ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Founded in May of 2014, MORTAR exists to help entrepreneurs build businesses and transform their cities. MORTAR accomplishes this goal by offering a 15-week business training course designed to teach community entrepreneurs the nuances of starting or growing a business. Post-graduation, our alumni program offers additional months of ongoing support. MORTAR operates a network of BRICK Pop Up Shops that entrepreneurs can utilize for various periods of time to provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to pressure-test their ideas in real-time. Lastly, through the Iron Chest Fund, we’ve had the ability to deliver over a quarter-million dollars in the form of grants, low-interest loans, and equity investments directly into the hands of MORTAR alumni who are in need of start-up/growth capital.
Learn more about MORTAR here.
MORTAR is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, and talents can flourish.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
MORTAR seeks a full-time Expansion Manager. We are searching for a naturally outgoing relationship manager with a passion for project management. The ideal candidate will have a growth mindset, while deeply dedicated to and engaged in the entrepreneurial space. (Perhaps you’re a current or former entrepreneur?) Your attention to detail allows you to juggle multiple projects and sales leads at one time. If you thrive in ambiguity, problem-solving, and want to play a key role in the acceleration of our organization, this may be the role for you.
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
MORTAR is undergoing a significant time of transition, growth, and expansion. For this reason, we’re adding to our high-performing team to meet these growing demands. In this role, the selected candidate will join our team of all-stars, and the head Expansion, in implementing MORTAR’s strategy in this area, one of the organization’s main income streams. If you have a passion for building relationships, a mind for growth strategies, the chops for sales, and a heart for building equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems, this might be the perfect opportunity for you.
The person who fills this role will be carrying the baton of a high-performing team that has laid the foundation of MORTAR’s work over the course of the last 7 years. They will join forces with our Expansion Director to grow our organizational revenue streams. This extremely collaborative role is responsible for meeting and/or exceeding the organization’s goals for expansion efforts into new neighborhoods and cities across the nation.
MORTAR currently delivers our programming in seven neighborhoods throughout Cincinnati and also in six additional cities outside of Cincinnati - but this is just the beginning. The ideal candidate will become an important part of the MORTAR team, researching the needs of communities around the nation to determine who would benefit from having access to MORTAR’s culturally competent programming, tools, processes, and curriculum. The Expansion Manager will work on building and cultivating relationships with prospective MORTAR expansion cities, assisting them in asset mapping, educating and guiding anchor partners & funders through the sales process, and closing deals that bring MORTAR to other regions.
We’re looking for someone with the ability to build a robust sales pipeline & attract funding to scale our impact. This will enable us to convert our vision, strategy, and processes into action that establishes MORTAR as the go-to organization for helping communities build equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.
REPORTS TO: MORTAR EXPANSION DIRECTOR
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Enhance our replicable system for MORTAR’s partnering communities, organizations, and cities while developing/implementing a national expansion plan that incorporates sharing the system with new partners. This also includes updating the MORTAR toolkit, building & coaching local community advisory councils, and project management of MORTAR sites
Build strategic relationships for long-term program and operational support
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Develop and execute strategies, objectives, and action plans to support MORTAR’s presence in various Cincinnati neighborhoods and across the nation
Project managing specific expansion site(s) and ensuring they have what they need to be successful
Set up and attend routine meetings with community stakeholders and major donors to build relationships to help further MORTAR’s mission
Working with targeted communities and organizations to further develop equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems
Lead advocacy and policy work with the Expansion Director and partners as needed
Act as a representative of MORTAR at community events, meetings, and gatherings
REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS:
Integrity
An adaptive and proactive leader that is results-focused
Flexible, optimistic, constructive, with a good sense of humor; must be comfortable in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
Communicate in an effective and timely manner with internal and external contacts.
Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
Exceptional planning and time management skills
Demonstrated proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability
Passionate about the mission of MORTAR
Comfortable spending up to 75% of your time in the community with partners and community members (may also include a large volume of travel to the markets that we work in)
Emotional maturity
Creative, self-starter attitude
Hard-working, highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently
Adhere to the utmost ethical standards, intuitive, considerate, and kind
Adaptable, versatile, forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions
High level of organizational skills and ability to multitask
Ability to manage multiple client needs through a provided CRM
Proficiency in Microsoft Office & Google Suites equivalent programs
Work in Partnership with the Leadership and Expansion Operations to understand and effectively communicate brand and quality standards and effectively communicate the value proposition throughout the sales process.
Facilitate site visits and other connections with prospective city partners
You will be required to work outside of traditional office hours.
Self-starter
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
Three to five years of professional experience in community engagement, business development and/or entrepreneurship
Two years of project management
Must show a basic understanding of the national entrepreneurial ecosystem, personal & business financial literacy, and advanced knowledge of the national fundraising landscape.
Proficiency in Salesforce or other CRM
Extra credit for being bilingual (English & Spanish) - as we think about the future of MORTAR, the ability to read, write, and speak both languages without limitation or assistance is a highly beneficial skill
Bonus points for candidates with experience in sales and/or franchising
SALARY & BENEFITS:
Salary Based On Experience
Parking and Competitive PTO package (including a paid day off for your birthday)
Health, Dental & Vision benefit plans available after 45-day probationary period