Header

Project Director for SBA Teaming Project - Mercy Corps Northwest

Note: This position is a .5 FTE

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW) is the assumed business name for the 501(C) 3 non-profit, Mercy Enterprise Corporation. The organization was established in 1998 as a program of Mercy Corps, the Portland-based international relief and development agency. MCNW is Community Development Financial Institution that assists all low-income populations, including minorities, women, refugees and immigrants, prisoners, previously incarcerated and the disabled in Oregon and Washington states by increasing their economic self-sufficiency and community integration through self-employment.

Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW) will be the employer of record. This position will work with the Governance Team for Powering UP! Small Business Teams, a collaborative of MCNW, the Metropolitan Contractor Improvement Project, Astra Women’s Business Alliance and the Portland Development Commission.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Project Director (PD) will have day-to-day responsibility for an SBA funded project, Powering UP! Small Business Teams, a project designed to help historically underserved minority- and women-owned businesses form business teams for the purpose of bidding for federal and corporate procurement contracts.

The PD will help project partners with day-to-day coordination of communications, activities, services, outcomes, partnerships and programmatic reporting. The work of the project partners is to match small businesses with available contracting opportunities through training and relationship-building (with other small businesses and with government and corporate procurement professionals) and to provide technical support to develop competitive bids. S/he will manage information flow about federal contracting and sub-contracting opportunities from a variety of sources and then catalog them so that appropriate teams can be developed to pursue the opportunities. In addition to providing technical assistance to the pipeline of businesses that are currently ready to bid for contracts, this project will provide additional training to a target market of businesses representing low-income and underserved (minority and women-owned businesses). The purposes of the training and technical support provided by this project are to help small businesses increase their infrastructural readiness to comply with required financial reporting, help businesses clearly articulate their capabilities and certifications, and make introductions and relationships available as a means of helping these businesses understand the potential of government and corporate contracting as an avenue for business growth.

As a pilot project, Powering UP! Small Business Teams will evolve and improve based on the critical observations of its governance committee, staff, clients and funders. The Project Director will work closely with the governance committee and project partners.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  • Manage the day-to-day coordination of services and support provided by project partners.
  • Develop deep knowledge of available services, programs and organizations available to the small business community to increase participation in federal and corporate procurement.
  • Provide regular progress reports to partners on project objectives; make recommendations to governance team on infrastructural upgrades to improve projects and outcomes.
  • Manage the Communications Coordinator.
  • Maintain an outcomes focus and continually align project partners and services to outcome.
  • Prepare programmatic reports for funders and partners.
  • Observe, collect and synthesize information for ongoing development, evolution and improvement of this effort.
  • Other duties as assigned for the growth, evolution and success of the Powering UP Small Business Teams.

Organizational Learning:

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Communications Coordinator

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Manager of the Women’s Business Center

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: MCNW staff,

REQUIREMENTS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

  • BA/S or equivalent in business communications, finance, banking, marketing, community development, economics and/or other relevant field is required.
  • Minimum of 2 years of experience with project management for a federal contract, grant or federally funded program.
  • Ability to maintain accountability and support productive relationships with a collaborative group of diverse individuals working for independent organizations.
  • Demonstrated interpersonal communication skills, including written summaries and management reports.
  • Personal experience working in a private sector company and in or with small businesses helpful.
  • Experience working with databases, online systems and general office software applications.
  • Experience with and passion for working collaboratively with low-income and multicultural populations and organizations that serve these populations.
  • Previous experience bidding on and obtaining a federal contract or as sub-contractor to federal prime contractor is required.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills.
  • Self-starter able to provide creative solutions.
  • Knowledge of federal contracting a plus.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

The successful candidate will have a passion for supporting the growth of minority and women-owned businesses and have a demonstrated ability to function both independently and in alignment with project goals and outcomes as well as effectively implement and coordinate a plan for technical training and assistance. S/he will have a willingness to work for a governance committee and promote consensus decision making, have effective verbal, written communication skills as well as project management and reporting experience and have a willingness to learn about federal and corporate procurement processes and business development.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

This position is based in Portland, Oregon.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.



Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217809&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479