Employment

Colorado Director

Based in Denver, the Colorado Director reports to the Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, and Vice President, Programs & Engagement. This is a mid-to-high level position, requiring strong experience in state policy and business outreach. There will be regular intrastate travel and some regional/national travel involved with this position.

Description & Responsibilities

Direct all of Small Business Majority’s on the ground work in Colorado. Oversee the project management of all Colorado-related grant deliverables, in addition to other necessary work that advances Small Business Majority. The Colorado Director will have responsibility for the following integrated activities in the state:

Policy & Advocacy

  • Navigate key state-level policy issues relating to the organization's work and direct Small Business Majority's state advocacy work.
  • Maintain and create relationships with key advocacy partners to remain the voice of small business in Colorado and coordinate with them to advance the organization's policy agenda.
  • Work with the organization's policy leads to develop state policy positions, along with a plan to take action.
  • With support from our Communications team, testify before state governmental bodies, meet with lawmakers, speak at press conferences, and more, to advance Small Business Majority's policy agenda.
  • Attend and/or lead issue-area and small business-focused coalitions to advance small business policy and advocacy in Colorado.

Outreach

  • With support from our Engagement team, develop and maintain relationships with small business owners to gather feedback on small business issues in Colorado, navigate the Colorado small business ecosystem for them, and mobilize those small business owners to conduct advocacy on behalf of Small Business Majority's public policy agenda. 
  • Manage relationships with our Colorado Small Business Council by facilitating regular meetings and mobilizing Council members to have their voices heard. 
  • Develop and maintain relationships with state and regional business organizations, including conducting seminars, webinars, and other joint activities to educate the business community on a variety of business and public policy issues. 
  • Develop and maintain relationships with small business support organizations such as lenders, small business technical assistance providers and others to direct small business owners to the appropriate organizations for assistance.

Fundraising

  • In collaboration with our Development team and Executive team, secure significant funding from philanthropic, corporate, and other institutional funders. While national funding will be allocated to Colorado, the Colorado Director is ultimately responsible for raising the needed funds to sustain the operation with in-state funding. 
  • Maintain relationships with current funders and ensure grants are renewed at the appropriate time.
  • Identify and develop relationships with new state (and potentially national) funders to make a convincing sales pitch to secure funding. 
  • Work with our national Development team on crafting proposals that match our organizational goals and those of the prospective funders.

Communications 

  • Collaborate with Small Business Majority's Communications team to develop state-based media and other communications strategies.
  • Establish ongoing relationships with key local reporters.
  • Communicate directly with national and state media as appropriate.

Research

  • Work with Small Business Majority's Research team on the development and implementation of state research projects such as opinion polling and focus groups that will advance policy and advocacy, as well as programming efforts in Colorado.

Other Responsibilities

  • Work closely with other team members to maximize the efficient management of the organization and resolve other major organizational issues. 
  • Coordinate on an ongoing basis with other Outreach Directors and the Vice Presidents of Programs and Policy, to maximize the impact of Small Business Majority's work, share best practices, and ensure the appropriate allocation of resources across the country.
  • Attend conferences in (and potentially outside of Colorado) and represent Small Business Majority in an effective and professional manner.

Qualifications

  • At least 2-3 years of experience working on public policy, advocacy and/or small business issues
  • Strong interest/experience working with the Colorado legislature and other state policymakers to enact public policy changes
  • Experience organizing and communicating with constituency groups
  • Successful experience fundraising from corporate and/or philanthropic institutions
  • Highly organized and able to track/monitor work on various projects
  • Ability to work in a flexible, entrepreneurial environment with frequently shifting priorities and evolving internal processes and structures
  • Interest/experience working on small business issues such as healthcare, responsible lending, retirement security, workforce, taxes, and other issues
  • Ability to quickly build relationship with all types of people
  • Strong public speaking abilities 
  • Self-starter who has ability to make cold calls and network with small business owners, business organizations, funders, policymakers, and other advocates
  • Available for regular travel throughout Colorado and to attend occasional key external and internal meetings outside the state (including Small Business Majority's bi-annual retreats)

If qualified and interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.