Organization Overview

The mission of the Urban League of Louisiana is to support African Americans and others seeking equity to secure economic parity and self-reliance. Founded in 1938 as the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the organization expanded its footprint to Baton Rouge and changed its name to Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) in 2017. ULLA is one of nearly 100 affiliates of the National Urban League, headquartered in New York. Today, ULLA’s work lives in three Centers of Excellence: Education and Youth Development, Economic Development and Workforce Development and Policy and Social Justice.

Benefiting from a remarkable history and tradition, ULLA has a strong and positive brand coupled with a track record of successfully serving the African American community. Using this as a foundation, ULLA is poised to expand to other cities across the state, making it an integral part of the state’s economic growth and development.

The organization’s structure includes the President and CEO, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Finance and Operations, Vice President for Education and Youth Development, Vice President for Workforce Development, and Vice President of Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation along with director level positions in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Position Summary

The Director is accountable for complete oversight of the business operations of the Women’s Business Resource Center, its employees, and contractors.  The Director is responsible for establishing goals for the Center, curriculum development, and establishing and managing strategic partnerships to achieve the Center’s goals. This role is also responsible for leading special projects that support women and minority-owned firms within the service area. This position is also responsible for creating and maintaining a foundation for the efficient and effective operation of the Center - one that fosters consistent and impactful service to the Center’s clientele. 

The Urban League of Louisiana established the Women’s Business Resource Center (WBRC) in 2001 to support minority and women-owned businesses as a pathway to secure economic parity for African Americans and other underserved populations.  The WBRC provides small-business development services, including: business education workshops and interactive trainings, hands-on technical assistance, and access to resources relevant to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs throughout southeastern Louisiana. Services include: comprehensive business planning and support, loan packaging, business certifications, and assistance with operational streamlining, business financials and accounting. 

Essential Functions

1.       Creates and maintains a foundation for the efficient and effective operation of the Women’s Business Resource Center that fosters consistent and impactful service to the Center’s clientele.

2.       Responsible for managing the organization’s budget and approving all expenditures.

3.       All required reporting is to be managed by the Director.

4.       Accountable for complete oversight of the business operations of the WBRC, its employees, and contractors.

5.       Responsible for establishing goals for the WBRC, business development, establishing strategic partnerships and promotion of the Center’s goals.

6.       Developing the Center’s client base by delivering outreach and recruitment programs throughout the WBRC service area.

7.       Develops entrepreneurship training programs and curricula to meet the needs of small business clients

8.       Recruit, implement, and manage goals to support the function of an advisory board .

9.       Provides guidance and assistance to employees and contractors in implementing their work plans.

10.   Consults with and advises clients on effective marketing, operations, management and the growth of their businesses.

11.   Recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training staff and contractors.

12.   Providing monthly reports relative to Center’s impact and activities.

13.   Conducts working sessions and group trainings  and workshops with clients as required.

14.   Conducts individual and group trainings with staff and contractors for activities-based interactions and outcomes-based advising services .

15.   Attends and participates in community events on behalf of the WBRC

16.   Collaborates with ecosystem partners to garner resources for small business clients

17.   Leads special projects related to small business development i.e. access to funding, risk management, disaster preparedness and recovery, etc.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Director supervises WBRC staff and contractors.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, Monday – Friday. Routine weeknight and weekend trainings may be required.

 Qualifications

·         Business-related degree in administration, finance, or marketing is required; graduate degree preferred. 

·         5 or more years of experience leading and managing small business development programs in underserved communities, required

·         5 or more years of training and public speaking experience, required

·         3 or more years working in non-profit organization management, economic development, or commercial finance, required.

·         3 or more years of staff supervision experience, required.

·         Fund development and grant writing experience, required.

·         Thorough understanding of current market trends and small business operations, required.

·         Comprehensive knowledge of best practices, tools and strategies for business sustainability, scalability, management, and marketing, required.

·         Proficiency in the preparation and analysis financial statements and the production of accurate business pro-formas and budgets is required.

·         Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

·         Maintain Integrity and confidentiality