Fair Food Network Seeks Entrepreneur Experience Manager
Posted on February 3, 2023
Position Title:
Entrepreneur Experience Manager
Position Summary
How Fair Food Network and Michigan Good Food Fund work together: Fair Food Network serves as the administrative backbone of the Michigan Good Food Fund, bringing together the expertise, knowledge, and financial capital of stakeholders and partners from across the state. The mission and goals of the Good Food Fund are set by a Stakeholder Board of community members, entrepreneurs, and implementing partners. The role of the Entrepreneur Experience Manager is to ensure that each mission aligned entrepreneur that enters the Michigan Good Food Fund ecosystem receives the necessary support on their entrepreneurship journey from initial contact to obtaining financing by connecting entrepreneurs with resources and lending partners.
Fair Food Network is headquartered in Southeast Michigan and prefers this position to be co-located within commuting distance. The Entrepreneur Experience Manager will be part of Fair Food Network’s impact investing team and report to Aaron Jackson, the Director of the Michigan Good Food Fund.
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and coordinate the entrepreneur experience through their lifecycle with Michigan Good Food Fund, including, but not limited to, intake and discovery with entrepreneurs, and coordinating business support by connecting entrepreneurs with advisors, technical assistance providers, and/or lender(s).
• Responsible for handling new Michigan Good Food Fund inquiries; establishing initial contact and making referrals to the appropriate resources.
• Assessment of mission and impact fit and identifying technical assistance needs via an assessment of strengths and needs.
• Provide technical assistance on a case-by-case basis.
• Participate in weekly MGFF partner pipeline calls.
• Maintain awareness of food and small business events throughout the state and help ensure an MGFF presence at events.
• Work with and support the FFN communications team to promote events, entrepreneurs and MGFF news.
• Work with and support the Director of MGFF and the FFN evaluation team to ensure that the necessary data is being collected from the MGFF partners.
• In collaboration with partners, organize and participate in outreach and pipeline development events.
• Effectively collaborate with various stakeholders, including lending and TA partners, and other external constituents.
• Assessment of mission and impact fit and identifying technical assistance needs via an assessment of strengths and needs.
• Provide technical assistance on a case-by-case basis.
• Participate in weekly MGFF partner pipeline calls.
• Maintain awareness of food and small business events throughout the state and help ensure an MGFF presence at events.
• Work with and support the FFN communications team to promote events, entrepreneurs and MGFF news.
• Work with and support the Director of MGFF and the FFN evaluation team to ensure that the necessary data is being collected from the MGFF partners.
• In collaboration with partners, organize and participate in outreach and pipeline development events.
• Effectively collaborate with various stakeholders, including lending and TA partners, and other external constituents.
What You’ll Need:
• An understanding of the barriers and opportunities involved in business ownership and the nuances of equitable food access, capital access, and can work within FFN’s mission.
• Be integrated in or have knowledge and sensitivity to effectively working in and supporting underserved communities including historical context, discernment of relationships and power dynamics, and an awareness of social, racial, and ethnic equity.
• Demonstrated skills and resourcefulness in building relationships, particularly with a wide range of people from diverse cultural, social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Entrepreneurship or small business experience. This could include starting your own company, experience working for another small business owner or previous small business coaching experience.
• Customer service experience
• Team Player and Orchestrator: Work collaboratively with internal and external implementing partners, including colleagues in other Fair Food Network departments and lending and technical assistance partners.
• Experience working with diverse communities, clients, and stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and listening skills to build relationships with colleagues, clients, prospects, strategic partners, and the public.
• Exceptional communication and writing skills and can easily adapt to the audience with politeness, diplomacy, and responsiveness with a friendly, customer service-oriented approach.
• Be integrated in or have knowledge and sensitivity to effectively working in and supporting underserved communities including historical context, discernment of relationships and power dynamics, and an awareness of social, racial, and ethnic equity.
• Demonstrated skills and resourcefulness in building relationships, particularly with a wide range of people from diverse cultural, social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Entrepreneurship or small business experience. This could include starting your own company, experience working for another small business owner or previous small business coaching experience.
• Customer service experience
• Team Player and Orchestrator: Work collaboratively with internal and external implementing partners, including colleagues in other Fair Food Network departments and lending and technical assistance partners.
• Experience working with diverse communities, clients, and stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and listening skills to build relationships with colleagues, clients, prospects, strategic partners, and the public.
• Exceptional communication and writing skills and can easily adapt to the audience with politeness, diplomacy, and responsiveness with a friendly, customer service-oriented approach.
The Rewards:
A competitive, comprehensive benefits package includes full health benefits, a 401K match after one year, family leave, an open PTO policy, and professional development opportunities. This position is a manager-level role with a salary range starting at $64,500 per year