BEARI PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Overview of Opportunity

BEARI seeks a seasoned consultant who can work with Alliance members to lead the creation of a meaningful system change in the communities, and the economy, of Rhode Island. The ideal candidate has a passion for BEARI’s mission and possesses a strong understanding of non-profit management, program design and development, and collective impact work.

This position requires the ability to lead collective impact work, by:

• 1. Proactively and continuously engaging with all the member organizations to understand both the needs and dynamics of the clients they serve and the programs and services that they offer to meet these needs,
• Facilitating alignment among these organizations as they seek to further their common mission while also managing their individual scopes of work,
• Advocating for both visibility and funding to further this work, and
• Leading with curiosity and compassion in seeking and implementing solutions to the systemic barriers that face BIPOC and women entrepreneurs in Rhode Island.

Scope of Work:

The Consultant will be responsible for implementing the following activities:

Program Management

• Develop and manage work plans and timelines, schedule meetings
• Meet biweekly with Alliance Co-Chairs
• Plan monthly Alliance Zoom meetings
• Keep Co-Chairs informed of problems, concerns, incidents, needs, and trends
• Organize and manage periodic BEARI events as required by the program

Client Services

• Serve as a navigator between BEARI organizations, providing concierge navigation services for small business owners
• Monitor the progress of client businesses in achieving their stated goals
• Plan and organize trainings, workshops, programs and events for small business and entrepreneur clients

Data Management and Outcome/Impact Evaluation

• Manage and oversee the data collection and reporting for all key metrics from each BEARI member; enter accurate data into Salesforce for easy tracking and reporting for internal and external purposes
• Prepare and oversee timely reporting for grant and contract compliance
• Periodically prepare reports for funders and Alliance members required by the program

Collaborative Impact & Advocacy

• Serve as a convener and connector of all BEARI member organizations
• Identify and address both opportunities and challenges that impact BEARI’s collective work
• Serve as a representative of BEARI and advocate for and elevate our mission and work and the businesses we are supporting
• Identify and connect with key BEARI stakeholders and initiate, develop and maintain cooperative relationships with key constituencies

Communications

• Oversee communications activities (which are executed by a contractor)
• Support the planning and implementation of promotional events
• Represent the coalition at public events, task forces and other external committees and activities, as needed

Core Skills & Capacities:

• A minimum of 5 years of related professional experience
• Strong organizational and management skills
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal - including facilitation
• Ability to step in proactively and get the work moving
• Plans and organizes in an efficient, productive manner, and can prioritize and manage competing tasks and activities in a constantly changing environment
• Easily assesses complex challenges and takes timely action to resolve problems and address challenges
• Ability to work occasional weekends/after normal business hours
• Commitment to addressing issues of race & equity
• Systems expertise:
  • Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel (including spreadsheet creation and recordkeeping), PowerPoint
  • Zoom (breakout rooms and multi-site coordination)
  • Google Office Suite (Google Drive, meeting, pages, etc.)

Compensation:

$64,000, beginning as soon as possible through December 31, 2024.

Evaluation Metrics:

BEARI will evaluate bidders and proposals based on the following criteria:

• Proposal presentation – The applicant submits a proposal outlining their approach to this work, presented in a clear, logical manner that is well-organized
• Previous experience/past performance history
• Samples and/or case studies from previous projects
• Experience and technical expertise
• Availability