The President is the SBA's chief executive and public face. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President runs the organization day to day, sets the advocacy calendar, speaks for the business community before the Mayor, City Council, Board of County Commissioners and other public and governing bodies, and keeps members informed, engaged and ready to act. This is a hands-on role: the President communicates daily, delivers testimony, runs issue campaigns and does the analysis, with a small staff and an engaged Board.
The SBA's founding President is retiring, but will work to transition and introduce the new President to members, elected officials, partner organizations and the work in progress.
Highly skilled in communication, persuasion, and advocacy, the right candidate will possess a mix of seasoned business savvy with an understanding of how to effectively interact with city and county government. The President must be comfortable taking a public position, defending it in print and in person. Strong organizational skills, fundraising, creativity, enthusiasm.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSAdvocacy and Public Policy
- Represent and advocate for the business community of the City of Spokane before the Mayor, City Council, Board of County Commissioners, Spokane Transit Authority, and the other boards and commissions whose decisions affect business.
- Act as the primary spokesperson for the SBA, in public meetings, in the press, and in op-eds and editorials under the SBA's name and the President's own byline.
- Set and keep an advocacy calendar tied to the City, County, and State activities.
- Research and analyze the issues the SBA takes on: pull the public records, run the numbers, and publish briefings, policy papers and position statements that officials, members and the press can rely on.
- Run issue and ballot-measure campaigns, for or against, as directed by the Board: messaging, coalition building, earned media and member mobilization.
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships with local and regional elected officials (Mayor, City Council, BOCC, etc.) and their senior staff, and relevant partner and government organizations.
- Work with allied organizations (Downtown Spokane Partnership, Greater Spokane Inc., neighborhood business associations, regional chambers and others) where interests align, and lead where the SBA is best positioned to lead.
- Create and implement position statements, action plans, campaigns and other tools to support key initiatives, as approved and/or assigned by the Board of Directors.
- Build the SBA's visibility and credibility through the quality and consistency of its public work: regular member communications, a current website and resource pages, and a steady presence in local media.
Member Engagement and Communications
- Engage with SBA members to understand and identify business community needs, ideas and opportunities for support.
- Educate members, policymakers, business partners and other stakeholders on key issues.
- Publish regular member communications and issue alerts that explain what is happening at City Hall, the County, and across the community, and what it means for business, and what the SBA is doing about it.
- Activate the members as needed to advocate for effective policy. Provide members with the necessary direction, tools, and education for successful advocacy, talking points, testimony templates, meeting requests and timely calls to action. Actively engage with local association partners and other organizations where appropriate.
- Ensure regular communication and opportunities for collaboration and involvement in the SBA's activities and initiatives, including the Annual Dinner and member briefings.
- Convene members and partners quickly to respond to community needs e.g. SBA work coordinating business relief after the 2026 Spokane Complex fires.
Fundraising and Development
- Lead and execute the SBA's fundraising: renew and grow the member and investor base that funds the organization, cultivate major contributors personally, and secure sponsorships for the Annual Dinner and other programs.
- Deliver the Annual Dinner and other events that bring members together, raise money and showcase the SBA's work.
- Give contributors a clear account of what their money produced: positions taken, outcomes won, and what comes next.
Operations
- Develop and implement Association policies and guidelines, as approved by the Board of Directors.
- Develop a fiscally responsible annual budget and manage to it; report financial results to the Board quarterly.
- Create a staffing plan based on growth, if needed. Supervise SBA staff and contract relationships in support of the Association's objectives.
- Ensure legal and regulatory compliance, including the lobbying, campaign finance and public disclosure rules that apply to a 501(c)(6) and any affiliated political committee (Washington PDC and IRS).
- Prepare Board agendas and materials with the Board Chair, and keep the Board informed between meetings on issues that are moving fast.
When needed, perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS- Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, public policy, communications, journalism, non-profit management, marketing or a related field preferred. Substantial relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the preferred education.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in a senior management role. Experience in public policy, government affairs, a public agency, a campaign, journalism or an advocacy organization is as relevant as chamber or non-profit management.
- Executive level advocacy and fundraising and sponsorship experience.
- Demonstrated experience working with Boards of Directors, business executives, elected officials, committees, and the public preferred.
- Broad business skills including financial planning and projections, budgeting and operations, and knowledge of and ability to use standard office software such as Microsoft Office, along with comfort using modern research and AI tools.
- Strong oral and written communication and people skills; the President writes most of what the SBA publishes.
TRANSITIONThe outgoing President will remain over a period of time to make introductions, hand off active files and support the new President's first months.
WHAT WE OFFER- Competitive Wages start at $170,000 - $180,000 per year!
- Great Benefits: medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and paid holiday!
- Excellent Ways to Prepare for Your Future: 401K!
