Location: Working remotely from Southern VT, with frequent time spent working in the field
Two-year temporary contracted position, funded through November 2023
The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is an economic development nonprofit founded in 1995 to lift up women who lift up the world. CWE is home to the largest cluster of the partially-SBA-funded Women’s Business Centers in the country, covering Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Central Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. We believe that when women thrive economically, our families and communities thrive, and that a more equitable, inclusive economy is more effective and enjoyable. To do that, CWE offers business services – training, individual business counseling, and community connections - that help women start and grow their businesses. CWE operates the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) of New England and is a regional certifier for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
The Project Manager – Vermont Community Navigators is responsible for the development and implementation of the Community Navigators Project for the CWE Vermont Women’s Business Center (WBC). Funded through a federal grant from the Small Business Administration, the data-driven incumbent ensures excellence in the development and delivery of the Community Navigators program under the CWE Vermont Women’s Business Center. This is an opportunity to develop programming and systems that lead to systemic change for women- and veteran- aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. The person who fills this role will be responsible for creative programming, community development activities, and compliance with federal grant standards to ensure communities historically left out of economic development are served with relevant, inviting, and meaningful programmatic experiences. Programming will include individual consultations and cohort training programs where participants can build strong communities of support. The person who fills this role will recruit and manage instructors and counselors, recommend, and implement new programs, and make improvements to existing programs and services.
The ideal candidate is an excellent connector, is deeply connected in the community, and has a background in entrepreneurship. Core skills include innovation, organization, and relationship management. The right person for this position is a motivated self-starter who shares CWE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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RESPONSIBILITIES:
Management
- Manage the Community Navigator – Vermont Spoke project for CWE Vermont under the direction of the CWE Vermont Director
- Liaise between the Community Navigators Spokes & Hub, ensuring excellence in partnership, compliance, communication, and program delivery
- Assess the needs of small business owners; recommend and assist with the development of a plan of action
People Management
- Recruit, train and manage program consultants and volunteers
- Create and nurture community partnerships
Client Service
- Develop and deliver education and training programs specific to the needs of rural women and veteran entrepreneurs
- Support business owners who are dealing with difficult situations with a high level of professionalism, pragmatic optimism, and compassion
Outreach & Marketing
- Implement marketing and outreach to attract new clients
- Connect deeply with the community by engaging in community events & meetings (virtually or in-person)
Data Management & Reporting
- Work closely with the CWEVT Director to track and analyze activities and outcomes of programs
- Collect and meticulously manage data specific to the Community Navigators Project
- Write evidence-based reports on project outcomes for various partners, including federal partners
Work with Women’s Business Center (WBC) Team & Partner Organizations
- Build alliances with CWE’s WBC staff and external community groups to offer programs collaboratively
- Communicate clearly and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on an ongoing basis
- Related duties as assigned
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WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
There are many ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate most of the qualifications and experiences listed below.
Experience
- Demonstrated professional experience in one or more of the following fields: small business management, economic development, micro-enterprise, program development, entrepreneurship
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Confidence in a variety of public-facing roles
- Dedicated to radical hospitality in all relationships
- Solutions-oriented with deep understanding of current community and business development resources and best practices
- Committed to serving the needs of a diverse client base
- Ability to work with a small team to perform effectively, nimbly, and with a sense of humor
- Ability to solve practical problems especially in situations where only limited standardization exists
- Comfort managing complex projects, preferably experience with government-funded projects
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
- Excellent organizational, communication, writing, and decision-making skills
- Innovative self-starter with ability to develop and drive new initiatives
- Ability and comfort utilizing a variety of platforms to communicate & effectively present information
- Operate in the online world seamlessly
- Ability to write research reports and business correspondence
- MS Office proficiency required
- Comfort learning & utilizing business and financial planning software
- Enthusiastic about the mission of CWE
- Committed to the success of all women and passionate about entrepreneurship
- Commitment to success and high-quality service delivery
- Independent and reliable
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Required to have and maintain a valid Driver’s License and reliable mode of transportation
Additional Requirements
- Expected to work outside of normal business hours
- Most work will be done in communities throughout Vermont, rather than a traditional office setting
- (Preferable) Well-networked in Southern Vermont
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The salary range for this position is $65,000 to $75,000, plus benefits. Benefits include mileage reimbursement, bereavement leave, health and dental insurance (CWE contributes a percentage to health and dental cost), family leave, life insurance (CWE pays 100% of the cost), paid holidays, jury duty leave, and vacation benefits. At CWE, we are proud to offer employees the ability to work with their managers to create a flexible schedule that suits clients, staff, and our organization. Additionally, we have implemented a flex time policy of 4 hours/week to provide employees with the additional support needed during this complicated time. This position is classified as temporary, full-time, and exempt.
COVID-19 POLICIES:
We are currently allowing employees to work remotely, in response to the pandemic. Our office space is available to employees if they choose to use it, provided they follow all CDC-recommended safety procedures. We offer each employee a laptop to facilitate working from home. We will resume in-person operations when it is safe to do so and will communicate with our employees as we learn more about the timeline for resumption of in-person work. Our decisions will be informed based on the latest guidance from health officials and from the Small Business Administration.
We strive to meet our clients where they are, which involves some evening and weekend hours. We prioritize self-care and encourage staff to work with their manager to set a schedule that works for the organization, for our clients and for the employees, within a 40-hour work week.
Each Women’s Business Center serves a particular geographic region. Between you and your team, you will ensure that the region is served, which will include travel within the region, when the health situation permits. Virtual engagements can take the place of in-person events where appropriate.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply to this position, please submit your resume and cover letter to the CWEVT team, info.vermont@CWEonline.org. Please include the position title in the subject line.
TIMELINE AND HIRING PROCESS:
We will review and respond to all applications received. While subject to change, candidates elected to advance throughout the process can expect to interview with the Senior Director of CWE Vermont, and for finalists, an interview with a team of CWEVT Stakeholders. Expected start date is February 2022 and is negotiable.
The Center for Women & Enterprise celebrates diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to intentional actions and relationships that sustainably advance the IDEAS framework: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social Justice. These principles inform our hiring practices and our company culture. More information is available on our website.
The Center for Women & Enterprise celebrates diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to intentional actions and relationships that sustainably advance the IDEAS framework: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social Justice. These principles inform our hiring practices and our company culture. More information is available on our website: https://cweonline.org/About-CWE/CWE-Inclusion-Diversity-Equity-Access-Social-Justice-Vision