Associate Vice President of Regional Project Area Development

Location: Remote position (candidate is required to reside in Utah and preference is given to candidates living in Central Utah, Utah County, Uintah Basin, or Juab County) 

Position Overview

The purpose of the Associate Vice President of Regional Project Area Development is to extend the reach of Utah Inland Port Authority. This role will represent Port Authority leadership within a specific geographic region, to be determined and modified by the Vice President of Business Development. It will perform a wide range of duties seeking to promote and further the objectives of the Port Authority interacting, collaborating, and coordinating with a broad range of stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities

The essential functions of the job are outlined below; additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed, either on an ad hoc or ongoing basis.

Project Area Development

• The AVP will be responsible for the creation, amending, and furthering of objectives of regional project areas of the Utah Inland Port Authority. Advancing the objectives will often be done without legitimate authority and must be done through partnerships and collaborations with a variety of public and private sector stakeholders. As a key conduit of the Port Authority’s strategic initiatives, the AVP ensures that the organization’s collective strengths are directed with focus and impact.

Project Area Creation

• The AVP will work with the local land use authority to define the framework of project area details and objectives. This will include: 
• The boundaries and included parcels
• Obtaining legislative body consent through city / municipal resolutions
• Defining the public benefit and public good of the project area
• Defining the but/for analysis to justify the use of public funds
• An industry recruitment strategy to include industries of particular interest and the recommended thresholds for incentive awards in line with the business capital expenditure
• An assessment of the horizontal build needed for parcels to build vertically that that may include absorption schedules
• The AVP will coordinate with UIPA staff and verticals in the creation of the Project Area Plan & Budget (PAP&B) serving as a voice for, and liaison to, the local community and business interests. 
• The AVP will be responsible for presenting the Project Area Plan & Budget to the Port Authority Tax Differential Committee and the Utah Inland Port Authority Board. 

Project Area Amendments

• The AVP will work with the local land use authority to amend the PAP&B ensuring that it remains compliant with statute and retains a public purpose and public benefit. The AVP will coordinate with UIPA staff on non-substantive administrative amendments and perform tasks similar to a Project Area Creation for substantive amendments. 
• Project Area Optimization 
• Utilizing the Project Area Plan & Budget as a guiding document, the AVP will lead efforts to optimize the Project Area meaning to seek to realize the objectives of both the PAP&B and the statutory goals and objectives of the Inland Port Authority (U.C.A. 11-58-203). 
• The AVP will coordinate and promote the use of Port Authority public financing tools and financial resources in pursuit of these objectives. 
• In partnership with the local community, the AVP will develop, implement, and continuously improve a corporate recruitment strategy that leverages public financing tools to attract key target industries. The AVP will regularly document and report progress to the Port Authority Board, the Executive Director, the Vice President of Business Development, and the broader community. This strategy will include both reactive efforts—collaborating with statewide corporate recruitment partners such as EDC Utah, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, trade and industry groups, local economic development organizations, non-profits, and other stakeholders—and proactive outreach through trade shows, conferences, and direct engagement with companies. The AVP should create and maintain a broad coalition of interested stakeholders to advance recruiting efforts. 
• The AVP should continually seek to collaborate in efforts to improve the quality of marketable properties through collaboration with a wide range of interests. 
• Should the Project Area include property that is owned or leased by the Port Authority, the AVP will manage those properties in a way that advances the goals and objectives of the Port Authority and the Project Area Plan & Budget. 
• Project Area Administration
• The AVP will coordinate efforts to administer the Project Area. These efforts will include: 
• The recording of a Project Area creation or amendment with the appropriate County Recorder
• The triggering of parcels after construction has been completed through the County Recorder
• Coordinating with GIS Services and the CFO to ensure the parcels included in the Project Area remain current and accurate 

UIPA Staff Coordination & Alignment

The AVP will take a leadership role in promoting collaboration with the Business Development Team and driving strategic alignment across all Verticals within the Authority, while positioning Project Area Optimization as the strategic backbone of cross-vertical alignment. 

Finance: The AVP will coordinate the exploration and implementation of financial tools under the direction of the CFO. The AVP should actively promote the financial tools available to Project Area stakeholders. Participation in and organization of ongoing meetings to help facilitate the project areas with the finance team will be important to ensure communication is happening.  

Logistics: The AVP will collaborate with the Logistics Team to evaluate, recommend, and advance logistics strategies within their designated Project Area. This includes identifying and pursuing opportunities to enhance multimodal transportation (rail, truck, and air), optimize freight flows, and reduce costs in support of statewide logistics goals. The AVP is expected to:

• Serve as a local point of contact for logistics-related activities, initiatives, and stakeholders within the Project Area.
• Coordinate with infrastructure partners, including public and private entities, to support the development and implementation of strategic logistics assets such as transload facilities, rail spurs, warehouse clusters, and inland port linkages.
• Monitor freight movement trends, supply chain bottlenecks, and access constraints within the Project Area and report findings to the logistics team for solution development.
• Facilitate communication between the logistics team, local stakeholders, and state-level agencies to ensure alignment on logistics priorities.
• Promote initiatives that support efficient, sustainable, and resilient goods movement—including data-sharing, technology adoption, and modal shift where appropriate.

Marketing: The AVP will actively engage with the Marcom Director and Team in both marketing and communications efforts. The AVP will consult and offer input on the creation of marketing materials and assets - both physical and digital - to the Marcom Team. 

Sustainability: The AVP will coordinate with the Environmental and Sustainability Director regarding appropriate developments in the Project Area to include the planning of wetlands mitigation fund expenditures. 

Executive Director: The AVP will regularly report Project Area optimization efforts to the Executive Director and seek to implement feedback and directives received from the Executive Director. The AVP should endeavor to implement the vision of the Executive Director at all times. Should the AVP be requested to represent the Executive Director, the AVP should attempt to do so in concert with the communicated vision of the Port Authority. 

Direct Supervisor: The AVP will meet regularly with and report to the Vice President of Business Development. Responsibilities include producing a weekly report, maintaining accurate records in office systems related to stakeholder interactions, Project Area developments, and recruitment efforts. The AVP may also be called upon to act on behalf of the Vice President when needed. Tasks and assignments from the direct supervisor should be completed within established timelines. The AVP is expected to proactively recommend process improvements and identify opportunities for future growth, as well as operational and functional expansion.

Business Development Team: The AVP should amplify his/her bandwidth by engaging with the greater business development team for administrative tasks. These should be coordinated with the Associate Vice President of Statewide Project Area Development. 

Subordinate Staff: If applicable, the AVP should appropriately manage subordinate staff ensuring at all times that they have the tools, resources, and guidance needed to effectively do their jobs. The AVP will be responsible for all administrative functions related to staff, including, but not limited to, approving payroll, managing schedule and time off, and completing regular performance reviews.

Compliance: The AVP should seek to furnish information to the CRCO when requested. The AVP should know and abide by current Port Authority policy and procedure.

Stakeholder Engagement

The AVP shall create and maintain a broad coalition of interested stakeholders. Frequent engagement with these stakeholders is critical and interactions should be documented. Stakeholders should include interested parties from: 

• Elected officials and public-sector administrators
• Private-sector leaders and business development advocates 
• Property owners, developers, brokers and representatives
• Utility and infrastructure service providers
• Economic development organizations and industry associations
• Recruitment and expansion professionals
• Workforce training providers, including technical schools and academic institutions
• Other individuals or entities who can support the development and optimization of the Project Area

Ideal Qualifications

• The following are the ideal qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this position.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Logistics, Finance, Communications, or other similar disciplines (preferred but not required)
• 5+ years experience in one of the following: Business Development, Client Relations, Account Management, Public Finance, Logistics, Government Relations, and/or related disciplines
• Experience presenting and simplifying complex plans and ideas 
• Experience leading cross-functional teams to drive accountability and deliver desired results

Preferred Skills/Abilities

• Dynamic, self-motivated individual with ability to work in fluid and stressful environments
• Heightened intellectual curiosity, with an eagerness to learn new skills, and assess new opportunities
• Strategic planning experience, including establishing a business roadmap and framework
• Ability to understand and use analytics to drive business decisions
• Ability to work remotely without direct supervision

Pay Range

$59.00-64.00 per hour (DOE)

Benefits

• UIPA offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
• Retirement Benefits: Utah Retirement Systems (URS), including 401(k), 457, IRA, and Roth IRA options. UIPA is a social security exempt employer, employees of UIPA do not contribute to or receive benefits from the Social Security system. A 401K matching program is offered in lieu of employer Social Security contributions.
• Medical & Wellness: PEHP Traditional and HDHP Medical Plans, Dental, and Vision
• Health Savings & Flex Accounts: HSA, Medical/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Insurance Coverage: Group Term Life, Group Accident
• Employee Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Vacation and Sick Leave plus 13 paid holidays per year
• Onsite fitness center, paid parking

Why Join UIPA

• At UIPA, you will be part of an innovative team that is reshaping Utah’s logistics infrastructure. We offer:
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.
• Professional development and growth opportunities.
• A chance to work on impactful projects that will shape Utah’s future.
• Flexible work environment

About UIPA

We are leading the charge in developing forward-thinking, sustainable logistics solutions that not only drive economic growth but also enhance the quality of life for Utahns. Our innovative strategies aim to position Utah as a pivotal hub in the global logistics industry.

At UIPA, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We take pride in fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and supportive team environment where diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. By working closely with communities, businesses, and stakeholders across the state, we are setting a foundation for generational impact, ensuring a brighter, more sustainable future for all Utah residents.

Work Environment

In general, the following conditions of the work environment are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently-abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job within the environment.

Physical Demands

In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently-abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job. Must be able to communicate effectively with employees and/or other customers; manual dexterity required for occasional reaching and lifting of small objects, and operating office equipment.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and the UIPA does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose actions prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. 5.140 and 7.95, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.