Business Development Specialist

About the Organization

First Children’s Finance (FCF) grows the supply and business sustainability of excellent childcare. Founded in 1991, FCF provides business and financial assistance to business owners and leaders in early care and education. We work on three levels:

• Business level – supporting care business owners with training, consultation, and tools to improve financial sustainability.
• Community level – supporting local planning efforts to increase the supply and sustainability of childcare.
• Systems level – partnering with state, tribal, and local systems to improve investments, policies, and processes.

FCF is headquartered in Minneapolis and has active programs in multiple states, with offices in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont.

About the Role

The FCF Iowa team is seeking a Business Development Specialist (BDS) to work with small businesses in the metro region of Iowa. This is a remote position based in Iowa, with the expectation of travel within the region to meet with partners, individual childcare businesses, and communities.

The Business Development Specialist provides business and financial planning, consultation, training, and support to early care and education providers; promotes FCF and its programs and services; and connects with a diverse group of FCF stakeholders, partners, and constituents. This position works closely with members of the FCF team to promote and ensure the effectiveness of FCF’s core programs:

• Consulting services and technical assistance to childcare businesses.
• Training and education to a variety of audiences.
• Facilitation of community engagement activities.

Responsibilities

• Develops, promotes, and implements programs, services, and resources to support the mission of FCF.
• Provides training and consultation support to childcare businesses to improve business practices and strengthen operations.
• Assists start-up childcare businesses and existing childcare businesses experiencing financial crisis.
• Provides input and analyzes financial and program data.
• Assists with program reporting as assigned.
• Facilitates small-group and community engagement activities in support of FCF’s community-based programming.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of four years’ experience in financial management, planning, and/or training.
• Successful experience in consulting, training, lending, and/or financial analysis.
• Experience working with small businesses or experience owning/operating a small business.
• Familiarity with state childcare licensing regulations.

Skills

• Ability to provide business and financial consultation and training.
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze financial statements and develop and manage budgets.
• Ability to think strategically, plan regionally, and implement plans on the ground.
• Ability to promote a positive image of FCF and position FCF as a key resource in early care and education.
• Ability to be flexible and work collaboratively with a diversity of FCF staff, customers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, yet be part of a team.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• A strategic thinker and planner as well as an effective implementer.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, with a can-do attitude.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with childcare.
• Experience in resource development and/or fundraising.
• Experience in private sector engagement and partnership.
• Public speaking experience.

Work Environment

• Must be able to work on the computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel when needed.

Benefits

• Four medical plans and two dental plans.
• Vision plan.
• Basic life coverage of $50,000.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Nine holidays and personal holidays (pro-rated based on hire date).
• Pro-rated paid time off in the first year.
• Partial paid family medical leave.
• Home office allowance.
• Reimbursement for allowable travel costs.
• Flexible work environment.