Operations & Strategy Fellow

Michigan Black Business Alliance • Detroit, MI

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations & Strategy Fellow supports MBBA’s efforts to strengthen the systems, processes, and management tools that help the organization operate effectively. This is a hands-on role for a college student, graduate student, or recent graduate who wants exposure to nonprofit operations, project management, organizational strategy, and economic development while working directly with the Chief Operating Officer. This is a 10-month position from August 2026 - May 2027 working up to 30 hours per week.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in business, public administration, nonprofit management, finance, information systems, public policy, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and comfort managing multiple projects and deadlines at once.
• Comfortable with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets) and learning new technology.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to turn information, research, and conversations into clear documentation and first drafts.
• Curious, solutions-oriented, and comfortable asking questions to understand how a process works and where it can be improved.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with organizational, financial, grant, vendor, or other confidential information.
• Genuine interest in Black entrepreneurship, economic development, nonprofit operations, and community-based organizations.
• Detroit-based and able to work in-person throughout the fellowship.

Nice To Haves

• experience with Monday.com or similar project-management tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and maintenance of MBBA’s operations manual and SOP library by documenting recurring workflows, creating process maps, and preparing first drafts of procedures and templates.
• Assist with maintaining and improving MBBA’s Monday.com workspaces, including project trackers, action items, owners, deadlines, status updates, and dashboard organization.
• Help maintain key organizational tracking tools, including the operating calendar, vendor and contract database, grants dashboard, and other recurring management tools.
• Support grant administration by tracking deadlines, organizing supporting documentation, updating grant records, and preparing materials for leadership review and funder reporting.
• Provide project-management support for priority organizational initiatives, including developing project plans, tracking deliverables, documenting next steps, and following up on outstanding action items.
• Conduct research and benchmarking for special projects related to nonprofit operations, small-business support, economic development, technology, vendors, and organizational strategy; summarize findings and draft recommendations for leadership.
• Assist with recurring operational reporting by organizing data and preparing concise progress updates, scorecards, and supporting materials for leadership and board review.
• Complete a fellowship capstone focused on identifying an MBBA process or operational challenge, researching potential solutions, and helping implement an approved improvement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree