Join a dynamic and diverse team of business professionals dedicated to providing small businesses with the programs and resources they need to thrive.

Oakland Thrive is a non-profit organization headquartered in downtown Pontiac with staff working around the county to meet businesses where they are, in the communities they serve. Oakland Thrive is partnered with Oakland County to assist women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses as well as other impactful programs and projects for companies and communities in the County.

Work in a creative loft space in a historic building with a leadership team dedicated to creating a team of individuals who reflect the mission and the communities served.

As the flagship program of Oakland Thrive, Business Forward is composed of business experts and consultants with a deep understanding of Oakland County’s business climate and decades of combined experience with the challenges of small business, growth into large global entities, and the limitations of government. We work with entrepreneurs and small business owners to provide free targeted support including one-on-one consultations, training, and workshops in business development, market research, eCommerce, legal support, accounting, and more.

Director of Business Forward/Full time (40 hours) on site and throughout Oakland County – competitive salary and benefits provided with potential for growth

Skills
• Outstanding manager – able to manage a diverse team of community-based consultants
• Creative thinker and problem solver
• Dedication to the highest level of client services
• Consulting and/or sales leadership
• Thorough, conscientious, and attentive to details
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Adept at learning and adopting technology tools to improve quality of work
• Dependable and trustworthy
• Enthusiastic about supporting minority, women, and veteran owned businesses and all small businesses in Oakland County

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, management, communications, or a related field
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in consulting or sales leadership
• Strong leadership, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to motivate and effectively manage a diverse team
• Experience with data analysis, interpretation, and reporting
• Experience with project management and budget tracking tools
• Strong public speaking, training, and media skills
• Expertise in MS Office including spreadsheets, Word and other software
• Adept at using database platforms

The Director of Business Forward is responsible for leading a 12–15-person team of consultants to deliver high-quality tools, resources, and services to small businesses in Oakland County. The Business Forward team is responsible for creating innovative strategies and tools to support minority, woman, and veteran owned businesses as well as other small businesses in Oakland County.

This is a leadership role within the organization and is a full-time position. There is an expectation that the Director will work from Oakland Thrive Headquarters in Pontiac alongside the rest of the leadership team with site, field and community outreach conducted as necessary.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Recruit, hire, train, and manage a diverse team of Business Forward Consultants
• Develop and deliver innovative strategies and tools for Business Forward clients
• Analyze data and formulate recommendations to meet client and program goals and objectives
• Develop and oversee staff scheduling and project planning to ensure resources are leveraged and objectives are met
• Work closely with the leadership team to integrate the Business Forward program into Oakland Thrive and our strategic partners throughout Southeast Michigan
• Complete weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for organizational leadership and strategic partners
• Serve as a spokesperson for the Business Forward program – prepare presentations and deliver engaging content at meetings, workshops, webinars, conferences, panel discussions, etc.
• Develop internal and external relationships using communication tools
• Meet with community leaders, strategic partners, and other stakeholders on a regular basis to ensure the needs of the community, the small businesses, and our partners are being met
• As a member of the leadership team, identify and ideate current and new innovative projects and strategies
• Stay up to date on the latest developments in small business funding, legislation, innovations, etc.
• Manage innovative technology tools including a proprietary constituent management system and other cutting edge tech tools for small businesses