Website Urban Upbound
Urban Upbound
Worker Cooperative Program
Job Description: Program Coordinator
Founded in 2004, Urban Upbound is dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty in New York City public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. We provide underserved youth and adults with the tools and resources needed to achieve economic prosperity and self-sufficiency through five comprehensive, integrated programs: Employment Services, Financial Counseling, Income Support Services, Community Revitalization, and Financial Inclusion services anchored by the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union.
In July 2015, Urban Upbound launched its first worker cooperative business: OnPoint Security NYC. Since then, the UU Worker Cooperative Program has launched two more cooperatives and provided technical assistance to several other businesses, both traditional and worker-owned. In addition to creating jobs, our worker cooperative initiatives are vehicles that increase the volume of assets and the availability of resources within the communities we serve. We conduct specialized workshops and offer technical assistance services in several areas of business development: governance, marketing and design, research, and strategic planning, among others.
Reporting to the Worker Cooperative Program Manager, and working in collaboration with the rest of the Worker Cooperative team, the Program Coordinator is an out-of-the-box thinker who takes responsibility for the incubation of new cooperative businesses, supports the growth of launched businesses, troubleshoots challenges, conducts outreach, and finds new opportunities for the program and its clients. The Program Coordinator will serve as the key point-of-contact for the cooperatives they support and oversee the implementation of safety trainings held by worker cooperatives.
Responsibilities include
Support the efforts of clients to launch and/or grow their cooperative business through workshop facilitation and one-on-one technical support
With support from the Program Manager, work with cooperative members to develop and implement business plans, marketing strategies, and identify sources of funding and support for business growth
Recruit clients to attend safety training held by cooperatives and ensure clients submit all necessary documentation in advance of the training.
Identify gaps in knowledge amongst clients and develop and conduct relevant workshops for entrepreneurs
Adhere to data inputting and reporting guidelines and timelines to ensure data accuracy and integrity
Lead outreach efforts by representing UU and the cooperative businesses at events and conferences
Connect clients to other services at UU such as financial counseling; business financing, etc.
Other tasks as assigned by Program Manager and Senior Director
Qualifications
B.A. degree or 3 years of experience working in a non-profit, community-facing setting
A strong interest/background in worker cooperatives, local business development, community organizing and/or worker/immigrant rights, and passion for social justice
Ability to learn quickly and be interested in developing a variety of new skills; have the ability to work both autonomously and in a team
Superior organizational, interpersonal and communication skills; experience with public speaking preferred
Strong member relations and community outreach experience with excellent listening skills and ability to build consensus decision making
Willingness to engage with the cooperative members, the customers of the coops and other individuals/organizations supporting the development of the cooperative businesses
Skills in business incubation, sales and/or marketing preferred
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, G Suite, Zoom, internet research and social media
Flexible, with availability to work weeknights or weekends as needed
Fluent Bi-lingual English/Spanish
Urban Upbound is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Tehmina Brohi at tbrohi@urbanupbound.org