President/CEO

Education/Experience: Master’s or higher in business or a related degree, certification through the US Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives, or equivalent experience.

Language Skills: Ability to write and communicate at a very high level.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Computer Skills: Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Environment: Must be able to lift small loads from floor to waist up to 25 pounds.

Essential Behavior Dimensions: Leading through Vision and Values, Strategic Decision Making, Building Partnerships, and Developing Others.

Location, Relationships and Roles

The location of work for this position is the Chamber’s office building at 302 West Gore Boulevard, Lawton, Oklahoma.  The Chamber employs a President & CEO, an Events and Government Affairs Director, a Membership Director, a Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Director, a Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Special Events Coordinator, a Membership and Community Development Coordinator, an Office Manager, and a Receptionist.

Leading through Vision and Values – Keeping the Chamber’s vision and values at the forefront of associated decision making and action.

Key Actions

• Communicates the importance of the vision and values.
• Models the vision and values.
• Moves others to action.

Job Specific Activities

• Serves as the primary staff contact with the Board of Directors.
• Leads staff meetings to keep team members informed, empowered, and working toward common goals.
• Actively participates in securing new Chamber members
• Provides appropriate recognition for staff and volunteers who model excellence.
• Communicates the Chamber vision to all stakeholders.

Strategic Decision Making – Identifying and understanding key issues and relationships relevant to achieving long-range goals and vision; committing to a course of action to accomplish long-range goals and vision after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts, available resources, constraints, and organizational values.

Key Actions

• Gathers and interprets information to understand strategic issues, to explain trends, problems and causes, and identifies underlying issues.
• Evaluates and selects strategies to achieve long range goals; develops decision criteria considering factors such as cost, benefits, risks, consensus, and timing.
• Establishes and executes implementation plan, monitors results and makes needed adjustments. Job Specific Activities
• Coordinates planning with Advisory Board and Board of Directors to identify community and Chamber needs.
• Prepares and oversees the execution of the Business Plan and measures results.
• Develops the Budget with assistance from the Finance Committee and accounting firm; provides budget oversight.
• Interprets policies and makes suggestions for changes; oversees and evaluates internal structure
• Acts as the official Chamber spokesperson in the absence of the Board Chair.

Building Partnerships – Creating opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between the Chamber and its stakeholders.

Key Actions

• Identifies partnership needs; identifies key relationships to further goals.
• Explores partnership opportunities, collaboratively determines scope and expectations of partnerships.
• Formulates action plans; facilitates agreements on responsibilities and support.
• Places high priority on organization goals and monitors partnerships.

Jobs Specific Activities

• Supports Economic Development efforts of the Lawton Economic Development Corporation; serves as a member of the LEDC Board in representation of the Chamber.
• Strengthens relationships with Fort Sill and elected officials on the city, county, state, and federal levels.
• Regularly meets with members to learn more about each business’ specific needs, future plans, and expectations of the Chamber.
• Works with organizations to achieve community goals.

 Developing Others – Planning and supporting the development of individual skills and abilities to fulfill current or future job responsibilities more effectively.

 Key Actions

• Collaboratively establishes development goals; developing options for meeting the goals.
• Creates a learning environment; secures resources required to support efforts, ensure opportunities are available and provide assistance to overcome obstacles.
• Monitors progress; gives feedback and adjusts plans to ensure development.

 Job Specific Activities

• Coordinates the Nominating Committee each year and provides input for future Board members.
• Provides recommendations for committee chairs.
• Coordinates new Board orientation; arranges orientation for City Council members.
• Ensures all staff receives opportunities for training.
• Serves as instructor for the State Chamber training programs when requested.
• Empowers staff to develop skills through cross-training and acceptance of increased responsibility.

Adaptability – Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.

Key Actions

• Seeks to understand changes in work tasks, situations and environment as well as the logic or basis for change.
• Approaches change or newness positively, treating them as opportunities for learning or growth. Speaks positively about the change to others.
• Adjusts behavior to deal effectively with changes. Readily tries appropriate new approaches.

Job Specific Activities

• Maintains a positive and professional attitude when dealing with the staff public; communicating with tact.
• Always aware that although our volunteers are “serving” the Chamber we must be mindful that they are also our investors.
• Assists other staff members as needed.
• Willing to work additional hours when necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

Employment-at-Will

The Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce is an “at-will” employer. This means that you or the Chamber are free to end the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, with or without cause and that your employment is for no specified period of time.