Executive Director

Executive Director - Bi-State Regional Commission

Bi-State Regional Commission is seeking a practical, collaborative, and forward-looking regional executive to lead one of the Midwest’s most distinctive bi-state planning and intergovernmental organizations. This is a rare opportunity to guide a respected regional commission through its first Executive Director transition in more than 25 years while advancing transportation, infrastructure, economic development, and regional cooperation across a five-county, two-state region (the `Quad Cities’ on the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois).

This is not a maintenance assignment. Bi-State is a trusted regional platform with strong staff capacity, deep institutional credibility, and meaningful work at the intersection of local government, transportation funding, economic development, infrastructure, and member service. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to preserve what is working while bringing fresh ideas, practical innovation, and action-oriented leadership to the organization’s next chapter.

The Commission is seeking an executive who brings:

• Transportation planning, funding, and regional infrastructure credibility

• Experience leading grant-funded public or intergovernmental organizations

• Skill building trust with elected officials, member governments, state/federal partners, and staff

• The ability to strengthen economic development, grant strategy, and member-service value across the region

The role requires visible neutrality, sound public-sector judgment, and the ability to lead through influence rather than formal authority. Bi-State’s value is grounded in trust, technical credibility, funding leverage, and practical service to member governments throughout the five-county region. The organization provides transportation planning, community and economic development, grant administration, GIS and mapping services, environmental planning, and regional collaboration that benefits member governments throughout the five-county region.

The Quad Cities region offers the scale and amenities of a metropolitan area with the affordability, accessibility, and quality of life associated with smaller communities. The region is anchored by the Mississippi River, the Rock Island Arsenal, John Deere, health care, advanced manufacturing, logistics, higher education, arts and culture, riverfront amenities, trails, and a strong tradition of cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

Reporting directly to the Commission, the Executive Director leads approximately 18 employees and manages an annual operating budget of approximately $2.5 million supported by federal, state, local, contract, and member-government funding. Bi-State operates in a project-funded environment where staff time, grant eligibility, transportation funding, reimbursement documentation, and audit readiness are directly connected to organizational sustainability. The next Executive Director must be comfortable leading a technical, grant-funded public organization where transportation planning and programming are central to both mission and budget.

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Urban or Regional Planning, Transportation Planning, Public Policy, Business Administration, Economic Development, or a related field

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible management and supervisory experience in local government, regional government, transportation planning, economic development, public administration, or a closely related field

• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, strategic planning, staff leadership, grants, intergovernmental relationships, and board or commission support

• Working knowledge of transportation planning, regional planning, grant-funded programs, or intergovernmental service delivery

• Valid driver’s license

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master’s degree in a related field

• Executive or senior management experience with a Council of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organization, regional planning agency, local government, transportation agency, economic development district, or comparable intergovernmental organization

• Experience with federal and state transportation funding, grant administration, project accounting, reimbursement documentation, and compliance requirements

• Familiarity with Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Economic Development Administration, state departments of transportation, or comparable funding partners

• Professional certifications such as AICP, ICMA-CM, CEcD, Professional Transportation Planner, or similar credentials

The salary range for this position is $135,000–$160,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Please apply online.

For more information on this position, contact:

Clay Pearson, Senior Vice President, Executive Recruitment

[email protected] | 713-816-8639