President & CEO

About Invest Buffalo Niagara

Invest Buffalo Niagara is the Buffalo Niagara region’s privately funded economic development organization, focused on growing jobs and investment across the eight counties of Western New York (Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming). Invest Buffalo Niagara’s mission is to attract new capital investment and employers to the Buffalo Niagara region and to support business attraction, expansion, and entrepreneurship.

The organization collaborates with local businesses, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, and elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels to deliver a unified response to regional economic development opportunities.

As a unique private-public partnership, Invest Buffalo Niagara works with business leaders and regional partners to advance initiatives that positively impact economic growth. The organization supports business attraction, regional marketing, expansion support, entrepreneurship, and investor engagement while helping position Buffalo Niagara as a compelling location for business growth.

Learn more at buffaloniagara.org.

The Opportunity

Invest Buffalo Niagara (InBN) is seeking its next President \& Chief Executive Officer at an important moment in the organization’s evolution. Building on a strong foundation and established regional credibility, the next leader will have the opportunity to guide the organization through its next chapter while helping shape the future of economic growth and investment in Buffalo Niagara.

This is a distinctive opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven executive to lead at the intersection of business attraction, investor engagement, regional storytelling, public-private partnership, and cross-sector collaboration. The President \& CEO will work closely with the Board of Directors, staff, investors, business leaders, public-sector partners, and regional stakeholders to strengthen InBN’s impact and Buffalo Niagara’s competitive position.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President \& Chief Executive Officer serves as the chief executive and primary external representative of Invest Buffalo Niagara. The President \& CEO is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission through strategic leadership, business attraction, investor engagement, regional partnership-building, communications, and operational oversight.

The President \& CEO will work in close collaboration with the Board, staff, investors, public-sector leaders, and business and community partners to strengthen the region’s competitiveness, elevate Buffalo Niagara’s profile, and support measurable economic outcomes.

Why This Role Matters

As Invest Buffalo Niagara prepares for a leadership transition, the organization has an opportunity to build on its momentum while defining the next phase of its mission and regional leadership. The next President \& CEO will be responsible for preserving trust, continuity, and external confidence while helping shape a future-focused vision for the organization.

This role comes at a time when regional competitiveness, business attraction, investor engagement, cross-border opportunity, and coordinated economic development leadership remain critically important. The next leader must be able to combine strategy with execution and represent Buffalo Niagara with credibility, clarity, and confidence.

Key Priorities for the Next President \& CEO

• Maintain confidence and continuity during leadership transition
• Build strong working relationships with the Board, investors, staff, and key regional partners
• Strengthen InBN’s strategic vision and long-term value proposition
• Advance business attraction, expansion, and related economic development initiatives
• Reinforce investor engagement and communicate measurable organizational value
• Elevate the Buffalo Niagara story in regional, national, and cross-border settings
• Support organizational effectiveness, strong team leadership, and long-term sustainability

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead and execute InBN’s strategic direction in partnership with the Board
• Identify priorities that strengthen regional competitiveness and long-term growth
• Guide the organization through transition with continuity and confidence

Board and Investor Relations

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors
• Build and sustain strong investor relationships and reinforce InBN’s value proposition
• Communicate organizational priorities, impact, and opportunities with clarity and credibility

Economic Development Leadership

• Advance business attraction, expansion, and economic development opportunities across the region
• Support efforts that position Buffalo Niagara as a compelling destination for growth
• Collaborate with local, regional, state, national, and international partners in support of economic development goals

External Affairs and Regional Ambassadorship

• Serve as chief spokesperson and visible representative of the organization
• Champion Buffalo Niagara’s assets, momentum, and opportunities to external audiences
• Strengthen InBN’s public profile through relationship-based outreach, communications, and thought leadership
• Engage with local economic development officials, organizations, and chambers of commerce to create a collaborative partnership to advance the regional WNY economy

Organizational Leadership

• Lead, develop, and support a high-performing team
• Oversee operations, financial stewardship, and internal alignment
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and mission-focused execution

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience in a complex, externally engaged organization and a demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships across business, government, higher education, nonprofit, and civic sectors.

Candidates should bring:

• executive leadership experience with strategic and operational responsibility
• experience working with a board or comparable governing body
• strong communication skills and executive presence
• a track record of partnership-building and external relationship management
• sound judgment, political savvy, and the ability to navigate multiple stakeholders
• the ability to lead with both vision and execution

Helpful backgrounds may include economic development, business attraction, chamber or membership-based leadership, public-private partnerships, investor relations, regional development, or related fields.

Success in the First 12–18 Months

Success in this role is expected to include:

• establishing trusted relationships with the Board, staff, investors, and regional stakeholders
• maintaining confidence and continuity through the transition
• assessing and refining strategic priorities for the next chapter of the organization
• reinforcing InBN’s role as a trusted regional convener and economic development partner
• strengthening external visibility and organizational narrative
• aligning staff, operations, and performance around clear goals and measurable impact

About Buffalo Niagara

Buffalo Niagara offers a strong value proposition for businesses and leaders alike, including strategic access to U.S. and Canadian markets, a productive workforce, affordability, and growing momentum across multiple industries. InBN’s website highlights the region’s workforce, strategic location on the Canadian border, and strengths across advanced manufacturing, advanced business services, food and beverage processing, and life sciences. It also specifically markets Buffalo Niagara as a destination for Canadian business expansion into the U.S.

Compensation and Benefits

A salary of $200,000 – 225,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus bonus potential. A comprehensive benefits package will be provided.

Application and More Information

Additional information regarding the application process, search timeline, and candidate submission instructions will be shared as the search moves forward.