Program Manager

Imperative Recruiting is 3rd party agency, working on behalf of company:

Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) is a national coalition of 116 Black-led innovator support organizations (ISOs) across more than 30 cities that work with over 300K business owners, startup founders, and creative technologists to grow and accelerate their ventures. By centralizing coordination between ISOs and those looking to support Black innovators, we are able to increase ecosystem efficiency while reducing fragmentation. The result is a more collaborative and high-performing ecosystem and more successful Black entrepreneurs, makers, and creatives.

BIA is an ecosystem-building institution dedicated to improving access to the innovation economy through the direct support of Black-led innovator support organizations in service to Black entrepreneurs, tech founders, and creative technologists.

In the next 10 years, the Black Innovation Alliance will recruit at least 500 organizations to support, fund, and sustain one million Black innovators.

To learn more about BIA's Key Focus Areas visit: www.blackinnovationalliance.com

BIA Organizational Structure

Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) operates in a fast-paced, high-growth environment that is very similar to the start-up environment, despite being a non-profit organization. The vision and the mission set forth by its founders have been validated during the past two years by funders that include eBay Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Surdna Foundation, UBS, Google, and a host of other Grantmakers who see this work as vital to closing the racial equity wealth gap through entrepreneurship. It is important to make this distinction because the processes and resources that are needed at this stage of growth must align with this reality.

BIA has six (6) member committees that support the organization’s work. They include Learning, Events, Content, Special Ops, Grants, and the BIA Steering Committee which all meet monthly.

We are a learning organization. The ecosystem-building field is still emerging and so ours is an organization that actively creates, acquires, and transfers knowledge within itself and works hard to modify its behavior to reflect new knowledge.

We seek dedicated self-starters that excel at their craft and can roll up their sleeves and work collaboratively to deliver on all initiatives, projects, and programs in a timely manner.

Position Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for the implementation of Black Innovation Alliance’s growing body of projects and programs, along with overseeing our members’ broader learning agenda.

Manage the following programs from implementation through activation:

Innovation Hub

A Digital-First Innovation Hub w/ BISO Matchmaking: To bridge these gaps, we propose creating a Digital-First Innovation Hub focused on matchmaking between entrepreneurs and ISOs. This community platform will leverage Artificial Intelligence to facilitate connections between digital entrepreneurs seeking support and the ISOs best suited to their needs. It will be a space for aggregating stakeholders, promoting collaboration, and ensuring efficient resource allocation.

The platform would serve as a “one-stop-shop” for entrepreneurs seeking support. Upon arriving at the site, the entrepreneur will be taken through a series of prompts designed to assess their industry, size, scale, geography, target customer, capital needs, pain points, and other key areas of opportunity. The Hub would then produce recommendations for service providers, partners, and other resources, along with invitations to upcoming events and learning opportunities.

Regional Hubs

Ninety-one percent of BIA members have built their network as a result of being part of BIA; 68% have formally collaborated with other member organizations and 75% believe their organization is more sustainable as a result of being part of BIA. By deploying a place-based ecosystem-building strategy in cities/regions with strong member concentrations, we’ll be able to activate those network connections to drive local change.

Essential Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of an overarching program management system that allows for easy visibility into implementation and impact, across programs.

• Indirectly manage project coordinators (if applicable).

• Draft program descriptions.

• Assist in shoring up gaps in program execution.

• Coordinate with other team members to provide reporting to funders as needed.

• Support program design as needed.

• Syncing in BIA team members as relevant and necessary

• Attend regular (weekly and bi-weekly) virtual team meetings as well as monthly general body meetings.

• Attend quarterly in-person team meetings (locations vary; expenses covered by BIA).

• Attend an annual in-person team retreat (expenses covered by BIA).

Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree with minimum 5 years of professional experience in customer service, administrative support, project management, or related experience required.

Required Competencies

• Is self-directed and decisive.

• Takes initiative and demonstrates momentum in carrying out their work.

• Is positive, generous and supportive in interactions with BIA team and members.

• Responsible and accountable

• Demonstrates integrity and pride in work product.

• Thinks outside of the box and encourage others to do the same.

• Is excited about BIA’s mission and the possibilities of our work together.

Physical Requirements

The work environment will be a location of the employee's choosing and should be free of distractions and conducive to working with confidential information. Team members should be able to fulfill the job requirements with or without reasonable accommodation.

Alignment with BIA Culture: E3= Energy + Execution+ Emotional Intelligence

Black Innovation Alliance is experiencing high growth and team members are expected to keep up with the pace. High energy, focus and self-motivation are needed in order to execute on time, every time. We serve as daily creators of the project that is BIA. How you represent shows up in the dedication you put into your work. Team members are required to maintain high levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: $65,000-$100,000 depending upon experience

• Work remotely from anywhere in the world

• Four (4) all-expenses-paid team meetings (flight, accommodations, group dinners)

• 10 paid federal holidays off

• Unlimited PTO

• 2 weeks of winter holiday vacation (BIA closed)