Business Development Associate

Business Development Associate

Organization: The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that serves to build wealth and generational resiliency by providing training, technical, and financial assistance to help small businesses launch, grow, and thrive. Over more than 20 years, LEDC has worked with aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses to offer ongoing technical assistance, access to loan capital for business start-up or expansion, equipment, or land/building needs and training on business development topics throughout rural, suburban, and urban areas of Minnesota. We are an intentional organization with a strong mission to transform our community by creating economic opportunities for Latinos and our vision is a thriving multicultural community enriched with Latino leadership, culture, and economic influence.

Position: Business Development Associate

Responsible to: Business Development Director

Employment Classification: Exempt

Job Summary: The Business Development Associate will help expand LEDC’s strong client relationship culture through ongoing customer contact, quality customer service, and superior services knowledge in Minnesota. This position will perform specific business development duties as identified by LEDC’s Business Development Director and required under specific Grants, Government Contracts, and RFP’s. Key activities include providing technical assistance and training in Minnesota to aspiring, micro and small business owners in areas such as business feasibility, formation, regulations and compliance, access to capital, operations, marketing and finance.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (“Must-Haves)

• Work collaboratively with LEDC programs, colleagues, and partner organizations.
• Direct experience working within a non-profit organization with lending, business development, and advancement with a proven ability to oversee and implement practices that enhance financial performance.
• Demonstrated ability to build connections with local communities and organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent objectives, projects, or activities and work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent listening skills, curiosity and willingness to learn with an open mind.
• Self-motivated and willing to drive new projects through the finish line.
• Experience in lending, technical assistance, community development, compliance, monitoring, and regulatory environments in CDFIs.
• Strong decision-making skills with a people centered approach to understanding the challenges of our market.
• Experience in public speaking and conflict resolution.
• Willingness to travel and work in various locations across the state.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct outreach and assess aspiring entrepreneurs’ strengths and opportunities in order to collaboratively create a work plan with the purpose of acquiring skills relevant to managing a successful startup business.
• Guide aspiring entrepreneurs in the process of creating a startup business, which includes providing regulatory, operational, marketing, financial, real estate and access to capital technical assistance.
• Provide regulatory, operational, marketing and financial, real estate and access to capital technical assistance to business owners with the purpose of improving business revenue and sustainability.
• Underwrite business loan applications according to LEDC’s internal policies and engage with LEDC’s Lending Department and collaborating lending organizations with the purpose of breaching prospective entrepreneurs and business owners with working capital.
• Refer prospective entrepreneurs and business owners to professional legal, commercial real estate, commercial insurance, website design and tax advice.
• Serve as liaison between city/county inspectors and prospective entrepreneurs and business owners to solve licensing issues.
• Conduct business training to a cohort of 20 to 50 participants, as directed by LEDC’s Business Development Director.
• Maintain constant open communication channels with all members of LEDC’s Business Development Team.
• Collaborate in various intra-organization projects, requiring close interaction with LEDC’s Agriculture and Lending Teams.
• Maintain detailed notes of all services provided in the designated Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) and in other reports systems as needed.
• Update and maintain records of services provided in compliance with LEDC’s commitments under specific Grants, Government Contracts and RFP’s, Federal and State Data Practice regulations, including key output and outcome measures.
• Develop relationships with collaborators, including: local businesses, commercial property owners, banks, local government, and others involved in small business development. Represent the LEDC through involvement in initiatives led by the local governments, business associations, and philanthropic community.
• Support Marketing and Communications efforts by capturing photos, videos, and stories of LEDC clients and members, as requested and as relevant.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from four-year college or university, or one to two years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of experience working with small businesses either as a consultant or in management, a plus.
• Experience working with underrepresented communities.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Strong leadership skills, the ability to motivate others to achieve organizational goals.
• High level of proficiency using Microsoft Office systems (Outlook, Word, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Planner); TEAMS, SharePoint and Salesforce are a plus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Requires moving equipment, documents, or work materials up to 30 pounds.
• Must be fluent in both English and Spanish to effectively communicate with customers and clients in a diverse setting.

Compensation and Benefits:

Pay range for this role is: $57,000.00 to $61,500.00 per year

• Hours are 9-5 pm, with some evening and weekend work expected to meet critical deadlines
• LEDC pays medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability.
• Flexible Paid Time Off Policy
• 9 paid holidays (including two floating holidays) along with paid time off between Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day
• Paid Parental Leave
• 403(b) retirement plan

To apply: Please apply online via really. The position will remain open until filled, but applications received by Friday, March 7 will receive priority attention.

Latino Economic Development Center

804 Margaret Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $57,000.00 - $61,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $57,000 - $61,500