NWCDC Hiring Mktg&Acquisition Specialist for Conversions

Fostering community economic development through the cooperative business model
Marketing & Acquisitions Specialist (Worker Co-op Conversions)
Company Overview

NWCDC, a 501c3 non-profit, provides education and technical assistance to workers, producers, and consumers to support their efforts to start, support and/or expand cooperatives. NWCDC promotes cooperatives as a vibrant business model to address the economic and social needs of communities. NWCDC fulfills this mission by:

• Educating the public, community institutions and government agencies to foster and promote an understanding of cooperatives.
• Identifying and disseminating information about successful practices and models for cooperatives.
• Providing technical assistance and education for the development of cooperatives to best address economic and social needs.
• Assisting in the conversion of existing businesses to cooperative enterprises either through worker ownership or a multi-stakeholder (solidarity) model.
• Operating a revolving loan fund and partners with other co-op centric lenders to help facilitate the development of cooperative enterprises.

Communities throughout the Northwest are comprised of diverse people. NWCDC values and respects the identities of all. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all. NWCDC acknowledges that we will always have room to grow as an organization and as individuals in our understanding of racism and oppression. We commit ourselves to ongoing alignment of our policies and practices to advance racial equity, inclusion, and freedom of expression.
Position Summary
The Marketing and Acquisitions Specialist (Worker Co-op Conversions) identifies potential conversion projects and oversees their purchase by workers and/or other stakeholder groups (consumers or community members). This key position is within the General Development program and will serve communities in the States of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. This new position for NWCDC was created to address demand for conversions in the Pacific Northwest and new legislation that supports conversions in Washington. It has substantial potential for growth. The ideal candidate will have the experience and skills necessary to expand the deal pipeline and grow the position.

The Marketing & Acquisitions Specialist will work with a dedicated team of Cooperative Development Specialists who provide direct technical assistance to community resident owners. NWCDC is an member of Worker to Owners Collaborative and CooperationWorks! Each brings important training tools to the program. Within NWCDC the General Development team has approximately 5 Cooperative Development Specialists to assist with the development and implementation of conversions. The principal task of the Marketing & Acquisitions Specialist is the preservation of small businesses in the State of Washington with employment at the same level or better in terms of compensation and working conditions through the cooperative enterprise model.
Responsibilities

• Conduct market research and, in partnership with the Executive Director, develop a business plan for implementing market and outreach to attract potential businesses for conversion.
• Actively seek out opportunities for business owners seeking to transition out of their company and sell to either the workers or community such as direct mail, online mkt, calls, attendance at industry events, and other methods.
• Engage sellers and workers in consideration and negotiations of a worker buyout.
• Work with workers, sellers, and funders to assess the feasibility of acquisition and operation.
• Conduct due diligence for conversions as part of placing business under contract for service with NWCDC.
• Assist the buyout committee with gaining access to capital.
• Work with the cooperative development specialists to provide support for a successful transition to cooperative ownership.
• Represent NWCDC in external activities; conferences, discussions, trainings, and other activities as deemed appropriate.
• Support fundraising, communications, partnerships, and policy efforts as needed.

Duties or Tasks Performed

• Pipeline development and reporting
• Conduct initial feasibility of businesses seeking to transition
• Marketing program to sellers, brokers, and other industry organizations
• Attendance at industry events
• Participate on General Development Team
• Feasibility analysis
• Purchase and sale negotiations
• Purchase oversight
• Document, deadline, and vendor management as they related to the real estate transaction
• Grant research, writing, and relationship building in collaboration with NWCDC staff
• Securing low-interest participation capital
• Advocacy

Necessary Skill Set

Experience in business sales, cooperative business structure, business start-up and development, or related industries.

• Business development/transaction expertise, including financial analysis, financing structures, and contract negotiation.
• Entrepreneurial and organized, detail-oriented, able to plan and anticipate challenges.
• Committed to high volume, collaborative processes, projects and organizations.
• Understanding of and commitment to cooperative values
• Effective communicator who is able to connect with diverse groups
• Proven ability to learn quickly, process a lot of information, and apply it on the job.
• Comfortable working remotely/independently, using Cloud document management and database apps (Microsoft Office, Slack, and Google Suite Apps)
• Personable and all-inclusive with the ability to manage social behavior for different groups; empathetic to the social needs of others; optimistic, tolerant and generous, willing to include levity and humor when necessary to balance competing needs.
• Team-oriented in the pursuit of solving problems and dedicated to building and maintaining a positive, preemptive and productive collaborative environment
• Optimistic and goal oriented, organized and systematic
• Strong writing skills
• Able to travel and work some evenings and weekends; valid driver’s license necessary
• Spanish language fluency a plus

InclusionIn accordance with Federal law, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. NWCDC is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.We promote economic prosperity for all through our work with our clients, our hiring practices, and or vigorous commitment to cooperative principles. We strive daily to acknowledge and eliminate all forms of oppression. By examining bias within ourselves and our organization, we work mindfully to make our board and staff more inclusive. We actively fight against racism, classism, gender inequality and all efforts to marginalize anyone. The nature of our work engages us directly with the working poor, the educationally disadvantaged, the elderly, immigrants, and refugees. It is our goal to see all of our clients prosper within the cooperative movement.We welcome applicants from underrepresented identities, and those who have a commitment and track record of bringing an inclusive and equitable approach to their work.Compensation:

How to Apply
Submit the following documents in PDF form to

• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• Reference Sheet including
• 3 professional references
• 1 personal reference

Deadline for applications is January 14, 2024

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