Careers

NEW MEXICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Position description, September 2026

About the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1959, the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce is New Mexico’s statewide business advocacy organization. NMCC is a 501(c)(6) membership organization that brings businesses together to improve New Mexico’s business climate and expand economic opportunity. Its work is funded through member dues, investments, and fundraising activities.

NMCC develops member-driven policy positions and advances them through advocacy, education, research, and outreach. The Chamber convenes businesses of all sizes and industries from rural, tribal, and urban communities and works across party and ideological lines.

Mission: Through the leadership and vision of the New Mexico business community, NMCC will drive positive change by developing and advocating for effective public policy initiatives, building a stronger business climate, and advancing the statewide economy and economic competitiveness.

Motto: Strengthening Businesses, Advancing the Economy

The Opportunity
NMCC seeks a President and Chief Executive Officer to lead the state’s broad-based business advocacy organization and serve as a visible statewide business leader. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President and CEO will set organizational direction with the Board, convert member priorities into measurable action, strengthen the Chamber’s financial position, and build a high-performing team.

The role calls for a trusted, credible, and nonpartisan executive who can represent New Mexico’s business community in legislative, media, member, business, and community forums; build coalitions across regions and industries; and communicate a practical vision for a more competitive New Mexico. The President and CEO will balance this statewide public leadership with disciplined management of membership, revenue, programs, marketing, communications, sales, people, and operations.

The position is based in Albuquerque and requires frequent travel throughout New Mexico, regular work in Santa Fe during legislative sessions, and occasional travel outside the state.

Leadership Priorities

• Advance a focused statewide strategy. Work with the Board to establish clear multiyear priorities, annual goals, and performance measures. Keep the organization concentrated on the issues where a statewide business voice can make the greatest difference.
• Deliver effective, member-driven advocacy. Maintain an inclusive policy-development process; translate member priorities into credible legislative strategies; and represent NMCC before elected officials, agencies, the media, and the public.
• Strengthen financial sustainability. Make membership growth, sponsorships, and non-dues revenue generation an organizational priority. Build a predictable revenue pipeline, establish clear sales goals and accountability, diversify mission-aligned revenue, and maintain disciplined financial management.
• Increase member value and statewide reach. Improve recruitment, retention, engagement, and communication across industries, business sizes, and regions. Listen consistently to members and demonstrate the value and results of their investment.
• Build organizational capacity. Recruit, develop, and retain a capable team; clarify roles and accountability; strengthen systems and processes; and create a culture grounded in service, collaboration, and results.
• Lead a clear public presence. Serve as a visible and credible statewide advocate for New Mexico’s business community in media, legislative, member, business, and community forums. Oversee marketing, communications, and sales so the Chamber presents a consistent voice, reaches priority audiences, supports membership and revenue goals, and communicates policy positions and results accurately.
• Expand strategic partnerships. Build productive relationships with local chambers, trade and professional associations, economic-development organizations, educational institutions, tribal and community leaders, and public officials while preserving NMCC’s independent, member-driven voice.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as chief executive and primary spokesperson for NMCC, with responsibility for strategy, advocacy, financial performance, staff leadership, member value, and day-to-day operations.
• Maintain a strong and transparent partnership with the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Provide timely, candid communication regarding strategy, emerging issues, risks, opportunities, resource allocation, financial condition, and organizational performance.
• Develop annual operating plans and budgets for Board approval. Manage revenue, expenses, cash flow, reserves, contracts, and internal controls in accordance with Board policy and applicable law.
• Lead membership development, retention, sponsorship, fundraising, events, and other earned-revenue efforts. Establish goals, track the pipeline, and hold the organization accountable for results.
• Oversee marketing, communications, and sales, including brand stewardship, media relations, digital communications, publications, audience development, sales strategy, and coordinated campaigns that support advocacy and revenue goals.
• Direct NMCC’s government-affairs program and serve as a registered lobbyist when required. Ensure advocacy reflects positions adopted through the Chamber’s member-driven process.
• Maintain constructive, bipartisan relationships with the Governor’s Office, legislators, state agencies, local and tribal governments, federal partners, and candidates for public office.
• Engage members and businesses throughout New Mexico through regular travel, listening sessions, policy committees, events, and direct communication. Bring regional and industry perspectives into organizational decisions.
• Hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate staff. Establish clear expectations, allocate work effectively, and maintain employment practices and workplace policies appropriate for a high-performing organization.
• Oversee high-quality programs, research, events, and member communications. Evaluate activities for mission alignment, member value, financial performance, and measurable results.
• Support the work of the New Mexico Chamber Foundation and affiliated initiatives in accordance with their governing documents and respective Board authority. Maintain clear governance, financial accountability, operational transparency, and appropriate legal and financial separation between NMCC and its affiliated organizations.
• Protect NMCC’s reputation, assets, records, data, and compliance obligations.

Experience and Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a chamber of commerce, business association, corporation, public-policy organization, economic-development organization, nonprofit, government, or a comparably complex institution.
• Demonstrated success leading marketing, communications, and sales functions, including brand positioning, media strategy, audience development, member or customer acquisition, revenue pipelines, and measurable growth goals.
• A record of developing and executing strategy, setting priorities, managing organizational change, and producing measurable results with limited resources.
• Strong knowledge of the legislative, regulatory, and political process. Experience working effectively across party lines and with elected officials, agency leaders, business executives, and community partners.
• Demonstrated success growing membership, revenue, sponsorships, fundraising, partnerships, or comparable customer and investor relationships.
• Financial management experience that includes budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, internal controls, and Board-level communication.
• Experience recruiting, supervising, and developing staff and leading teams through clear expectations and accountability.
• Exceptional written, public-speaking, media, negotiation, and relationship-building skills. Ability to explain complex policy and business issues clearly to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated success working with volunteer boards and Board officers, providing timely and transparent information, supporting sound governance, and maintaining a clear distinction between Board oversight and day-to-day management.
• Preferred: knowledge of New Mexico’s economy, communities, industries, and public-policy environment, or the ability to build that knowledge quickly through sustained statewide engagement.
• Preferred: experience with economic development organizations, workforce initiatives, site selection, business recruitment, or related efforts that advance statewide economic competitiveness.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant executive experience.

Leadership Attributes

• Credible and nonpartisan. Earns trust across political, regional, cultural, and industry differences while advocating firmly for member-approved positions.
• Strategic and disciplined. Distinguishes the most consequential priorities, connects resources to results, and follows through.
• Member centered. Listens carefully, welcomes differing views, and makes the value of membership visible through service, information, and impact.
• Enterprising and accountable. Pursues revenue and partnership opportunities consistent with the mission.
• Clear and composed. Communicates with accuracy and sound judgment, especially in public, legislative, media, and high-pressure settings.
• Inclusive and statewide in outlook. Understands that New Mexico’s business community spans diverse industries, regions, tribal nations, rural communities, and urban centers.
• Ethical and transparent. Handles public trust, organizational resources, confidential information, and competing interests with integrity.
• Board partner. Builds strong, transparent relationships with volunteer leaders, keeps the Board appropriately informed, and respects the distinct roles of governance and management.

Measures of Success

• The Board and staff share a clear strategic direction, annual priorities, and practical measures of progress, supported by timely and transparent communication about performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Membership retention, recruitment, engagement, and statewide reach meet Board-approved targets.
• Membership, sponsorship, and non-dues revenue growth meet or exceed Board-approved targets.
• NMCC maintains a financially sustainable operating model with appropriate reserves, disciplined expense management, effective internal controls, and timely, accurate financial reporting.
• NMCC’s advocacy reflects member priorities and earns credibility with policymakers, business leaders, partners, and the public.
• Marketing, communications, and sales operate as coordinated functions with clear audiences, goals, ownership, and performance measures.
• Staff roles, systems, and accountability support reliable execution and a healthy organizational culture.
• Members can identify concrete value from NMCC’s advocacy, information, connections, programs, and statewide leadership.

Additional Information
The President and CEO reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with the Executive Committee. The Chamber offices and team are in Albuquerque at 500 Marquette Ave. NW, Suite 300. This position will be required to work from this location.

Compensation and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Final employment terms, performance goals, and evaluation criteria will be established by the Board.

NMCC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes qualified applicants whose experience and perspective will strengthen its service to New Mexico’s business community.

Submit a resume and letter of interest by October 6, 2026, to:

Theresa Burch
Senior Administrative and Operations Coordinator
Email: tburch@nmchamber.org
Phone: 505-842-0644