Website The ICA Group, Inc.
Job Posting: Senior Cooperative Business Consultant
The ICA Group, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing businesses and institutions that center worker voice, grow worker wealth, and build worker power, seeks a full-time Senior Cooperative Business Developer to develop, manage, and deliver on projects in the employee-owned business sector.The Senior Cooperative Business Developer will work with a team of consultants, analysts, and program staff. The work involves business consulting, research, development of tools, resources, and communications documents, and engaging in strategy to strengthen and grow the employee-owned business sector.
The Senior Cooperative Business Developer will ideally be located in either Western Massachusetts or New York City, however remote applicants will be considered. ICA employees have the option of working remotely or in-person at either our Northampton, Massachusetts office or our New York City office. This position requires occasional traveling within the United States.
About the ICA Group
The ICA Group is a leading expert on worker ownership and the oldest national organization dedicated to the development of worker cooperatives. We are a mission- driven nonprofit organized as a worker cooperative and are dedicated to bringing strategic analysis and industry-focused support to the worker ownership sector. We are founding and currently active members of the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative in New York City and administer the Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership. Our work spans industries and geographies while maintaining a high level of rigor. Our business expertise is bolstered by a deep understanding of worker ownership and other worker-centered structures, and a commitment to serving low-wage workers and communities of color.
Qualities we are looking for:
Business planning and strategic analysis skills– Experience and familiarity with the business environment, industry analysis, and business and strategic planning work; ready to engage with clients to help evaluate and strengthen their businesses.
Financial analysis and data skills– Technical orientation and comfort with business financial statements, accounting, and large data sets. Experience with Excel is a must.
Relational skills– Ability to develop and foster strong client relationships. Active and intentional listener. Demonstrated team orientation and ability to provide and accept feedback. Strong diplomatic skills and judgment, ability to identify problems and ask hard questions with respect and discretion.
Communication skills (written and verbal)– Strong written and oral communication skills. Able to effectively and professionally represent the organization. Communicates through a variety of channels to meet team members where they are and how they best access and process information (written, verbal, document, Slack, text). Ability to communicate complex concepts in an accessible manner. Develops compelling presentations.
Strategic thinker– Problem solver with a creative brain who is willing to think outside the box. Can synthesize learnings from previous experiences to meet challenges.
Key Responsibilities
Financial, Business and Other Technical Analysis (50%)
Provide technical assistance to business clients through the development of financial models, business valuations, operational assessments, business plans, and loan proposals
Evaluate business financial performance and trends; perform cost structure analysis and industry benchmarking; Build financial models, dashboards, and tools to help businesses assess performance and strategies
Conduct business valuations and discuss personal financial goals with business owners and employees as to evaluate feasibility of employee ownership transitions
Build databases through integration of diverse data sources and perform basic statistical analysis and identify trends
Conduct qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis, including industry and market studies, surveys, and interviews
Provide support to clients in their interactions with accounting and legal professionals as to help coordinate overall technical execution of cooperative conversion projects
Client/ Project Management (20%)
Serve as a primary point of contact with ICA clients and stakeholders, representing the organization and coordinating the execution of projects and deliverables
Hold and strengthen relationships with key clients over time
Independently, plan, implement, and steer to completion large, complex projects over periods of 6-24+ months
Work closely with Outreach Manager to identify potential new business opportunities, and to convene stakeholders for sector-wide knowledge exchange and learning opportunities.
Training/ Coaching (20%)
Participate in the development, promotion, coordination, and delivery of business resources, tools, trainings and workshops with internal and external stakeholders
Engage cooperative business owners in financial performance analysis through a coaching approach with participatory and open-book management techniques
Share and educate on cooperative governance and management systems with businesses and employees, working together to create and improve policies and practices; including training cooperatives on training meeting facilitation, decision-making, and participatory engagement
Organizational Development (10%)
Internally, help develop a growing organization by participating in organization-wide meetings and strategic planning, committee work (i.e., EDI, Education/Training, Governance, Staff Life), and building systems and procedures to help ICA thrive
Develop and disseminate program materials to support client and partner outreach, program promotion, and awareness of worker ownership among business, government, and industry stakeholders
Contribute to the ICA Group’s strategy and communications by developing consulting tools and resources, generating research from client work, and serving as a subject matter resource (ex. Prepare white papers, op eds, articles and blogs)
Identify and deliver insights from clients that will be broadly applicable to other areas of the ICA Group’s work
Minimum Requirements
General Experience:
5+ years of relevant experience, including business consulting, business operations, economic development, and/or community lending and underwriting.
Personal and intellectual commitment to systemic economic change and racial justice
Financial, Business and Other Technical Analysis:
Excellent business financial analysis skills, including the ability to read and analyze financial statements, build financial models, and present recommendations to clients.
Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, including a strong, demonstrated ability to use digital tools (excel, CRMs etc.) to conduct data analysis and visualization
Ability to communicate complex concepts and information into accessible, compelling narratives and excellent writing skills
Client/ Project Management:
Comfort working in a self-directed environment and alongside a team
Ability to work well under pressure and independently manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines
Training/ Coaching:
Outstanding interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse clients and stakeholders
Clear understanding and working knowledge of a coaching approach to leadership.
Additional Desired Capabilities
Bilingual in Spanish
Excitement and interest in helping a growing organization scale effectively, and an enthusiastic interest in taking on new responsibilities and roles as this happens
Deep knowledge of the worker cooperative model from a legal, accounting, and/or organizational development standpoint
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $68,000 to $73,200. ICA uses a salary scale and the specific salary within that range is determined by years of experience. The ICA Group provides a generous benefits package including 4 weeks of vacation, 13 paid holidays, 8 days of sick leave, and health insurance. In addition to holidays, ICA’s offices are closed the week between 12/25 and 1/1 each year as additional paid time off.
About Working at the ICA Group
The ICA Group is a rapidly growing nonprofit. All staff members are expected to help build organizational capacity, processes, and culture. The ICA Group has offices in New York City and Massachusetts and a hybrid remote/office work culture, although due to Covid-19 many are currently working from home. We utilize technology and virtual meetings on a daily basis, and hold quarterly in-person meetings. Our staff enjoy highly satisfying work in a diverse and stimulating environment. We are committed to a workplace culture that supports work-life balance and flexibility for working parents and other caregivers.
At the ICA Group, we value equity, diversity, and inclusion. We believe that in order to build a new economy where working people lead and own democratic workplaces, leaders in cooperative development must reflect the communities they serve. We support equitable opportunities for all people and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, people of color, women, individuals from the LGBTQIAA+ community, and others who identify as a part of historically marginalized communities to apply for open positions at the ICA Group.We also know the confidence gap and impostor syndrome are real barriers. This can get in the way of meeting incredible candidates. Please don’t hesitate to apply, we would love to hear from you!
To Apply
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by September 22, 2023