Colorado Nonprofit Association

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

At Center for Community Wealth Building (CCWB), we are creating an inclusive economy that works for all. We’re a startup, worker self-directed nonprofit that promotes inclusive economic development opportunities that center 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 Small Business Capacity Building Manager, you will be a critical member of a visionary team working to strengthen BIPOC-owned small businesses and leverage the purchasing power of large institutions to help close the racial wealth gap.

More about CCWB
CCWB envisions self-determined communities free from racism, and rooted in economic democracy, dignity, and joy. Our work is driven by our commitment to the values of Economic Justice, Solidarity, Sovereignty, and Interconnectedness. We see our work as Revolutionary, and we act with Confidence to inspire a fundamental shift within individuals, communities, institutions, and systems to support a thriving local economy and a healthy and sustainable way of life.

Internally, we operate as a worker self-directed nonprofit, which means that all employees help to establish the policies, strategic direction and financial priorities of our organization. In the day to day, we celebrate small wins, we create collectively, we practice empathy, and we embody love and respect. Our team’s internal values include Accountability/Achievement/Results, Experimenting Boldly, Collective Creation/Co-Creation, and Intentionality/Human-Centered Growth/7-Generation Thinking.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ~ COMMITTED TO A DIVERSE WORKPLACE

The 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’re Here to Meet

• Build strong relationships with and provide culturally appropriate capacity building support and technical assistance to local, BIPOC small business owners to support their goals to grow or strengthen their business.
• Support CCWB’s institutional partners committed to leveraging their everyday business practices to help close the racial wealth gap by connecting them to small businesses and helping them establish practices that are small business friendly.

How You’ll Meet Those Objectives

Small Business Outreach & Support (~40% of time)

• Conduct strategic outreach efforts to build and strengthen relationships with BIPOC-owned small businesses to understand their needs and desires for their businesses and readiness to do business with large institutions
• Maintain thorough records on small business contacts and activities
• Work with Small Business Director to design, coordinate, and co-facilitate industry-specific convenings of BIPOC-owned businesses to develop community, discuss common challenges and needs, build skills, connect to opportunities, and inspire collective action to address pressing issues
• Work with Small Business Director to develop and implement additional responsive programming, as needed
• Work with small businesses to build capacity to do business with anchor institutions, including meeting institutional requirements and responding to Requests for Proposals
• Understand the local small business technical assistance landscape in order to connect small businesses with appropriate support
• Support the ShopBIPOC Collaborative as needed and appropriate

Partner Procurement Support (~40% of time)

• Work in collaboration with CCWB’s Anchor Strategy Director to understand institutional partners’ procurement needs and requirements
• Connect small businesses to institutional partners in response to the partners’ needs for specific goods and services
• Participate in meetings with anchor institutions, including the Denver Anchor Network (DAN) Procurement Group, DAN Town Hall, Equity Exchange, and other meetings as appropriate
• Support efforts to measure impact of institutional procurement on small businesses
• Serve as a liaison between small businesses and anchor institutions, helping problem solve as needed, and coaching both sides if challenges arise

Organizational Support (~10% of time)

• Maintain appropriate organizational data and record-keeping systems
• Identify operational issues that need attention and facilitate solutions
• Report on deliverables and contribute to reporting for grants

Other Duties as Assigned (~10% of time)

Required Qualifications

Bilingual Spanish/English (intermediate-high level of fluency, verbal and written) and cultural competency

• At least four years of entrepreneurial experience and/or experience working with small businesses through training, technical assistance, or advising; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience planning and implementing programs
• Experience working with people from low-income and diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice
• Understanding of systems of oppression
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and experience holding oneself accountable
• Strong communication, presentation, public speaking, and writing skills
• Empathy and strong interpersonal skills
• Experience planning and effectively facilitating meetings and workshops
• Self-starter with the ability to thrive in a team environment
• 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

• Strong grasp of Community Wealth Building principles and methodologies
• Experience with grassroots community organizing or labor organizing for social change
• BA/BS in Business Administration, Management, Non-profit Management, or a related field
• Experience with HubSpot
• Understanding of movement-building principles and practices
• Familiarity with lean design principles
• Experience managing volunteers and student interns
• Relationships with Denver area stakeholders (specifically government agencies; nonprofits; the business community; public policy, economic development, and community organizing entities; and labor unions)

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 helping community partners discover their power

Comfort working on a small team with ambitious goals and limited resources

• Attention to detail and high quality service