Economic Development Manager

LEDC is seeking a bilingual (Spanish/English) Economic Development Manager to oversee business development programs, mentor staff, and support entrepreneurs in launching and scaling successful businesses. This role plays a key part in strengthening local economies and driving equitable community development. This position will work collaboratively across our lending, regenerative agriculture, real estate, and operations teams.

The Economic Development Manager will lead LEDC’s Business Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion work which includes business development, technical assistance, and entrepreneurial support efforts to strengthen new and existing Latino-owned businesses and advance economic mobility across Minnesota. This role oversees a portfolio of economic development programs, supervises staff, and drives strategic initiatives that expand access to resources, capital, and opportunities for new, emerging and established entrepreneurs.

The Business Development Manager ensures program alignment with LEDC’s mission, cultivates partnerships with public and private stakeholders, and supports the development of high-quality business plans that prepare clients for lending and long-term success. This position requires strong leadership, supervisory experience, program and project management expertise, and a deep understanding of community development within culturally diverse and underserved communities.

• Manage and contribute to the development and implementation of business development programs, technical assistance efforts, and entrepreneurial support initiatives.
• Develop and implement new business development initiatives for youth entrepreneurship, women, target industries, and other under-resourced communities.
• Lead the development of resources, tools, and strategies that help small businesses launch, scale, and access financing opportunities.
• Support the design of business planning approaches, curriculum, and client-facing materials that advance operational readiness and lending preparedness.
• Coordinate closely with LEDC’s Lending, Agriculture, and Communications teams to ensure continuity of service and seamless program delivery.
• Track industry trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging opportunities to inform program decisions and identify new areas for growth.
• Ensure that all program deliverables, milestones, and reporting requirements are met in accordance with organizational and grant-funded expectations.
• Model effective leadership, communication, collaboration, and client-centered service delivery across all program areas.
• Communicate organizational mission, objectives, and expectations to staff, translating strategic priorities into actionable tasks.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and training processes to ensure staff are equipped to deliver high-quality services to entrepreneurs.
• Communicate regularly with Executive Director and the Director of Operations on development of program initiatives
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and professional development to business development staff, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear goals, workflows, and accountability measures to support team productivity and program alignment.
• Prepare and contribute to grant reports, proposals, presentations, and internal updates to ensure accurate documentation of program outcomes.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, and Finance Director to support program budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with funder requirements.
• Review and evaluate client projects, budgets, and resource use to ensure alignment with funding parameters and organizational priorities.
• Track and analyze program data to assess progress toward strategic goals and inform continuous program improvement.

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, financial institutions, business networks, and community partners.
• Represent LEDC at community events, workshops, and meetings to expand visibility and promote entrepreneurial development services.
• Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen service delivery and increase access to resources for entrepreneurs.
• Collaborate with regional partners to advance LEDC’s mission and support Latino businesses across urban and rural communities.