Program Director -HOPE Womens Business Center

Program Director – I-HOPE Women’s Business Center (WBC)

Location: North Charleston, SC |
Status: Full-Time (100% WBC) On-Site

Role Overview

The Program Director is responsible for overall leadership, compliance, and performance of the I-HOPE Women’s Business Center. The role ensures that all program activities, coaching services, financial operations, and reporting requirements are delivered in full alignment with SBA, federal, and grant requirements while advancing the mission and strategic goals of Increasing H.O.P.E.

• Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of all WBC programs and services.
• Ensure entrepreneurs at all stages of business development receive high‑quality coaching, training, and technical assistance.
• Supervise WBC staff, consultants, and volunteers, providing clear expectations, oversight, and accountability.
• Align WBC operations with Increasing H.O.P.E.’s broader organizational strategies and priorities.

• Serve as the primary owner of SBA, federal, and grant compliance for the Women’s Business Center.
• Ensure all program activities, expenditures, and deliverables align with approved scopes of work, grant budgets, and funding agreements.
• Oversee timely, accurate, and complete submission of all required SBA and funder reports, including EDMIS.
• Maintain audit‑ready documentation for program operations, financial records, consultants, partners, and in‑kind contributions.
• Monitor consultant, subcontractor, and partner compliance with grant requirements.
• Initiate and manage prior approval requests, scope changes, and budget modifications in coordination with leadership.
• Proactively identify compliance risks and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Oversee program evaluation, economic impact tracking, and performance measurement.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and completeness across CRM, EDMIS, and internal systems.
• Establish internal data review and quality control processes.
• Translate program data into clear reports for leadership, board members, funders, and stakeholders.
• Use data to inform decision‑making, continuous improvement, and strategic planning.

• Develop and manage the annual WBC program budget.
• Monitor budget‑to‑actual performance and ensure alignment with grant requirements.
• Coordinate with finance staff to ensure accurate financial reporting and documentation.
• Support quarterly reviews and reporting with SBA District Offices and other oversight entities.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners, government agencies, and service providers.
• Establish and oversee collaborative events, trainings, and initiatives, including rural outreach.
• Support marketing and outreach efforts to increase awareness, participation, and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as a visible representative of the WBC in community and stakeholder settings.

• Engage and support advisory boards or committees related to the WBC.
• Conduct site visits and travel as required to support program oversight.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and documentation are maintained and followed.
• Perform other duties as required to ensure program success and compliance.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, program management, marketing, or related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in nonprofit, government, or private‑sector program leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing grant‑funded or federally funded programs (SBA experience strongly preferred).
• Strong knowledge of compliance, reporting, and data management requirements.
• Experience leading teams and managing cross‑sector partnerships.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Excel) and CRM/reporting systems.
• Experience working with small businesses and entrepreneurs strongly preferred.

• Strong compliance posture with no late or deficient reports.
• Clean, accurate, audit‑ready documentation.
• Reliable data supporting decision‑making and funding confidence.
• Programs delivered on scope, on budget, and on time.
• Staff and partners operating with clarity and accountability.