Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

REPORTS WITH: Co-op Development Co-Director I

STATUS: Permanent Full-Time Exempt

DIRECT REPORT: Co-op Development Specialists

PAY RATE: $65,000-70,000 Annually

LOCATION: Metro Denver, hybrid

About the Center for Community Wealth Building

At Center for Community Wealth Building (CCWB), we are creating an inclusive economy that works for all. We’re a startup, worker-self directed nonprofit that promotes inclusive economic development opportunities that center the talents and capacities of impacted and vulnerable Metro Denver residents, entrepreneurs, and workers, while leveraging the economic power of anchor institutions to create an economy that works for everyone.

The Cooperative Development Director leads our organization’s efforts to support and expand cooperative education in communities, with a particular focus on developing worker-owned cooperatives in communities of color. The Co-op Development Co-Director also participates in developing and implementing our overall community wealth building strategy. You must have a passion for creating structural change, advancing racial justice, and creating a new economic paradigm that reverses current economic inequities.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ~ COMMITTED TO A DIVERSE WORKPLACE

The Center for Community Wealth Building is an aggressive advocate of affirmative action and welcomes applications from everyone, particularly from people of color; women; LGBTQ people; immigrants or refugees; people with disabilities; and people from low- or moderate-income backgrounds.

The Objectives You’re Here to Meet

● Increase CCWB’s internal capacity to launch cooperatives through planning and implementing the democratizing ownership strategy—ultimately resulting in cooperatives having better jobs, more financial knowledge and greater leverage within the market—in collaboration with the Co-op Development Co-Director, Co-op Development Specialists and emerging team members.

● Strengthen the community wealth building ecosystem by fostering strong relationships with other cooperative development organizations, trainers, cooperative members and funders to foster a collaborative environment.

How You’ll Meet These Objectives

Cooperative Business Development (approx. 30% of time)

● Develop and implement democratizing ownership strategy alongside other cooperative developers

● Conduct one-on-one meetings with highly engaged individuals and small groups to identify self interest, skills inventory, and readiness to start or convert to a co-op business

● Respond to community requests for cooperative guidance and support

● Work with the CCWB team to connect co-ops to market opportunities, including anchor institutions

● Provide and connect start-up worker co-ops and businesses converting to worker cooperatives with coaching, technical assistance, and back office support to ensure successful launch and operation

● Work with emerging worker co-ops and CCWB team to secure start-up capital, benefits, contracts, and legal & accounting support, while expanding their capacity to operate independently in the future

● Lead the development of food systems and grocery cooperatives in Metro Denver by supporting existing groups who seek technical assistance and incubation, by developing coalitions of food justice and food sovereignty organizations, and by facilitating a peer network for cooperative grocery stores in Colorado

● Identify opportunities for shared service/secondary cooperatives between traditional businesses and cooperatives, and support the CCWB team in planning and developing these cooperatives to create competitive advantage

Co-op Team Support (20% of time)

● Supervise and coach cooperative development specialists to ensure overall success in meeting organizational objectives

● Simplify team processes and standardize operating procedures so that team members can track and achieve shared goals

● Support team in establishing and implementing evaluation tools to demonstrate how CCWB is building an inclusive economy.

● Support the creation of feasibility studies, business plans, and market research for emerging and existing co-ops

● Work with CCWB’s administrative staff to prepare grant applications and complete reports to support CCWB’s co-op work and ensure that our funders and partners understand the impact of our work

● Manage volunteers interested in providing technical assistance or outreach support within the cooperative program

Co-op Education Oversight (15%)

● Co-design and support the creation of standardized curriculum for all aspects of the program

● Oversee and guide cooperative education sequences (Train the Trainer, Co-op 101-301, Co-op Academy, Ownership Institute, TA Sprints), including outreach strategy for sequences

● Support outreach efforts to nonprofits, community groups, neighborhood organizations, Small Business Development Centers, faith organizations, and other community partners to identify individuals interested in starting co-op businesses

● Co-organize and help facilitate workshops, academies, and weekend retreats with highly engaged individuals on co-op principles and business skills that lead to the development of co-op business plans and the successful launch of co-op businesses

● Support efforts to organize and facilitate interactive community presentations on starting co-op businesses 

Organizational Support (approx. 15% of time)

Work with staff team on:

● Fundraising projects including drafting concept papers and supporting grant writing efforts

● Conducting program evaluations and writing evaluation reports

● Organizing movement building projects, including general presentations on Community Wealth Building principles, meetings with potential partners, and public policy advocacy

● Designing flyers and promotional materials as needed

Partnership Cultivation (approx 10% of time)

● Develop relationships with business owners, community organizations, and grassroots and community groups to create more demand and opportunities for shared ownership of business and food systems

● Build relationships with elected city and state officials, public professionals, economic development professionals, and national worker co-op and grocery co-op entities to remove policy barriers and accelerate the growth of democratic ownership

● Research best practices for cooperative conversion, cooperative development, and opportunities for cooperative expansion and competitive advantage

Other Duties as Assigned (approx. 10% of time)

Required Qualifications

● At least five years of experience starting cooperatives or supporting cooperative conversions

● Proven ability to successfully launch cooperatives

● Experience working with people from low-income and diverse backgrounds, one-on-one and in a group

● Experience with coaching teammates to clarify priorities, address areas for growth, and expand capacity and strategic thinking

● Deep and demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice

● Strong understanding of systems of oppression

● Strong grasp of Community Wealth Building principles and methodologies

● Experience with grassroots community organizing or labor organizing for social change
● Capacity to multitask in a fast-paced setting

● Strong communication, presentation, public speaking, and writing skills

● Experience planning and effectively facilitating meetings and workshops

● Willingness to work irregular hours, including nights/ weekends

● Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Gmail, and Google Suite

● Car and valid driver’s license (mileage reimbursed) 

How to Apply

To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and please answer the following questions in no more than one page:

1. What experience do you have with community wealth building strategies?

2. Please share an example of when you have advanced economic justice through cooperative development or solidarity economy practices.

3. Please submit three professional references

Submit all application materials via email to HR@communitywealthbuilding.org with the subject “Co-op Development Co-Director”

Priority deadline is Sunday, January 8, 2023 with applications reviewed and interviews offered to qualified applicants until the position is filled.