Business Intelligence Director

The Birmingham Business Alliance, as the leading economic development agency for the Greater Birmingham Region, recognizes the importance of leverage data and business intelligence as foundational to economic development strategy. BBA is seeking someone who will launch and build Birmingham's Intelligence Quotient (BHM IQ), the region's dedicated business intelligence center providing strategic insights and actionable data to drive business attraction and retention.

The Director will lead the launch and operation of BHM IQ, reporting to the Chief Economic Development Officer. This role requires a strategic thinker who can translate complex data into competitive advantage, build a new function from the ground up, and directly supervise one research professional.

Responsibilities of the role

Launch & Lead (40%)

• Establish and operationalize BHM IQ, including frameworks, protocols, and stakeholder engagement strategies
• Develop comprehensive business intelligence strategy aligned with Birmingham's economic development priorities
• Build strategic relationships with regional partners, business leaders, and educational institutions
• Serve as thought leader and spokesperson for BHM IQ's insights and findings
• Present findings to leadership, board members, and community stakeholders

Target Industries & Competitive Intelligence (30%)

Lead Generation & Value Propositions (20%)

Team Leadership (10%)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

Core Competencies

What Makes You Stand Out

WHO YOU ARE

You're intellectually curious with a natural drive to dig deeper into complex questions. You see patterns others miss and can synthesize information from multiple sources into coherent strategic narratives. You're comfortable building something new, adapting to changing priorities, and influencing without direct authority.

You thrive at the intersection of data and strategy—turning raw information into competitive advantage. You're equally comfortable diving into SEC filings and presenting insights to C-suite executives. You handle confidential information with discretion and represent your organization with professionalism.

Most importantly, you understand that intelligence gathering isn't academic—it's about giving economic developers the edge they need to win.

POSITION DETAILS

WHY THIS MATTERS

This isn't a typical research role. You'll be building Birmingham's strategic intelligence capability from the ground up—creating the function that makes our region smarter about business attraction. Your work will directly influence which companies we target, how we position Birmingham, and ultimately, which businesses choose to invest here.

You'll have the autonomy to shape this center's direction, the resources to build something meaningful, and the impact of seeing your intelligence translate into jobs, investment, and economic growth.

TO APPLY

Submit the following to Trevor Sutton, Chief Economic Development Officer, tsutton@birminghambusinessalliance.com :