POSITION: Lead, Strategy and Operations, Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO)

TYPE: Full-Time, Salary Exempt
LOCATION: Bellingham, WA, office-first hybrid
REPORTS TO: Director, Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO)

About the Role

The Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO) is part of a growing network of organizations across the country serving as statewide hubs for employee ownership (EO) resources and support, promoting EO as a valuable succession planning tool and helping business owners take advantage of the power of EO to keep their business operational while benefitting their workforce and the communities in which they operate.

We are seeking a strategic and systems-oriented professional to support WACEO’s growth. The ideal candidate is passionate about EO and/or eager to become an expert in the field. This position requires an individual who can think broadly about strategy and policy while also managing operational and implementation tasks with attention to detail. This role involves frequent collaboration with external stakeholders, hosting in-person and virtual events across the state, presenting, and conducting confidential 1:1 conversations with prospective business owners to help them determine whether EO is a fit for their organization.

WACEO is in startup mode, having launched in 2024. This role requires someone who understands this early stage of organizational development and is eager to help shape the organization by “wearing many hats” to support the mission.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Program Development
  • Ideate, design, and implement programming to support the EO ecosystem and infrastructure statewide
  • Work with and develop partnerships with people and organizations to amplify the Center’s work
  • Coordinate with service providers and maintain programmatic relationships
  • Hold meetings with internal stakeholders to support strategic and operational goals
  • Develop strategy briefs and presentations to convey the benefits of EO
• Client Relationship & Succession Strategy Management
  • Conduct meetings with business owners to ascertain whether EO is a fit for their goals and businesses
  • Maintain relationships with business owners to help them understand their succession options as they relate to EO
• Policy
  • Track local, state, and federal EO policy developments
  • Produce policy memos, testimonies, or public comment where appropriate in collaboration with the Director
• Internal Operations
  • Design and manage internal systems for project management, grant management, project budgeting, and reporting (e.g., CRM and other software tools)
  • Track deliverables and provide grant and funder reporting support
  • Collaborate with Director on budget development, revenue model design, and organizational strategy
  • Assist with administrative and operational duties as needed to ensure the Center’s objectives are consistently met

Qualifications

• 6 years experience in strategic management and program management
• 3–5 years experience in community engagement and development
• 3–5 years experience in marketing and communications
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and communication skills
• Experience developing powerful and dynamic PowerPoints and/or Google Slides for presentations and briefs
• Willingness to learn and use new software tools like CRMs, Trello, SharePoint
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining professional networks
• Willingness to contribute both at a high level (shaping strategic projects) and at an operational level to ensure ongoing goals are met
• Demonstrated interest in EO and/or shared ownership models
• Possess a valid driver’s license

Nice to Haves

• Prior experience working in EO
• A strong design sense and proficiency with InDesign
• Experience in community development finance, impact investing, or nonprofit capital strategy

Personal Characteristics

• Friendly, collaborative approach
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with a commitment to communication and partnership with relevant stakeholders
• Comfortable with a startup environment; able to be innovative, adaptable, and resilient while supporting the organization through various stages of growth and development
• Ethical with high personal standards of conduct and accountability
• Commitment to continuous learning and personal mastery of new skills/knowledge
• A service/mission mentality
• Strategic thinker and builder
• Entrepreneurial
• Commitment to social and economic equity
• Views challenges as opportunities with a sense of curiosity, humility, and agency
• Natural relationship builder with strong interpersonal skills
• Creative storyteller who can translate complex concepts into compelling content
• Authentic communicator who builds trust with diverse stakeholders
• Organized and detail-oriented while maintaining a strategic perspective

Travel

Estimated 25% travel. WACEO serves the entire state of Washington, and travel is required. The amount of travel will be determined based on program goals, offerings, and budget. The long-term goal is to have a small, distributed staff in different regions of the state.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $75,000 - $85,000 annually, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Fully paid medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid time off: 20 vacation days, 11 holidays, and sick leave
• Retirement benefits:
  • Eligible to contribute to a 401(k) plan after 3 months of employment (pre-tax or post-tax, up to IRS limits)
  • After six months, WACEO contributes 10% of the employee’s gross monthly income to the 401(k) account, regardless of employee contribution
  • Employer contribution is fully vested after 1 year of full-time employment
• Monthly phone stipend
• Monthly HSA contribution

Physical Demands / Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently move throughout the Foundation offices
• Move tables and chairs to set up for meetings
• Use and operate office-related equipment

Currently, team members work a hybrid schedule with a set in-office schedule and various in-person meetings at the Community Foundation office in Bellingham.