Director, Small Business Services
About The Position
TechTown, Wayne State University’s entrepreneurship hub, empowers Metro Detroit startups and local businesses through resources, collaborative workspace, and education to advance inclusive economic development across Detroit. The Small Business Services Director is a full-time position on TechTown Detroit’s Programs team, leading a team of six experienced staff and overseeing a nationally recognized portfolio of established and new small business programs and coaching services. The Director leads the strategic development and execution of Small Business Services, including Coaching UP, long-term coaching, Retail Boot Camp, the Hatch Detroit contest, and The Shop pop-up series. The role uses these services to drive economic impact in Detroit and Wayne County, including business openings and expansions, job creation, and founder leadership. It also leads multi-million-dollar grants, manages program budgets, and communicates program impact through quantitative data and qualitative stories. The Director serves as a thought leader and representative for TechTown in the Southeast Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem, building the organization’s and Metro Detroit’s reputation as destinations for high-quality entrepreneurial support. The role identifies and implements training, resource, and partnership strategies to better serve historically underrepresented entrepreneurs. It collaborates with program and organizational leaders and teams to improve systems, processes, data collection, analysis, service quality, fundraising, and impact storytelling. The position is generally assigned to work in the office or with clients at least three days per week, and includes responsibility for weekend and evening events, trainings, and tabling opportunities.
Requirements
- Entrepreneurial experience.
- Established relationships and a strong understanding of the Detroit/Southeast Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem; community leaders are strongly preferred.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to identify and analyze internal program performance, the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, and national trends, and use findings to recommend continuous improvement.
- Experience building and cultivating successful working relationships with people from diverse cultural, social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, supported by formal training and professional experience.
- Demonstrated experience in effective budget management.
- Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- High personal integrity and the ability to inspire confidence, respect, and trust.
- High energy and ability to quickly establish credibility with TechTown team members, clients, and stakeholders.
- Willingness to take educated risks and challenge the status quo to bring about change when needed.
Nice To Haves
- Professional experience in marketing and communications.
- Professional experience in change management and/or dynamic work environments.
- Five or more years of team management experience.
Responsibilities
- Lead the strategic development and ongoing execution of TechTown’s Small Business Services and signature programs: Coaching UP, long-term coaching, Retail Boot Camp, the Hatch Detroit contest, and The Shop pop-up series.
- Lead and support a team of six, including prioritizing team members’ professional development.
- Use small business services to drive economic impact in Detroit and Wayne County, including business openings and expansions, job creation, and founder leadership.
- Demonstrate and communicate program impact through quantitative data collection and analysis and qualitative testimonials from the public, clients, and alumni.
- Organize systems and processes, manage multiple priorities, and solve problems with a team-focused approach.
- Manage and lead multi-million-dollar grants to expand work in Wayne County.
- Manage the program budget, analyze monthly budget-to-actual reports, and review and approve expenses in accordance with grant specifications.
- Champion fundraising efforts and support the Development team in cultivating existing and new funding relationships.
- Represent TechTown in external engagements, including interviews, public speaking, and panels, and maintain relationships with regional entrepreneurial ecosystem partners.
- Identify opportunities and implement strategies, including training, resources, and partnerships, to better serve historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.
- Partner with program leaders and internal teams to improve organizational systems, common processes, data collection, analysis, service quality, and impact storytelling.
- Partner with staff to improve existing small business programs and co-design new services responsive to entrepreneurs’ evolving needs.
- Attend and support weekend and evening events, trainings, and tabling opportunities.
Benefits
- Health insurance plans
- Dental insurance plans
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability benefits
- Long-term disability benefits
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching up to 6%
- Team member assistance program
- Wellness program and on-site Wellness Room
- Five weeks of paid time off per year
- 23 paid holidays, including two weeks in December and one week in July
- 10 paid mental health days per year
- $2,500 professional development stipend
- Paid parental leave
- Creativity and innovation supported and encouraged by leadership
- Opportunity to contribute to Detroit’s economic growth
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
