners to advance AEDC’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Board of Directors to set strategic direction and ensure organizational alignment.
• Lead implementation of the Choose Anchorage Strategic Plan across business vitality, talent, quality of place, and infrastructure.
• Build strong partnerships with business, government, nonprofit, and community stakeholders to advance AEDC’s mission.
• Serve as a visible thought leader through media engagement, public speaking, and policy participation.
• Provide executive leadership for operations, including HR, financial oversight, nonprofit compliance, and organizational planning.
• Lead fundraising and revenue-generation efforts to support AEDC’s long-term sustainability.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team and foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture.
• Represent AEDC in key stakeholder, business, community, and government engagements.

Key Professional Characteristics

• Strong knowledge of economic and community development practices and trends.
• Skilled in HR, organizational management, and nonprofit financial standards.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects across nonprofit, public, or private sectors.
• Effective coalition-builder with strong cross-sector partnership skills.
• Experience navigating public policy issues affecting economic development.
• Insight into Anchorage’s economic landscape, workforce needs, and emerging trends.
• Strong team-building and leadership abilities with a collaborative management style.
• Demonstrated fundraising or revenue-generation success (~$1M annually).

Minimum Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in economic development, business development, public policy, community development, or closely related fields; an equivalent combination of experience may be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, public policy, economic development, communications, marketing, or related field (equivalent experience considered).
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and media engagement.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council preferred
• Must pass a full background check.
• Experience working in Alaska is required.

Compensation/Benefits:

• A competitive compensation package will be offered, based on experience and qualifications.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, Paid Time Off, and 401K offering a company match of up to 3% of an employee’s annual salary.