RISE Navigator & Program Manager, Southern Virginia

Description

The Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) with a mission of strengthening our community and contributing to economic development by fueling the success of under-resourced entrepreneurs through education, mentoring, financing, and networking. CIC is expanding its operations into southern Virginia and is partnering with the RISE Collaborative at the SOVA Innovation Hub.

CIC is currently seeking a candidate to serve as a full-time RISE Navigator & Program Manager. The position will contribute to the overall growth and sustainability of the RISE Collaborative regional entrepreneurship and innovation initiative, as a member of the RISE Collaborative Leadership Team. This position will be based at the SOVA Innovation Hub in South Boston, Virginia, and will require weekly travel within the RISE region and occasional evening or weekend events. The RISE Navigator & Program Manager role will have a dual focus, 1) locating aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in the region, with a focus on traded sector, target industries, and working directly with them to help them access capital (financial, knowledge, and human) for their businesses and 2) coordinating with the RISE Navigator Team and the RISE Collaborative Leadership Team to ensure measurable impact across the region. The position will report to the CIC Director of Communications + Engagement and also will be accountable to the RISE Project Director through the SOVA Innovation Hub .

RISE Collaborative is a regional entrepreneurship and innovation initiative serving 15 localities in Southern Virginia, spanning Brunswick County west to Patrick County and north to Buckingham County. Note: Through an agreement with the SOVA Innovation Hub and GO Virginia, this is a grant-funded position for up to 18 months and may be extended if additional grant resources are identified.

The SOVA Innovation Hub (715 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592) will serve as the homebase for the RISE Navigator & Program Manager. This is an in person position, with an expectation of 50-75% travel throughout the region to attend events and to meet with entrepreneurs. The successful candidate will need to live within the Virginia/North Carolina area.

Job Duties

Within the limits of the CIC’s programs, policies, procedures, and budget, the RISE Navigator & Program Manager is responsible for and has authority to perform the duties listed below:

Lead Navigator (approx 60% of duties)

• Conducts outreach across the RISE region, with a focus on 10 localities, to identify and build relationships with existing solopreneurs and small business owners, resulting in one-on-one intake sessions to match the entrepreneur with resources within the RISE Collaborative Ecosystem Map and assist the entrepreneur in finding new ones at the appropriate time.
• Mentors entrepreneurs one-on-one and in small groups in technical skill sets and sit side-by-side with entrepreneurs to deliver tangible outcomes (ex. a small business loan application or a business website).
• Facilitates mentorship and networking opportunities for program participants.
• Maintain a referral network of local service providers, business, state, and federal agency resources, and financial institutions for emerging and growing business owners to access.
• Tracks referrals from organizations and service providers and follows up to ensure the entrepreneur has received the necessary and desired assistance.
• Creates and maintains an outreach schedule to include systematically visiting businesses, and business resource providers in the assigned service area. Attends business and community events to represent RISE Collaborative and CIC.
• Document activities and events through photos and short-form videos that can be incorporated into RISE Collaborative and/or CIC communications and social media.  Be willing to share with appropriate personnel or post independently to represent work taking place in the region.
• Assist with marketing and program development to target scalable and/or traded sector business opportunities to fulfill grant requirements.
• Document, monitor, and evaluate activities and services, grant hours, and efficacy, including use of reports, data management, and other tools as appropriate.
• Communicate systematically with local and regional economic developers within their footprint to share updates on RISE Collaborative to develop and maintain a referral pipeline of potential entrepreneurs and innovators aligned with traded sector, target industry, and/or scalable business opportunities.
• Work with local and regional partners including SBDC, economic developers, chambers of commerce and others, to understand resources available to start or expand small businesses.
• Collaborates with other RISE Business Navigators and aspiring & local entrepreneurs to ascertain the needs of business owners in the region.
• Implements and grows the SOVA Innovation Hub’s RISE Collaborative initiative, including identifying and developing relationships with promising startups and existing businesses.
• Participate in the development, promotion, coordination, and delivery of entrepreneurial boot camp programs, workshops, training programs, webinars, and panels relevant to small business and organizational needs, as well as the creation and maintenance of the appropriate tools and databases.

Program Management (approx 40% of duties)

• Day-to-day Operations: Implements, oversees, and grows the RISE Navigator Program, in accordance with the program vision set by the SOVA Innovation Hub’s RISE Collaborative initiative, including identifying and developing relationships with promising startups and existing businesses, with a high priority on identified traded sector and target industries and ensuring smooth execution, timely services, and high participant satisfaction.
• Personnel Management and Teamwork Facilitation: Manage a part-time RISE Navigator and collaborate with internal teams, external partners, stakeholders, other RISE Navigators, and the RISE Project Leadership Team to ensure program performance aligns with grant deliverables and ensure ongoing coordination and timely reporting of grant-required information.
• Data Performance Tracking and Reporting: Drive achievement of grant metrics through collaboration and data management. Assist in achieving and documenting key performance indicators (KPIs) for program success, monitoring progress regularly and tracking program achievements. Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for stakeholders and senior management.
• Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building: Collaborate with the SOVA Innovation Hub RISE Collaborative Project Leadership Team to convene, coordinate, and facilitate ecosystem building activities, including but not limited to: monthly calls between RISE project staff and the Longwood SBDC, RISE Ecosystem Builder meetings, RISE Economic Development meetings, RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs. Act as a catalyst for entrepreneurship-led economic development, engaging with local entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and government agencies. Foster strategic partnerships and collaborations to support innovation and economic growth.
• Event Planning and Execution: Organize and execute various events with the RISE Collaborative Marketing & Events Team and CIC fostering entrepreneurship, including workshops, boot camps, demo days, and networking sessions. Ensure well-coordinated, impactful events aligned with program goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills Required

• Have a passion for small business/entrepreneurship, creating a more equitable ecosystem for entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds, and driving economic development through entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and Outlook), OneDrive, Google Suite, database management, and task management systems (e.g. Trello, Asana),
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, and industry professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others and successful work in teams.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and be adaptable to change.
• Must be able to work independently to manage multiple activities, prioritize tasks, and resolve problems.
• Excellent time management skills, including proven ability to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
• Education or training in relevant field(s) (business, entrepreneurship, accounting, etc.).
• Strong attention to detail.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license due to travel expectations, including weekly travel within the project region.

Work Schedule

9a-5p, This is an in person position, with an expectation of 50-75% travel throughout the region to attend events and to meet with entrepreneurs.  The successful candidate will need to live within the Virginia/North Carolina area. The SOVA Innovation Hub (715 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592) will serve as the homebase for the RISE Navigator & Program Manager.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter and resume to people@cicville.org. Priority consideration will be given to applications before January 8, 2025 and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Additional Info

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with or servicing under-resourced or under-served populations.
• Minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated experience in program management, entrepreneurship, or innovation-related roles.
• Proficient in digital marketing or willing to learn basic digital marketing skills, including social media, Canva, and email marketing platforms.
• Proficiency in leveraging technology and digital tools to enhance program delivery and participant engagement.
• Ability and willingness to utilize new technology solutions (e.g. ChatGPT).