Project Coordinator — Philadelphia, PA
Organization: Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia
Job Title: Project Coordinator, Business United for Conservation
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Hours and Compensation: full time
Application Deadline: Nov. 2, 2012
Position Dates: grant-funded for the next three years
Posted On: Oct. 18, 2012
Organization Overview
The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) is a 450-member business organization building a just, green, and thriving economy in the Greater Philadelphia region by educating and growing local, independent businesses and educating policymakers and the public. SBN seeks qualified applicants for a full-time position to serve as Project Coordinator, Business United for Conservation. The Project Coordinator is a multi-faceted position and an ideal candidate excels in meeting facilitation, business development and sales, research, project management, and communications.
SBN is a small but dynamic organization with a committed staff team that works at a fast pace. The Project Coordinator should be comfortable with change and enthusiastic about working on a team to help shape the organization’s future. This is a grant-funded position with funding secured for the next three years.
Description
The Project Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating Business United for Conservation (BUC), an industry partnership founded in 2009 that identifies and removes barriers to industry growth, uncovers workforce needs, highlights business-to-business procurements opportunities, and promotes industry best practices. Industry Partnerships bring together multiple employers to identify and address common workforce needs. He or she will also help educational institutions align programs to industry demand, and develop industry credentials to give local companies more confidence in their hires and allow employees more mobility and earnings potential. BUC’s participating businesses represent construction, design, engineering, and maintenance sectors. A small percentage focus solely on green infrastructure and stormwater management; most are companies that provide general building, site development, construction services, environmental services, and some heavy infrastructure and transportation services. BUC’s participating businesses are largely of small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. This is reflective of the regional economy, particularly in Philadelphia County where 93% of the County’s businesses have fewer than 50 employees.
The Project Coordinator will also assist in the facilitation of a Local Community of Practice for BUC businesses. This Local Community of Practice is a facilitated peer-mentoring program that will help fill the need for continued community building among the cross-sector businesses involved with stormwater management . A Community of Practice is designed to gather key change agents working on a particular issue. A cohort of 14- 20 local business owners will come together to hone their business strategies, learn key skills to advance their leadership regionally, and form close, collaborative relationships with support from skilled facilitators. The goal is to expand and support their individual and collective work, building more resilient and innovative triple bottom line businesses and strengthening their industry in service of building a stronger local economy.
Responsibilities
Activities will include, but are not limited to:
- Manage Business United for Conservation (BUC), an industry partnership with business partners in stormwater management industries; Expand and refine current business partner strategies to increase the value of participation
- Coordinate monthly meetings, events, and site visits; Improve “overall experience” at meetings and events
- Support grant reporting and research opportunities for new funding sources for additional business services
- Keep robust notes on business relationships and communications in our Salesforce database
- Increase number of companies engaged in Business United for Conservation by 30% through quarterly meetings, online communications about bid opportunities, etc.
- Administer training funds for BUC businesses to train 150 workers per year in high-priority skills identified by their employers
- Coordinate logistics for Local Community of Practice pilot and assist in facilitation
- Promote government-to-business communication and work with Philadelphia Water Department to reduce barriers to contracts awarded to and fulfilled by local businesses, minority-owned businesses and woman-owned businesses
- Research resources for business partners and develop effective communication tools for their distribution; Produce regular email communications to BUC businesses to keep them informed about business opportunities, policy development, etc.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated strong facilitation skills. Must have experience facilitating groups/teams/ workshops and a past positive experience of being facilitated
- Desire to learn how to facilitate at a deeper level and be willing to commit to a learning process
- 3-5 years of experience working with local businesses; Business development, sales, and/or recruitment experience preferred
- Knowledge of the public workforce system and/or knowledge of stormwater management issues
- Excellent written communication skills, demonstrated through writing samples
- Excellent oral communication skills, including public presentations
- Self-motivated; able to work independently and balance multiple tasks
- Demonstrated commitment to SBN’s values
- Experience working with diverse communities
- Proven collaborator, as testified to by references
- Proficiency with basic computer skills including PowerPoint is required
- Experience with Salesforce a plus
- Knowledge of peer learning models and leadership development strategies a plus
How to Apply
SBN is an equal opportunity employer. To apply, please submit cover letter, resume, a long and short writing sample and three references via e-mail to Monica Rao at [email protected] by Friday, November 2,2012. Phone calls about this position are strongly discouraged.
