President & Chief Executive Officer

About the role

The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and highly regarded executive to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer. The successful candidate will be a mission-driven leader capable of advancing the IMEC mission while strengthening the competitiveness of Illinois manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IMEC long-term strategic direction and organizational evolution, positioning the organization to respond proactively to emerging trends in manufacturing, workforce development, technology, and economic development.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, legislators, funding agencies, economic development organizations, universities, workforce partners, and industry leaders.
• Strengthen the IMEC statewide and national visibility, influence, strategic partnerships, and public leadership while positioning the organization as a trusted partner to government, industry, workforce, and economic development stakeholders.
• Ensure the long-term financial health and organizational sustainability of IMEC. Lead efforts to diversify revenue streams through grants, public-private partnerships, strategic funding relationships, and mission-aligned growth opportunities.
• Maintain strong oversight of budgets, grants, contracts, compliance, and organizational risk.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, geographically distributed leadership team. Ensure operational excellence, accountability, agility, and measurable organizational impact.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will be a highly respected executive leader with demonstrated success leading complex, mission-driven, stakeholder-oriented organizations. Strong candidates may come from a variety of executive leadership backgrounds, including economic development, manufacturing extension, workforce development, public-private partnerships, innovation organizations, or other related mission-driven and stakeholder-oriented executive leadership environments.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required; a master's degree or other advanced degree is preferred.
• Significant executive leadership experience with responsibility for organizational strategy, financial performance, operations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, mission-driven, stakeholder-oriented organizations.
• Experience building strategic partnerships and collaborating across government, industry, workforce, education, and economic development organizations.

Skills

• Exceptional executive leadership capability, strategic judgment, financial and operational sophistication, stakeholder management skills, relationship-building ability, and the capacity to lead effectively within a complex stakeholder environment.
• A self-motivated, proactive, and highly collaborative leadership style, operating independently while cultivating relationships across a geographically dispersed network and driving organizational impact through influence, initiative, and effective communication.

Benefits

IMEC offers a competitive executive compensation package, including an anticipated annual base salary of $300,000–$330,000 and participation in a performance-based incentive program. The total rewards package includes comprehensive medical benefits (PPO and QHDHP options), up to an 8% employer 401(k) match, generous paid time off beginning at five weeks annually, and 10+ paid holidays.

Pay

The anticipated annual base salary for this role is $300,000–$330,000.

Schedule

This is a full-time, remote position based in Illinois. The role requires regular statewide travel and the ability to work effectively within a geographically distributed organization.

Contact Information

To Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume or CV, a brief cover letter outlining interest in the opportunity and, if desired, any additional materials relevant to the candidate’s leadership background and experience.
Additional inquiries or supporting materials may be submitted confidentially to:
IMEC Vice President of Talent | Amanda Hawley, SPHR | ahawley@imec.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

IMEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IMEC does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, citizenship status, work authorization status, order of protection status, arrest record, conviction record, military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, protected veteran status, genetic information, family responsibilities, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.