Director of Entrepreneurship

Organization Overview: Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing economic distress in Eastern Kentucky through innovative population-positive initiatives and programming. Our mission is to foster growth in the region's population by creating sustainable opportunities for economic development, improving the quality of life, and promoting community well-being.

Position Overview: Funded through a contract with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (CED) and grant funding through an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER grant, the Director of Entrepreneurship at SOAR is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and overall management of the Business and Innovation Unit. The Director serves as the primary point of contact for the Innovation Hub within KY Innovation and collaborates with other designated Innovation Hubs across the state. Managing grant initiatives, including an ARC Power Grant building out the entrepreneurial ecosystem across educational institutions and communities in Eastern Kentucky.  Additionally, the Director plays a key role in building an entrepreneurial ecosystem from the ground up, fostering economic development through a tech-driven economy.

This position will report to the Chief Operating Officer. 

This position will be located throughout the 29 county service region as defined by the Kentucky CED contract. The successful candidate must reside, or be willing to relocate to, one of the following counties (Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Rowan, Whitley, and Wolfe counties).

Key Responsibilities:

• Operations Management: Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the Business and Innovation team, ensuring smooth workflow and efficiency. 
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of 7, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. Provide coaching and leadership development to team members. Interview, onboard, and train all members of the SOAR Innovation team. 
• Strategic Planning & Execution: Develop and execute strategic plans in alignment with organizational goals. Create and implement processes to improve operational effectiveness.
• Process Creation & Implementation: Design and implement operational processes and systems to ensure optimal performance and continuous improvement. Provide needed updates, modifications, and reviews every 6 months.
• Internal Meetings & Leadership Management: Organize and lead internal meetings, ensuring clear communication and alignment with organizational objectives. Manage leadership responsibilities, including decision-making and strategic guidance.
• Lead Vetting & Responses: Oversee the vetting of leads and respond to inquiries, ensuring potential clients and partners are appropriately assessed and engaged.
• Community Engagement & Outreach: Cultivate relationships with stakeholders, including investors, angel investment organizations, banks, and CDFIs. Engage with the community through outreach efforts to build strong connections and support for the organization’s mission.
• Marketing & Communications Strategy: Support SOAR’s Chief Marketing Officer in the creation of effective strategies to enhance the organization’s visibility and impact. Lead content creation efforts to support these strategies.
• Curriculum Building & Educational Materials: Create, maintain, and update educational materials and curricula to support business development and innovation programs.
• Contract and Grant Management: Manage and oversee CED Contract and additional grant initiatives, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and providing required reports to KY Innovation and SOAR Executive Leadership.
• Partnership Development: Serve as a conduit to state-wide and national resources, including LaunchBlue Accelerator, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, APEX Accelerator, Women’s Business Center of Kentucky, and the Center on Rural Innovation.
• Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development: Spearhead the creation of a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem from the ground up, focusing on fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth in the region.
• Reporting & Compliance: Ensure all activity and performance metrics are met as outlined by KY Innovation and SOAR’s Executive Leadership. Provide regular reports on progress and outcomes.

Expectations:

• Mission Alignment: Embody SOAR’s mission and values in all interactions, fostering a collaborative, growth-focused environment.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the SOAR Innovation team to ensure effective planning and execution of entrepreneurial programming.
• Communication: Maintain prompt, clear communication with internal and external contacts.
• Commitment: Be dedicated to Appalachia Kentucky’s growth and future, actively supporting regional development.
• Flexibility: Be prepared for extensive travel within the assigned SOAR region.

Culture and Core Values

SOAR’s mission is simple: to return Eastern Kentucky back to economic prosperity.

Our team culture is anchored by putting the interests of Eastern Kentucky first in all that we do. We believe treating others the way we want to be treated is always within our control. Our core values include faith, selflessness, grit, integrity, and empathy. We do our best to exemplify these daily in our interactions with each other and with external partners.

Why SOAR?

The SOAR organization offers a chance to be part of a movement that’s bigger than any one of us individually. Eastern Kentucky’s won’t be solved by others. It’s going to take us to come together to find the solutions. Through communications, collaborations, and convenings, SOAR is on the front lines helping to get the right people in the right rooms to ensure the future of Eastern Kentucky burns as bright as ever.

SOAR offers a competitive salary along with the following benefits:

• 100% paid individual health insurance.
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan.
• Cell phone stipend.
• Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel.

Apply Now

SOAR is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.