Colorado Nonprofit Association

Bilingual Co-op Business Developer

aBOUT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING

At Center for Community Wealth Building (CCWB), we are creating an inclusive economy that works for all. We’re a worker-self directed nonprofit that promotes inclusive economic development that centers the talents and capacities of impacted and vulnerable Metro Denver residents, entrepreneurs and workers, while leveraging the economic power of anchor institutions to create an economy that works for everyone.

As the Bilingual Co-op Business Developer, you will be a critical member of a visionary team working to develop more inclusive models of ownership with diverse workers, entrepreneurs, and residents.

CCWB is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workplace.

Center for Community Wealth Building is an aggressive advocate of affirmative action and welcomes applications from everyone, particularly from people of color; women; LGBTQ people; immigrants or refugees; people with disabilities; and people from low- or moderate-income backgrounds.

The Objectives You’ll Meet

• Provide culturally relevant technical assistance in English & Spanish to a range of cooperative projects
• Support worker co-op founders to create and conduct feasibility studies, business plans, membership models, market research, capital raising plans, and member recruitment plans
• Manage the Worker Owned Cooperative Academy
• Launch a back office support initiative, and coordinate back office support services programming

How You’ll Meet These Objectives

Technical Assistance (40%)

• Manage academy for startup worker cooperatives, including iterating and delivering curriculum, coordinating event logistics, and conducting appropriate outreach and follow up support for participants
• Provide 1:1 culturally relevant business support to startup cooperatives and early stage cooperatives preparing for their growth phase
• Coach cooperative groups and small businesses in business planning
• Develop and implement scopes of work with robust work plans for cooperatives who complete the academy, including regular communication and follow-up

Program Support & Partner Cultivation (40%)

• Participate in the overall program design process alongside the Co-op Development Team, fully owning the budget, planning, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of your domains within the program
• Assist worker co-op founders to create and conduct feasibility studies, business plans, membership models, market research, capital raising plans, and member recruitment plans
• Provide back office support to Spanish-speaking or immigrant-led cooperatives to support their successful launch
• Conduct program evaluations to demonstrate how CCWB is building an inclusive economy
• Build and maintain relationships with service providers and other technical assistance organizations to facilitate smooth hand offs of businesses that CCWB supports
• Develop relationships within Metro Denver’s small business support ecosystems to better position cooperatives to receive resources, access opportunities, and build power

Organizational Support (10%)

• Maintain appropriate organizational data and record-keeping systems
• Identify operational issues that need attention and facilitate solutions
• Support with movement building campaigns, including presentations on Community Wealth Building principles
• Report on deliverables and contribute to reporting for grants

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

Required Qualifications

• Bilingual Spanish/English
• At least five years of experience in writing business and marketing plans, including conducting market studies, viability assessments, budgeting, financial management, profit projections, and marketing plans
• Proven experience facilitating groups, teaching, and/or training adults
• Proven ability to successfully support and grow micro and small businesses
• Understanding of small and cooperative businesses and their challenges
• Experience working with people from low-income and diverse backgrounds, one-on-one and in a group
• Strong communication, presentation, public speaking, and writing skills
• Experience planning and effectively facilitating meetings and workshops
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including nights/weekends
• Computer skills, including Gmail and Google Suite
• Car and valid driver’s license (mileage reimbursed)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience and familiarity with cooperative businesses and employee ownership models
• BA/BS in business administration, management, non-profit management, or a related field is strongly preferred
• Experience in democratic workplaces
• Empathy and strong interpersonal skills
• Understanding of movement-building principles and practices
• Experience with grassroots community organizing or labor organizing for social change

Work Style and Organizational Culture

• Passion for creating structural change, advancing racial justice, and creating a new economic paradigm that reverses economic inequities
• Strong team player with ability to work autonomously in a virtual environment
• Comfort with non-traditional approaches to economic development and willingness to experiment with creative solutions in an entrepreneurial environment
• Drive to achieve and exceed goals and objectives, think creatively to develop strategies, and course correct as needed
• Respect for community-based models of change and commitment to empowering community partners
• Comfort working on a small team with big ideas and no support staff
• Attention to detail and high quality service