Thurston Chamber of Commerce

President / Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location:
Olympia, Washington
809 Legion Way SE Ste 305, Olympia, WA 98501

Compensation:
$140,000 – $180,000 annually, DOE

Employment Type:
Full-Time

Reports To:
Board of Directors

Posting Date:
September 21, 2026

Application Deadline:
October 16, 2026

The Thurston Chamber of Commerce is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and values-driven executive to serve as its next President / Chief Executive Officer.
This is a rare and consequential leadership opportunity arising from the planned retirement of a long-tenured CEO who has guided the organization through decades of growth, program expansion, reputational excellence, and institutional development. The incoming CEO will be taking over an organization that is financially stable and structurally lean and nimble.

The CEO serves as the organization’s chief executive and administrative officer, accountable to the Board of Directors for all aspects of organizational performance, including strategic direction, operational and financial health, workforce leadership, and external affairs. The CEO is the primary face of the organization to the business community, elected officials, partner agencies, funders, media, and the public, and must be an effective communicator, a credible advocate, and a principled steward of the organization’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and direction of Thurston Chamber of Commerce. Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Strategic leadership: Leads the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the organization’s multi-year strategic plan in partnership with the Board, executive team, and key Identifies emerging trends, policy shifts, and community needs that may impact the organization’s direction, and proactively adapt organizational strategy in response.

• Operational & Financial Oversight: Providing executive oversight of all organizational operations, ensuring efficient, effective, and compliant delivery of programs and administrative functions across all departments. Directing the development and administration of the annual operating budget. Overseeing financial planning, audit processes, internal controls, and risk management to maintain the long-term fiscal health and operational sustainability of the organization. Serves as corporate secretary for two tax-exempt 501(c)3 and 501(c)6 organizations. Ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and funder requirements governing the organization’s programs, operations, and employment practices.
• Community and External Affairs: Serves as the primary spokesperson and public representative of the Thurston Chamber of Commerce to build and sustain relationships with chamber members, community leaders, and regional coalitions that help advance the organization’s interests and amplify its impact. Leads government relations and advocacy efforts with policymakers at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels.
• Workforce & Organizational Culture: Leads, develops, and inspires a diverse team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional excellence, and safety. Oversee the organization’s human resources strategy, including talent acquisition, employee development, performance management, succession planning, and total compensation philosophy. Navigates organizational change thoughtfully and inclusively, communicating transparently with staff and maintaining morale and trust during transitions.
• Board Relations & Governances: Serves as the primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors, providing timely, accurate, and candid information and reports to support and inform the Board’s deliberation, decision-making, and fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities. Supports Board development, onboarding, committee functions, and governance best practices in partnership with the Board’s Executive

Minimum Qualifications

The following qualifications are required for consideration for this position. Candidates who do not meet minimum qualifications will not be considered.

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in business administration, economics, finance, management, public administration, or a closely related field or five years of senior executive-level experience.

Experience

We seek candidates with deep executive‑level leadership experience, a track record of delivering mission outcomes, and demonstrated success in revenue growth and fund development.

Candidates should have experience with public–private partnerships, member‑based organizations, entrepreneurial and/ or small business pursuits, and environments requiring financial discipline.  They will bring a proven record of moving organizational vision into execution, expanded organizational reach, and strengthened relationships across sectors.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated Profit and Loss (P&L) management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, build, sustain, and inspire a diverse and high-functioning team(s).
• Seasoned and balanced understanding of regional, state, or local business environments.

Other Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are not required but will strengthen a candidate’s application and are weighted favorably in the selection process.

• Experience working or residing in the Pacific Northwest region, with knowledge of Washington State’s governmental, policy, and community landscape.
• Established relationships with leaders from private, public, non-profit, education sectors and with State economic development organizations.
• Experience in fund development, grant acquisition, earned revenue diversification strategies that are subject to public accountability and transparency requirements.
• Established relationships with federal or state agencies, legislative offices, regional or local regulatory, funding, planning entities / jurisdictions that are relevant to the organization’s work.

This position operates in a professional office environment, with frequent travel in Thurston County and occasional travel throughout western Washington.

The CEO is expected to attend reoccurring and special Chamber events, community events, partner meetings, legislative meetings and receptions, and public forums, some of which may occur in the evenings or on weekends. Occasional out-of-state travel for conferences, federal agency meetings, or professional development is also expected, typically not exceeding two to four trips per year.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain stationary at a workstation and work on a computer for extended
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, in writing, by telephone, and via video conferencing
• Ability to speak in public to small and large audiences, comfort with making video recordings and the use of a handheld microphone.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and maintain a valid driver’s license for regional travel purposes.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials or equipment up to 25
• Ability to navigate office buildings, community venues, and field sites, which may include stairs or uneven terrain.

ADA / Reasonable Accommodation

The Thurston Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law. Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process should contact the search contact at HR@thurstonchamber.com or calling (360)764-8572 to request accommodation.

Application Instructions

The Thurston Chamber of Commerce is conducting this search on a confidential basis and asks that candidates treat their application with appropriate discretion. References will not be contacted without prior notification to and consent of the candidate. The organization is committed to a thorough and equitable selection process.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a complete application package electronically via the Thurston Chamber online application portal at https://thurstonchamber.com/open-positions/  .

Application deadline: October 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time. Applications received after this deadline may not be considered. The position will remain open until filled in the event that a qualified candidate pool is not established by the deadline.

Required Application Materials

A complete application package must include all of the following:

1. Cover Letter (not to exceed three pages) addressing your interest in the position, relevant experience and qualifications, and your leadership philosophy as it relates to the responsibilities of this role.
2. Résumé providing a comprehensive summary of your professional experience, education, and credentials.
3. Four (4) Professional References with name, title, organization, relationship to the applicant, and current contact information. References will not be contacted without the applicant’s prior knowledge and consent.
4. Video message (recorded using a cell phone MP4 or MOV file format), providing a self-introduction, current leadership position, relevant entrepreneurial or small business experience, and be no more than five minutes in length. demonstrating the applicant’s professional communication, presentation, and verbal style.

Selection Process

The selection process will include an initial application screening, structured panel interviews, and finalist interviews with the Board of Directors. Candidates advancing to finalist stages may be asked to complete an executive assessment or provide additional materials. The anticipated start date for the selected candidate is January 2027, allowing for an appropriate transition with the retiring CEO.

Questions

Questions regarding this announcement or the application process may be directed to at HR@thurstonchamber.com or by calling (360)764-8572.

This search is being conducted with the highest degree of confidentiality. Applications and related materials are treated as confidential records to the fullest extent permitted by applicable public records laws. Candidates with concerns regarding confidentiality are encouraged to contact the search contact prior to submitting materials.

Employment with the Chamber is "at will" employment unless you have a separate and distinct written employment contract with the Chamber. This announcement does not constitute an employment contract.

Organization Overview

Created in 1874, the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce is a community leader, steering prosperity in Thurston County. We work with an array of community partnerships, ranging from private businesses, non-profits, and government, to address the challenges and opportunities before our community.

The Thurston County Chamber aims to grow a prosperous economy and vibrant community by connecting people, ideas and resources.  We support more than 4,000 businesses, connect employers to opportunities, convene regional partnerships, strengthen leadership pipelines, and advocate for policies that support economic vitality and quality of life.  We help transitioning service members launch new careers, connect students to real-world opportunities, and brought public and private partners together around shared priorities for regions future. 

What makes this work meaningful is not any one initiative alone.  It is the way these efforts connect to create something larger, a healthier business climate and more vibrant and resilient community.  For additional information please see the following documents: 

• About the organization: https://thurstonchamber.com/publications/annual-report/
• About the Thurston Region: https://chambervu.com/thurston26/

Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Statement:

The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.