Minority Business Office Program and Operations Manager

The position offers full-time employment as an exempt, at-will State of Colorado Employee and the duration of the position is contingent on funding availability.

The successful applicant will be responsible for promoting the interests of minority- and women-owned businesses by assisting them to create or support the growth of their businesses, disseminating available opportunities for MBO clients, and supporting operations for the current and future MBO programming.

This position requires a self-starter who excels in a collaborative environment, is outgoing, enthusiastic, has a positive attitude, and good judgment. Candidates should have exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail; the ability to multitask and work on several assignments at the same time; strong oral and written communication skills; problem-solving acumen; and demonstrate personal integrity, confidence, diplomacy as well as flexibility.

Colorado is a resource rich state and its most vital resource is its people. Just as we cultivate our natural resources to make Colorado a more prosperous state, so too must we invest in and cultivate our citizens. Colorado must have a supply of skilled talent to attract and keep companies and jobs, these are key underpinnings of an effective economic development ecosystem.

To be competitive in the global marketplace, Colorado businesses and industries require innovation to support quality, quantity and capacity associated with talent innovation.

The Program and Operations Manager manages the daily operations and compliance of the programs within the MBO. The role supports the MBO Director in three primary areas: program management & outreach, operations administrations and budget support, and data administration.

This position will utilize Salesforce to track program performance, manage client data, and generate regular performance reports and documentation. The manager will be responsible for migrating Google processes to Salesforce.

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas:

• Managing and processing applicant pipelines, compliance verification, and eligibility reviews for complex programs.

• Configuring and maintaining database infrastructure, managing data tracking fields, and generating performance metrics and custom reports.

• Providing operational guidance and customer support to clients and ecosystem partners.

• Managing high-level administrative support, complex stakeholder scheduling, and internal/external event execution.

• Designing operational processes for program delivery and navigating state systems, including budgeting, procurement, and invoicing.

• Utilizing tools like Salesforce and Google Workspace to monitor compliance and manage daily program operations.

• Developing marketing strategies to increase program utilization, which may include collaborating with external partners and/or conducting direct outreach efforts

The Manager is responsible for performing the following duties, which represent the approximate allocation of time:

• Support and administer the MBOs cornerstone program Certify Colorado and manage the workflow with the existing participating certifiers, including managing referral flow, processing reimbursements, and ensuring compliance.

• Support the development and delivery of the MBO programs from operations to development aspects as defined by the MBO Director.

• Coordinate marketing content and activities for MBO, social media, outreach, training, and other MBO events and programs.

• Be the point of contact for MBO customer service processes and connection with clients to guide them through opportunities created for MBO clients and respond to general inquiries and messages via phone and email in a timely manner.

• Serve as a community advocate to promote participant engagement increasing awareness specifically related to MBO programs and MBO partners.

• Support Minority Business Office - OEDIT with communication plans internally and about MBO missions and opportunities for other OEDIT divisions.

• Collaborate with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Lead Center Team to serve MBO clients through their statewide network.

• Collaborate with ecosystem partners, diversity chambers, and technical assistance providers to serve MBO clients.

• Lead Coordination, staff, and attend outreach events for MBO clients. Occasionally present/fulfill speaking engagements to share…