Executive Director
Shape the Future of Sauk Prairie
The Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking its next Executive Director.
This is not a traditional chamber role. It is an opportunity to shape the future of a community, influence systems, and create lasting impact across multiple sectors.
The ideal candidate is an experienced chamber, economic development, or nonprofit leader who is energized by complexity, thrives in collaboration, and is driven to make a meaningful difference.
The Executive Director serves as the chief strategist, convener, and community catalyst for the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this role extends beyond traditional chamber management, acting as a central leader who advances economic vitality, quality of life, and regional competitiveness.
The Executive Director leads the Chamber as both a business membership organization and a community development engine, driving initiatives that address critical community priorities such as placemaking, housing, childcare, workforce development, tourism, small business growth, and regional collaboration.
This position requires a visionary, highly relational leader who can connect people, ideas, and resources, influence outcomes without direct authority, and translate community needs into actionable strategies, funded initiatives, and measurable impact.
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CORE LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS
The Executive Director is expected to:
- Set and execute a bold, future-focused vision for the Chamber and broader Sauk Prairie community.
- Serve as a trusted community leader and influencer, shaping conversations and outcomes across sectors.
- Act as a bridge-builder between business, government, nonprofits, and residents.
- Identify and pursue opportunities that strengthen the local economy and quality of life.
- Lead with innovation, adaptability, and a strong sense of place.
- Work collaboratively with Chamber staff to support member businesses.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Community Leadership & Systems Development
- Serve as a visible and active leader in advancing community-wide priorities.
- Discern, lead and support initiatives addressing multiple community needs.
- Convene diverse stakeholders to solve complex community challenges collaboratively.
- Build coalitions that align public, private, and nonprofit efforts.
- Represent the Chamber as a regional thought leader and advocate.
- Lead development and execution of the Chamber’s strategic plan and annual program of work.
- Translate community insights and data into actionable strategies and initiatives.
- Evaluate emerging trends and position Sauk Prairie for long-term success and resilience.
- Establish clear metrics to measure organizational and community impact.
- Cultivate strong relationships with businesses, municipal/public sector leaders, educational institutions, workforce partners, and nonprofit/community-based organizations.
- Influence decision-making through trust, credibility, and effective communication.
- Serve as a liaison and connector across sectors to maximize shared outcomes.
- Identify, pursue, and secure diverse funding streams, including grants, sponsorships/partnerships, and innovative revenue opportunities.
- Lead or support grant writing efforts that bring new resources into the community.
- Align funding strategies with community priorities and Chamber goals.
- Ensure the Chamber delivers clear, measurable value to its members.
- Lead membership recruitment, retention, and engagement strategies.
- Build authentic relationships with business owners and leaders.
- Position the Chamber as an essential partner in business success.
- Advance initiatives that support local business growth and entrepreneurship.
- Collaborate on efforts that enhance Sauk Prairie as a destination for visitors and investment.
- Support marketing and branding efforts that elevate the community regionally.
- Oversee all Chamber operations, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment.
- Lead and develop staff, fostering a high-performing, mission-driven team culture.
- Maintain strong internal systems, processes, and organizational accountability.
- Develop and manage the annual budget in alignment with strategic priorities.
- Ensure sound financial practices, transparency, and accountability.
- Provide regular financial reporting and insights to the Board.
- Explore and implement sustainable, diversified revenue models.
- Serve as the primary voice for the Chamber and community impact, including Sauk Prairie Room Tax Commission, that the Chamber acts as fiscal agent and lead planning agency.
- Oversee strategic communications that promote Chamber initiatives, elevate community successes, and strengthen the Chamber's brand identity.
- Guide marketing efforts that support tourism, events, and member visibility.
- Serve as a strategic partner to the Board of Directors.
- Support effective governance, board engagement, and leadership development.
- Prepare and deliver regular reports on organizational performance and impact.
- Collaborate on policy development and long-term planning.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
1. Minimum of 5–7 years of senior leadership experience, preferably in:
- Chamber of Commerce management.
- Economic or community development.
- Nonprofit or public sector leadership.
- Strategic planning and execution.
- Community engagement and collaboration.
- Grant writing and resource development.
- Financial and organizational management.
- Economic development ecosystems.
- Public-private partnerships.
- Community development challenges and opportunities.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Visionary and strategic thinker.
- Exceptional relationship builder and collaborator.
- Skilled communicator and public speaker.
- Influencer capable of leading without formal authority.
- Entrepreneurial and opportunity-driven mindset.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Data-informed decision maker.
