Program Coordinator, NEI in Detroit, Michigan at Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Why Join the New Economy Initiative (NEI)?

This role provides an opportunity to contribute to a transformative platform that democratizes access to resources for small businesses. By joining NEI, you will help shape the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, work with a passionate team, and directly impact Southeast Michigan’s economic growth.

New Economy Initiative (NEI) Overview:

NEI is a philanthropic collaboration and an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, working to build a regional support network for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Our mission is to foster an inclusive culture of entrepreneurship that benefits all residents and strengthens the regional economy. Learn more at neweconomyinitiative.org.

Position Overview:

The Program Coordinator, NEI, will focus on ensuring NEI’s Resource Navigator Platform is a trusted, relevant, and dynamic tool for small business owners across Southeast Michigan. The platform connects entrepreneurs with vital resources to start, stabilize, and scale their businesses. The Program Coordinator will play a critical role in content management, community engagement, and supporting administrative functions essential to NEI’s success. This is a two-year funded position as part of the NEI initiative, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

Responsibilities:

• Content Coordination:
  • Develop a deep understanding of the network of business support organizations (BSOs) and their programs.
  • Match businesses and entrepreneurs to the appropriate small business resources.
  • Research, assess, and document resource programs to ensure accurate referrals.
  • Coordinate and maintain platform content, ensuring it is updated, accurate, and relevant to users.
  • Collaborate with BSOs and NEI’s team to align platform content with off-platform programming.
  • Assist BSOs with content uploading or directly upload resources when necessary.
  • Collaborate with BSOs to moderate digital forums as part of the digital platform.
  • Monitor and improve content that guides business owners through critical milestones, such as accessing capital, scaling operations, and hiring talent.
• User Engagement and Platform Improvement:
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with BSOs to facilitate collaboration and information sharing.

• Gather user feedback and analyze platform usage data to identify trends, improve content, and evolve the platform.
• Develop and implement processes for vetting new resources and ensuring their quality and relevance.
• Represent the platform at community events, expos, and networking opportunities, to promote its use.
• Support training and onboarding processes for BSOs and business owners, ensuring smooth adoption of platform tools.

• Administrative Support:
  • Manage and coordinate schedules, calendars, and events for the NEI team, including the Executive Director.
  • Assist in planning and executing meetings, events, and workshops related to the platform and broader NEI initiatives.
  • Handle communications, prepare meeting materials, and take notes during key discussions.
  • Maintain accurate and organized records, databases, and reporting documents.
  • Provide general operational support, including coordinating travel, managing expenses, and responding to inquiries.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in community management, content coordination, or a similar role, with a focus on content accuracy, relevance, and alignment with program goals.
• Understanding of entrepreneurial challenges, with the ability to collaborate effectively with Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and internal teams to address the needs of startups and growing businesses.
• Project management skills, including the ability to handle multiple projects at once, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent research and analytical skills to assess and document resource programs.
• Familiar with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite, digital collaboration tools, learning management systems, and digital platforms, with the ability to quickly learn new applications.
• Commitment to racial equity and creating pathways for economic mobility in Southeast Michigan.
• Customer service orientation with experience in human-centered design, coupled with exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with external partners and stakeholders.
• Experience using analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to monitor and optimize content performance.
• Familiarity with user experience (UX) principles and web design best practices.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.