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Job Listing: Director of Talent Strategies

The Roanoke Regional Partnership is looking for someone to enhance and grow their program focused on talent outreach strategies, partnerships, communications, and marketing to attract talent for our region and its employers. The Partnership has already changed the region’s narrative to that of an active, outdoor mecca through the work of the Roanoke Outside Foundation. This is an opportunity to leverage that narrative to attract and retain top talent in the Roanoke region. 

This position calls for someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who can create connections with academic institutions, employers, local governments, students, and other stakeholders, and market the region as a destination for top talent. The ideal candidate relishes the challenge of building a program from the ground up, is a creative yet strategic thinker, and a self-motivator who will not shy away from constructing plans and setting goals. 

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Roanoke Times Article Highlights Rise in ‘Boomerangs’

The Roanoke Times recently interviewed John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, to discuss the surge in people moving back to the Roanoke Region after growing up here, getting their undergraduate here, or going to medical school here. These returning professionals are known as “boomerangs” in the talent attraction world and have been a big focus in the Partnership’s talent attraction efforts.

The article ‘Boomerangs’ fly back to Roanoke, New River valleys for medical careers (by Casey Fabris) focused specifically on people coming back to work in the live sciences, innovation, and medical research fields which have become a target sector for growth by the Partnership in recent years.

Those featured in the article mention the employment opportunities were important, but cited the arts & culture scene, low cost-of-living, easy access to outdoor amenities, and being a great place to raise a family as being crucial to their return.

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Roanoke Regional Partnership Unveils Strategic Plan for Economic Growth

Public-private economic development group will capitalize on region’s assets and opportunities to advance regional economy.

ROANOKE, VA (August 25, 2021) – The Roanoke Regional Partnership unveiled Thrive 2027, a new strategic platform for economic growth today. The plan identifies the Partnership’s goals and strategies for the next five years and prioritizes economic growth, innovation, talent attraction, commercial real estate, infrastructure, and placemaking and livability over the next five years.

“The Board of Directors is committed to the vision that the ‘Roanoke Region has a thriving, innovative, and growing economy that is inclusive of diverse businesses and talent, with quality sites, advanced infrastructure, and an array of natural and cultural lifestyle amenities and activities’,” said Brett Marston, president of the Partnership. “We will make that vision a reality with this program of work.”

“This strategy is the guide to growing jobs, population, and prosperity for the region,” said John Hull, executive director. “We also recognize that by supporting innovation, the economy and region will grow.”

The planning process included interviews with regional leaders, focus groups, an online survey, open houses, and an advisory committee of stakeholders. Key indicators were benchmarked and a SWOT analysis was completed to help shape the strategy.

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