Director of Entrepreneurship

Position description

Salary: USD $129,400 – $150,000 / year

The IEDC Director of Entrepreneurship is responsible for the integration of entrepreneurship-led economic development and its principles and practices within the IEDC organization and throughout the field of economic development. This role is responsible for charting the vision, developing the team, identifying and securing funding, and co-creating the strategies to accomplish this.

This role will contribute to the ongoing shifts in IEDC operations, championing a culture of intrapreneurship at IEDC across departments in response to recent political, economic and cultural shifts in the field. This individual will continue to build the network of entrepreneurship professionals engaged with IEDC through increased membership, conference offerings, research in the field, stand-alone training and EDP certification. Through strategic partnerships, the Director of Entrepreneurship will move the economic development field toward stronger, equitable support for entrepreneurship-led economic development.

This position is currently grant-funded through 2027.

Areas of Responsibility

Program and Fund Development

• This position will have the opportunity to build a dynamic team of professionals working to formalize innovative new models to certify Entrepreneurship Development Professionals (EDPs) and to globally brand the EDP certification up as a recognized sister certification to the ‘gold standard’ IEDC CEcD.
• Seek out and lead in the development of new funding opportunities supporting IEDC’s entrepreneurship-led economic development goals through combination of grants, sponsorships and fund raising, appropriations, partnerships and earned revenue.

Membership Development

• Responsible for the development of strategies and metrics to increase engagement, leading to membership, among rural EDOs, entrepreneurship centers, higher education tech transfer professionals, community development practitioners and international ecosystem builders.
• Represent IEDC at conferences, in the media and across other appropriate channels. Provide visible, respected leadership in the ecosystem building community and develop/manage relationships with prospective members across the field.

Cross Organization Coordination

• Collaborate closely with other IEDC departments including Professional Development, Membership, Research and Conferences to deliver best in class education, networks, research, and career development.
• Foster a spirit of intrapreneurship throughout IEDC. Provide mentorship, foster ideation of new ways of doing business; exhibit creative leadership supporting diverse teams of remote peers.

Outreach

• Identify and develop partnerships -and leverage the networks of the entrepreneurship team- to align other sectors of economic and community development in support of IEDC’s core assets associated with entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree or above is required.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience, with 5+ years of experience in program management, including strategic planning, budgets, program implementation, and metrics, and 5+ years as a startup founder, ecosystem builder, or experience working with entrepreneurs as a resource provider.
• A demonstrable track record of grant writing/fund development from private, public sector or foundations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and engage a remote team, foster diverse perspectives, and advocate for and support the professional growth of all team members.
• Expertise in budgeting, grants management, and financial forecasting.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
• Effective organizational skills and proficiency in MS Office, Teams, Zoom and Circle preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, public speaking, program creation and training expertise.
• Some overnight, out-of-town travel required.

Job Location

This position is eligible for remote work within the United States. Candidates will be required to travel, as required, for meetings, conferences, or team events. Candidates within commuting distance of Washington, DC are considered local and have the option to work from IEDC’s offices. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefits

IEDC has a generous benefits program that includes health, dental, vision, term life, and disability insurance, plus sick and annual leave, federally recognized holidays, a cell phone benefit, a 401(k) plan, and an annual professional development stipend.

Application instructions

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter. Applications submitted without cover letters will not be considered. IEDC seeks to model the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fostering a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.

About IEDC

IEDC is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that, for nearly 100 years, has been helping economic developers around the world facilitate economic well-being in their communities. It is the largest organization of its kind supporting this profession.

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