About the Golden Triangle Development LINK

The Golden Triangle Development LINK (The LINK) is the lead economic development organization serving Clay, Lowndes, and Oktibbeha Counties in Northeast Mississippi. The organization supports the cities of Columbus, Starkville, and West Point by recruiting new industries and fostering the growth of existing businesses.

Since its formation in 2003, The LINK has helped secure more than $12 billion in private investment and facilitated the creation of over 10,000 direct jobs in the region. The area is home to major employers such as Steel Dynamics, PACCAR, Airbus, Stark Aerospace, and Yokohama Tire Corporation. It also benefits from strong higher education institutions, including Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women.

The LINK believes in an incremental approach to achieve exponential results. The LINK works to increase capital investment and create high-wage jobs through collaboration, transparency, and operational efficiency.

The Director of Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) is a senior leadership role responsible for supporting the growth and long-term success of existing industries in the Golden Triangle region. Reporting to executive leadership, this position serves as the primary point of contact for the region’s primary-sector employers.

The Director will proactively identify business needs, address barriers to growth, and support expansion efforts that drive capital investment and job creation.

Key Responsibilities

Business Engagement and Visitation
Lead a structured business outreach program to build relationships with company leadership, including executives and plant managers. Conduct regular site visits to assess business conditions, identify challenges, and gather actionable data. Maintain accurate records of interactions and insights using a customer relationship management (CRM) system.

Expansion Project Support
Assist existing companies with expansion projects by coordinating resources, identifying applicable incentives, and helping navigate regulatory processes. Develop and maintain working knowledge of local, state, and federal economic development programs. Identify companies with expansion potential and encourage/support their projects locating in the Golden Triangle.

Workforce Development Collaboration
Partner with regional educational institutions and workforce organizations to align training programs with industry needs. Support initiatives that strengthen the regional talent pipeline.

Issue Resolution and Advocacy
Serve as a liaison between businesses and public-sector partners to address infrastructure, utility, permitting, or regulatory challenges impacting operations or growth. Identify companies “at risk” or who are struggling to operate. Work to identify assistance programs and inform Link leadership of potential economic risks to employers.

Data Management and Analysis
Collect, analyze, and report on data from business visits and surveys to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. Maintain a comprehensive CRM database to track company engagement and regional economic indicators.

Targeted Business Strategy
Prioritize engagement with both high-growth companies and those facing challenges, while maintaining consistent communication across the full business base. Provide regular reporting on economic risks and expansion opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement
Strengthen collaboration between private-sector partners and regional stakeholders to support shared economic development goals.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor’s degree in Economic Development, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field preferred. A combination of related experience and education may be considered. Additional qualifications (such as CEcD) are advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of experience in economic development, business development, or a related field (preferred).

• Experience working with CRM systems to manage data and track performance.

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of key industry sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or technology

• Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including business leaders and public officials

• Familiarity with workforce development systems and training programs

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Experience with CRM platforms and economic impact analysis tools (e.g., IMPLAN) preferred

• Ability to set and achieve performance metrics related to business engagement and program outcomes

Core Values

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and efficiency, along with professionalism, mutual respect, and integrity in all interactions.

Compensation

Compensation includes a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of 3-5 professional references to info@gtrlink.org. References will be contacted only at a later stage of the hiring process with prior notification to the candidate.