Employment

Small Business Coach and Program Coordinator

STATUS:                            Regular Full-Time / Exempt
REPORTS TO:                    Managing Director of Programs
EFFECTIVE DATE:              April 1, 2013
TO APPLY:                         Send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

POSITION SUMMARY

RTC seeks an Experienced Full Time Small Business Coach and Program Coordinator to work full time from our office in Jersey City. This person will work with graduates of our Community Business Academy on two new projects—a high growth focused development track called Tier One and a micro lending matchmaker program called the Rising Tide Exchange 2.0. The combined goal of these two projects is to make targeted investments in those Rising Tide graduates who have the highest potential to access sources of capital, grow and create jobs for others.

Rising Tide Capital (RTC), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit based in Jersey City, NJ and located on Martin Luther King Drive, is committed to the economic empowerment of individuals and communities through small business development. Our mission is to assist aspiring entrepreneurs to build strong businesses that transform lives, strengthen families, and create sustainable communities. Through business education, consulting, technical assistance, and partnerships with local micro-lenders, Rising Tide Capital harnesses the entrepreneurial energy that exists in distressed urban communities and uses it to create jobs and economic opportunity for traditionally underserved populations. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Business Coaching
  • Work one-on-one with Rising Tide small businesses to create opportunities for high sales growth, increasedand access to business capital
  • Create a vision for the growth of these businesses beyond their current footprint
  • Help clients to achieve their own business goals by managing our Action Plan strategy
  • Work with these clients to develop their time management and project management skills
• Business Lending Support
  • Assist well positioned entrepreneurs with a solid business plan to successfully apply and receive small business loans from $5,000 to $25,000 thru use of the Rising Tide Exchange 2.0 and its micro lending partners.
• Project Development and Coordination:
  • Develop and execute the program details for Tier 1 and Rising Tide Exchange 2.0 to fulfill our grant requirements in coordination with the Program staff
  • Devise individual strategies for growth and expanded employment for a select group of our clients.
  • Research opportunities for businesses to achieve growth outcomes and increased employment.
  • Proactively identify sales and marketing opportunities for growing small businesses.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE SKILLS REQUIRED
The successful applicant must be entrepreneurial and have a deep understanding of how business works in a practical, every-day sense. The individual must be highly organized and punctual. A Bachelor’s Degree is required. Prior experience delivering micro-enterprise coaching services is highly desired. Previous or on-going experience running a business is a strong plus. Previous experience with small business lending also required. Ability to speak Spanish strongly desired.

The Business Coach must have excellent communication skills and relate in an engaging, dynamic way to our clients. The coach must understand and be able to clearly explain business concepts. Most importantly, the coach must be able to relate to the needs and fears of low-income individuals with limited educational backgrounds and limited experience in business.

Familiarity with communities and markets in the NY/NJ metropolitan area desired.

Requires proven ability to be self-starting, highly organized, and detail-oriented—comfortable with unstructured assignments, multi-tasking, and quick deadlines.

ADA SPECIFICATIONS
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Atmosphere and environment associated with a normal office.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Vision Requirement:
Both close and distance vision are required to perform the duties of this job.

Physical Demands:
Some evening/weekend work and regional travel (Northern NJ) may be required. Must have the ability to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle or/or feel, speak and hear. Must also have ability to lift/carry up to 25 lbs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required.  Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary.  In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

AmeriCorps VISTA Member

Start Date: Summer 2013
Email Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rising Tide Capital (www.RisingTideCapital.org) is seeking 5 talented individuals to participate as AmeriCorps VISTA members working on major capacity building projects related to the organization’s regional expansion into Northern NJ. A successful candidate will join Rising Tide Capital’s team of professionals dedicated to making the world a better place through micro-enterprise and community development by participating in the growth of an innovative, dynamic non-profit organization. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in exploring a career in the nonprofit world. Successful candidates must be accepted into the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Before inquiring about this opportunity, please explore information about AmeriCorps VISTA by visiting: http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp.

Position Overview: Each full-time AmeriCorps VISTA member will be assigned to one of five major capacity building projects during their year of service, depending on their indicated interest. These projects are in the areas of: (1) Volunteer Management; (2) Community Outreach; (3) Program development; (4) Communications; and (5) Fundraising. As capacity building projects, the focus will be on designing, building, and implementing systems and organizational infrastructure that will enable Rising Tide Capital expand and operate at a higher scale. In addition to the capacity building projects, each VISTA member will also be working directly with a supervisor in carrying out daily operations of the organization. The positions require dynamic, energetic, organized, self-starting leaders who are able to design and manage projects and comprehend the larger purpose while executing on details. The position also involves coordinating with many inter-locking, moving parts within the organization and requires excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree required
• Strong computer skills required (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills required
• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented

To Apply:
Please send cover letter and resume to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Positions open until filled. Successful candidates must be accepted into the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Before inquiring about this opportunity, please explore information about AmeriCorps VISTA by visiting: http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp.

Rising Tide Capital Summer Internship Positions

Positions Available:  OneDevelopment Intern, One Communications Intern, One Programs Marketing/Communications Intern
Location:                    Jersey City, NJ
Start Date:                 May 2013
To Apply:                   Please email cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample. No phone calls please.
Deadline:                    May 15, 2013 

This summer, Rising Tide Capital (www.RisingTideCapital.org) is seeking talented students with interest in micro-enterprise development for a hands-on internship experience.

Each intern will fulfill key positions in the Communications and Development team, working on projects targeting both internal and external stakeholders on a variety of communications platforms.  Internships are unpaid, however a small bi-monthly stipend will be provided for successful applicants.

Development Intern                             

Responsibilities                                                                                             

• Ongoing communication with institutional as well as individual existing and potential contributors.  
• Assist with the creation of sponsorship packages
• Assist with writing and mailing of thank you letters to donors
• Update and maintain grants management database
• Assist with preparing materials for funder meetings and grant reports
• Assist with the research of grant
• Assist with grant writing as needed
• Assist with special events planning
• Maintain contact databases and manage mailing projects
• Respond to external information requests
• Assist with all development meetings and events
• Handle administrative duties, as requested
• Other projects and tasks as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer
• Contribute development related content organization’s website
• Assist with developing new content for potential funders
• Support the quarterly production of a board report
• Coordinate and print materials for board and committee meetings

Qualifications

• A strong liberal arts background with coursework in a related area; economics, political science, public policy, etc.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to be consistently diplomatic, tactful, and professional, and to interact effectively with all levels of staff, trustees, and external parties.
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to prioritize, work under pressure, and meet short deadlines.
• Ability to develop and maintain broad knowledge of the Rising Tide Capital’s programs, practices, policies, and procedures.
• Foundation and/or other nonprofit experience very helpful.

Communications Intern

Responsibilities

• Pitch and write stories for monthly newsletter
• Create and design flyers, brochures, signage and various marketing and event collateral
• Assist with updating the organization’s social media across several platforms
• Write press releases, media advisories, and other communication materials
• Assist with managing media lists
• Maintain the organization’s media clip files
• Assist with coordinating and managing events
• Assist with documenting Rising Tide Capital events and activities with video/photographs

Qualifications

• Working towards/completed a Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing or Graphic Design
• Strong writing skills
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong communication skills
• Strong problem solving skills
• Experience with social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks and projects with flexibility and detail orientation

Programs Marketing/Communications Intern

Responsibilities

• The selected candidate will straddle both the Communications and Programs departments at Rising Tide Capital
• Maintenance of all client databases, and assistance with client communications across a number of platforms from social media to regular mailings
• Assist with producing and dissemination of our bi-monthly client newsletter
• Market research for Programs outreach
• Assist with logistics around event planning
• Represent the organization at community outreach events
• Create and maintain a Programs Marketing and Outreach calendar
• Some market research projects
• Assist with the development of a range of programs marketing materials

 Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or marketing
• Strong writing skills
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Strong problem solving skills
• Experience with social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Must have excellent time management and the ability to multi-task
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks and projects with flexibility and detail orientation
• Ability to work well with others in a team
• Experience with HTML or a Content Management System