Summary
Description
Reports to: Board of Directors Status: Full time, exempt Location: Arvada, Colorado with regular travel across Jefferson County
The Story
The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce has proven what a chamber can do for its community. B.O.L.D. 2026 delivered measurable impact across talent, housing, childcare, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, and the Chamber itself grew right alongside it. Membership has climbed past 600 businesses, and programs and events are thriving, supported by a projected annual budget of approximately $900,000. That work is now scaling. Through a new regional economic partnership, much of what B.O.L.D. piloted locally is growing to a county-wide scale, while the front-line delivery and the close business relationships stay right here in Arvada.
The next President & CEO steps into a chamber that is sharpening its local focus even as its work grows regionally. This person will serve as the leading voice for Arvada business, present where local decisions are made, and be trusted by employers across the community. They will also model what a strong regional partner looks like, demonstrating that a capable local chamber and a coordinated regional strategy make each other better. We are looking for a leader who builds durable relationships, measures success by results, and brings new approaches to persistent challenges. This is an opportunity to lead a well-positioned organization into its next chapter.
What You Will Do
Strategic Leadership and Innovation
- Drive the organization forward, championing change that expands the Chamber’s reach, capacity, and long-term impact rather than sustaining its current scale.
- Define and lead the Chamber’s next strategic chapter, building on what B.O.L.D. 2026 established and setting a clear, ambitious agenda for the years that follow.
- Develop and launch new approaches to challenges the Chamber has not yet resolved, evaluate results honestly, and scale what proves effective.
- Use the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) as the operating discipline behind that ambition, holding the team to quarterly rocks, Level 10 meeting discipline, clear scorecards, and consistent accountability.
- Set measurable goals for every major initiative and report progress transparently to the board, investors, and the community.
- Monitor what peer chambers and regions are doing effectively, adapt proven approaches, and maintain active connections to state and national chamber networks.
Relationship Building and Community Leadership
- Serve as a relationship builder with Arvada’s employers, from advanced-industry manufacturers to sole proprietors and Main Street businesses.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key partners and leaders across the community.
- Represent the Chamber visibly and credibly at public meetings, in the media, and in the informal conversations where alignment is built.
- Maintain and grow the Chamber’s board, investor, and volunteer relationships, keeping high-capacity leaders meaningfully engaged.
Local Implementation Within The Regional Strategy
- Execute the local implementation role of the new regional strategy for chambers, including grassroots Voice of Business, member mobilization, retention intelligence from member and business relationships, small business and entrepreneur support, and housing, childcare, and talent engagement.
- Coordinate closely with Jeffco EDC and other Jeffco chambers and EDOs so that Arvada businesses experience one coordinated system rather than competing programs.
- Maintain a clear division of labor between regional and local work, amplifying rather than duplicating, and raising concerns when that division needs adjustments.
Arvada-Specific Issues and Local Solutions
- Develop a working knowledge of Arvada’s economy, including its employers, its opportunities, and its constraints.
- Identify local business issues early and drive them toward resolution.
- Lead locally on the issues Arvada businesses experience most directly, including workforce availability, housing, childcare, and the cost and predictability of doing business.
- Represent the local business voice in land use, zoning, entitlement, and downtown vitality discussions, and support well-planned projects publicly.
Advocacy and Government Relations
- Lead a proactive, year-round advocacy program at the local, state, and federal levels, aligned with the regional policy agenda.
- Build and sustain relationships with Arvada City Council, Jefferson County Commissioners, state legislators, and the congressional delegation through business tours, data briefings, and consistent presence.
- Mobilize members effectively when priority votes are pending, and ensure the business community is present and heard in public processes.
- Take clear positions, support them with credible data, and engage constructively with those who disagree.
Membership, Revenue and Financial Health
- Grow membership and investor revenue, and diversify the Chamber’s revenue base across dues, sponsorship, events, grants, and contracted services.
- Deliver member value that is reflected in retention and Net Promoter Score, not only in headcount.
- Develop and manage the annual budget with fiscal discipline and full transparency to the board.
- Steward grant and partner agreements, including compliance, reporting, and renewals.
- Pursue new funding aligned with the Chamber’s strategy, including public, philanthropic, and corporate sources.
Team Leadership and Organizational Culture
- Serve as the catalyst for organizational transformation, strengthening the Chamber’s capabilities, leadership bench, and operational maturity to prepare it for its next phase of growth.
- Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team, and design the staffing structure this next chapter requires.
- Lead the team through significant change with clarity and consistency, so staff understand what is moving, what is continuing, and what their role is.
- Invest in professional development for staff and board members.
- Protect and strengthen a culture built on the Chamber’s team values, where flexibility is paired with accountability.
Marketing, Communications and Brand
- Serve as the Chamber’s primary spokesperson with media, members, and the public.
- Oversee the Chamber’s brand and communications strategy, and deploy the shared regional brand and messaging in ways that strengthen rather than dilute Arvada’s identity.
- Communicate the story of Arvada’s business community effectively, and make the case for growth in terms residents recognize and trust.
Must-Have Skills
- Relationship Building. Establishes trust quickly and sustains it over time, working effectively with executives, public officials, small business owners, and community members alike.
- Driving Results. Sets measurable goals, holds self and team accountable to them, and completes what is started. Distinguishes between activity and impact, and reports both honestly.
- Innovative Problem Solving. Develops new approaches to persistent problems, is willing to try what has not been attempted here, and is equally willing to discontinue what is not working.
- Interacts well with others from diverse backgrounds. Upholds the Arvada Chamber Inclusion purpose: “Belonging is at the heart of our core values and work at the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. By creating an inclusive environment, we will empower new perspectives, solutions, and opportunities for our local economy and serve our mission as a champion for advancing ALL businesses and employees in Arvada.”
- Leadership. Leads and inspires a team, sets direction, and builds the structure and staff required to deliver on it.
- Strategic Thinking. Balances a multi-year horizon with near-term execution, and understands which decisions belong to each.
- Political Judgment. Navigates competing interests, contested issues, and public processes while maintaining credibility across constituencies.
- Collaborative Instinct. Defaults to partnership and prioritizes strong outcomes over organizational credit.
- Financial Acumen. Builds and manages budgets, reads financial statements fluently, and makes sound resource-allocation decisions.
- Communication and Public Speaking. Writes and speaks clearly and is effective in public settings, in the media, and before governing bodies.
- Adaptability. Works effectively through organizational transition, building structure while sustaining momentum and keeping the team steady.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Seven or more years of senior leadership experience, ideally in a chamber of commerce, economic development organization, membership association, or a related nonprofit or public-facing role.
- Demonstrated track record in strategic planning, financial management, revenue growth, and fundraising.
- Experience leading through organizational change, partnership, or transition.
- Working understanding of the business, policy, and economic issues facing Arvada, Jefferson County, and Colorado, or the ability to build that understanding quickly.
The Environment
The Arvada Chamber team is dynamic and committed to our organization’s and community’s success. While team members have flexibility, they are held accountable to performance measures to ensure objectives are achieved. Early mornings and occasional evening meetings are part of our work, and all team members are asked to attend as appropriate. Applicants must be able to travel efficiently to off-site meeting locations throughout the region. On a team of this size, everyone contributes wherever the work requires it, and this role includes other duties as assigned. The Chamber team embraces our values, and we are seeking candidates willing to commit to the culture we have built.
Perks of the Job
- Salary range: $115,000 to $135,000 per year, commensurate with experience
- Annual performance-based bonus
- Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Short-term and long-term disability
- 3% match on IRA
- Unlimited paid time off within guidelines of organizational policy
- Sabbatical within guidelines of organizational policy
- Flexible work environment
- Mileage reimbursement
- Professional development budget
- Regular team building.
To Apply
Applications should be submitted to tess@arvadachamber.org. The posting will stay live until the position is filled, but applicants are encouraged to apply before September 25. No phone calls, please.
