Program Manager - Small Business Development

LEDC is a Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Intermediary and a US Treasury Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing aspiring and existing small business owners with support via a suite of services and financial solutions. We provide group training on various technical topics and sectorial areas of expertise targeting entrepreneurs at all stages of their ventures (from start-up to expansion). LEDC also provides one-on-one coaching to entrepreneurs and financial education to help them overcome barriers to development and success such as obtaining required licenses or permits, finalizing business plans, automating accounting systems, and developing marketing plans. Central to our work is LEDC microloan program, lending between $5,000- $50,000 at below market competitive terms for small or emerging businesses unable to obtain financing from mainstream financial institutions. LEDC is also in the process of launching its SBA Community Advantage Lending program which will increase the maximum lending amount to $250,000.

Our small business training and technical assistance (TA) work has been a critical component in our work to help individuals create economic opportunity for themselves, their families, and their communities. In FY17 alone we served over 800 small businesses with trainings and individualized business coaching in the DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas. Our lending activity has been equally critical in building a strong small business ecosystem around the communities we serve. The rapid growth of our small business services portfolio requires experienced leadership to guide staff and continuously improve the services that we offer to clients with a vision of what the loan program can achieve for LEDC and its clients over the next five years.

 

Responsibilities

The list of Program Manager responsibilities includes, but it is not limited to, the following:

  • Supervise a team of business coaches and program staff in three offices. This includes tracking their performance against contractual and internal LEDC goals.
  • In partnership with the program Director, design a cohesive curriculum of sectorial trainings (e.g., food, construction, retail, etc.) to be imparted across all LEDC offices.
  • Lead on compliance activity and reporting to funders for contracts under the program.
  • Supervise data collection efforts, ensuring staff is in compliance with LEDC’s internal data protocols.
  • Work with the Program Director and Development team to continually build sources of operational funding.
  • Help develop business coaching and group training products, tools and processes to improve quality and efficiency of LEDC services to clients, and train staff members to use these tools.
  • Develop and share an annual training plan that outlines all (baseline) training courses that LEDC will offer throughout the course of the fiscal year and update/modify each quarter.
  • Help promote coordination and collaboration across all small business programs (technical assistance, training, and lending).
  • Work with Lending team in balancing loan production with achieving social impact and reaching LEDC’s core constituents.
  • Lead product and services innovation within the program.

 

Qualifications

  • BA required, master degree preferred (a plus if in a business-related field);
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills;
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish), and culturally sensitive required;
  • Strong grasp of domestic microenterprise, microfinance, and community economic development best practices, tools, and operations;
  • Small Business training and coaching experience preferred;
  • Hands-on experience working with small business owners preferred; and
  • Demonstrated commitment to working with low-wealth community.

This position is based in DC though due to its supervisory roles entails visiting LEDC satellite offices in a regular basis.

 

Salary and benefits:

  • Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
  • Benefits are competitive within the DC area: compensation currently includes, healthcare plan with minimal employee contribution, 10 observed holidays, and 4 weeks of vacation per year.

 

Application period

  • Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2018. First phone screen interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis. 

 

Start-date

  • Mid to late August, 2018.


 How to apply: Please email cover letter and resume to Oswaldo Acosta, Director of Small Business, at [email protected]

DC is an equal opportunity employer; and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Applicant must be authorized to work in the United States.