WEPOWER - Recruitment & Capital Access Lead

Recruitment & Capital Access Lead 

About WEPOWER

WEPOWER is building a team full of dreamers and doers. We partner with Black and Latinx communities to build power to re-design education, economic, justice, and health systems to be just and equitable for all. We build powerful relationships with community members and amplify their voices to inform critical decisions that impact their lives. We train community members to design new policies, organize, run for public office, and lead policy and systems change. We provide early-stage companies with access to coaching, capital, connections, and community as they create jobs in the communities with whom we partner. 

In our first five years, WEPOWER has activated nearly 400 community leaders, won a historic ballot measure that guarantees millions in public funding annually for early childhood, supported approximately 100 businesses with access to capital, coaching, and connections, and launched a one-of-a-kind investment fund. We envision a future where systems are accountable to powerful communities that have been historically oppressed, and nurture our freedom, well-being, dreams, and joy. We are building a powerful movement led by everyday people, and we have bold plans to get us there. Join us! 

Our team is… 

• Values-driven 
• Community-centered 
• Innovative 
• Problem-solving 
• Focused 
• Collaborative

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Of Staff (COS), the Recruitment & Capital Access Lead is an exempt full time employee who will be hired to lead a grant funded project through December 2025. 

You Will…

Lead recruitment of values aligned Black and Latinx entrepreneurs & underrepresented entrepreneurs

• Develop and improve the recruitment process and tools to drive selection of diverse and highly qualified entrepreneurs for WEPOWER’s business accelerator(s).
• Drive implementation of the recruitment process and tools to select cohorts of entrepreneurs for WEPOWER’s business accelerator, and leverage the support of the organization’s communications and marketing team. 
• Form partnerships with local organizations and leaders to support iteration of recruitment and selection criteria, drive pipeline development, and to participate in the selection process. 
• Continuously engage in relationship development with prospective entrepreneurs to understand their needs, successes, and opportunities, to then cultivate them for WEPOWER’s accelerator and/or connect them with the right forms of capital. 
• Identify and join tables and collaborations across the region that align to the priorities of WEPOWER.
• Leverage a “seat at the table” to inspire a regional commitment to “community wealth building” and the emerging Community Wealth for Black and Latinx-owned businesses.
• Leverage the insights from existing and emerging tables and collaborations across the region to further inform WEPOWER’s approach to capital access. 

Lead process of supporting and connecting entrepreneurs within the WEPOWER community and beyond to the right forms of capital (grants, loans, and investments) to scale and sustain their businesses 

• Manage the “Kiva Hub Collaborative” to offer zero-interest loans across St. Louis by collaborating with other organizations, ensuring up to date marketing materials, consistent collaboration and coordination with members of the collaborative, checking in with the Kiva team to ensure compliance and fidelity to the model, supporting entrepreneurs with setting up their campaigns, and check-ins post the campaign to ensure sustained success and surface insights for future improvements.
• Manage the process of ensuring the right type of entrepreneurs are in the pipeline for WEPOWER Capital, connecting high potential prospects to our due diligence and investment fund management partner. 
• Ongoing check-ins with the investees to understand needs and successes post investment and to stay aware of their ability and timeline to provide returns.
• Act as a liaison to connect fundraisers with entrepreneurs and facilitate relationships between them.
• When entrepreneurs are not the right fit for WEPOWER’s capital offerings, connect them to other capital providers and entrepreneur support organizations.  
• Offer support to entrepreneurs in meeting fiscal compliance requirements and navigating financial matters successfully.

Add capacity to grant management for services and financial support, serving as a liaison between funders and the Black & Latinx entrepreneurs we engage

• Working in collaboration with relevant team members and contractors to
• Track and support entrepreneurs’ application processes
• Communicate admissions decisions to applicants 
• Prepare grantee summaries for the Capital Fund’s stakeholders 
• Track relevant metrics on small business recruitment and program participation in consultation with the Grant Manager and other relevant WEPOWER staff members
• Manage communications and meetings between partners, including agenda development, project management, and logistical support 
• Maintain files, documents, and shared communications systems
• Liaises with other WEPOWER staff and with key funders to align strategy and help secure resources 
• Finance sector knowledge and expertise, and specifically an understanding of the role private and public finance and financial regulation play in building community resilience within Black and Latinx communities is a plus
• Provide assistance with mentoring, coaching, and other support services offered to entrepreneurs

You Are…

First and foremost, you’re deeply passionate about building resilient communities that leverage power to make the paying field equitable. You’re an experienced advocate and have a track record of supporting and advising small businesses to reach their goals. You’ve got your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground with a knack for developing and articulating big picture strategies while also being able to turn ideas into action.

You understand power; not only who has it, but how it’s historically been used to oppress and how it must be used to uplift, with specific focus to the small business sector. You’re a generalist with an ability to quickly triage support for a small business once you understand its core mission and goals, while also delving into the weeds of deep technical knowledge and detail when necessary. You prioritize creativity in this work as no two small businesses are exactly the same and cookie cutter solutions won’t work here. Being a team player is imperative as WEPOWER’s work culture is centered on values such as collaboration so you need to be a great team player with strong facilitation skills and the ability to build strong relationships with a wide range of different actors - from small business owners to content matter experts and financial sector leaders. 

Your Qualifications and Experience

We’re seeking an experienced leader committed to building a more just and inclusive multi-racial democracy.  

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in either small business creation or development, economic development, or a community wealth-related non-profit campaign, chamber of commerce, or other institution
• Proven self starter with the ability to think analytically, strategically and with agility to translate ideas and insights into action through coherent and viable program work
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting racial and social equity, with experience working effectively as part of a team and with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and perspectives
• Ability to build relationships with, and analyze and assess, organizations and their contributions to the fields in which we work
• Significant experience working with a range of individuals in small businesses, nonprofit organizations, government, and foundations
• Strong interpersonal and group facilitation skills; experience coordinating distributed networks a plus 
• Experience in project management and top time management skills 
• A track record of effective written and verbal communication for various audiences and in various contexts
• Proven experience in a recruitment capacity is a plus. This could be professionally or in a volunteer capacity. 
• Ability to screen and assess candidates for program fit through the use of various tools (i.e. applications, interviews, performance activities, etc.) 
• Familiarity with Applicant Tracking Tools (ATS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is valued. 

We evaluate candidates on the whole of their experience and skills, and we encourage people to apply even if you do not meet all of the “requirements.” We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color and multi-racial/multi-ethnic people, people with disabilities, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans/nonbinary/gender non-conforming communities.

Work Environment 

Fun. Fast. Focused. Values-driven. Community-centered. Collaborative. Innovative. Lots of brainstorming and imagining what’s possible and then chasing each possibility until it is reality!

As a startup, being part of the team at WEPOWER requires extreme commitment and agility, AND we value each team member’s personal life circumstances and priorities. We will work together to ensure the organization prioritizes the health, social-emotional wellbeing, and morale of each team member! Living our values regarding the importance of rest, team members have the authority to structure flex time as work ebbs and flows.

Given the nature of campaigns, some evening and weekend work will be expected, but break weeks after intense work periods (e.g. election day) is available for team members and highly encouraged. Additionally, this is a remote office environment, but it’s strongly preferred that the final candidate be based in or willing to relocate to the St Louis area.

There will be 24-hour access to an office space with printing, open workspace, private meeting rooms, and a conference room. 

Travel

You will engage in limited travel (roughly once a quarter) with the exception of professional development experiences that align to your short-term and long-term development goals and areas of interests. 

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range is $60,000-$75,000 and commensurate on experience. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Health benefits plus dental, vision, and affordable family coverage. 
• 403b Plan: To save for retirement. 
• Paid Time Off: 10 days of vacation, 8 sick days, 2 rest weeks with an additional 2 weeks off at the end of December, and 8 holidays each year. 
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid Parental Leave: New parents get this time to spend with their family. 10 weeks if you've been here a year or more. 
• Cell Phone Reimbursement
• Wellness Stipend: Up to $50/month reimbursement for spending on physical and mental health needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

WEPOWER is an equal opportunity employer and a fierce advocate for equity in the workplace. We value diversity in all its forms and aim to create an inclusive culture. WEPOWER encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ancestry, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, hair texture, or other status protected by law.

Apply

Interested candidates can apply here and submit their resume as well as their responses to the pre-screening questions below.

Pre-screening Questions

1. Why are you interested in working for WEPOWER? (250 words max)
2.  How have you centered equity and inclusion in your previous roles, particularly as it pertains to working with and/or supporting small businesses? (250 words max)
3. Can you tell me a little about your view on the relationship between small business and community resilience within Black and Latinx communities? (250 words max)

Process

• Phase One: Submit resume, including pre-screening questions. 
• Phase Two: Interview stage with Meso Solutions, equity-forward hiring firm supporting this search.
• Phase Three: Interview stage with WEPOWER selection team
• Phase Four: Performance activity
• Phase Five:  Final interview. 
• Phase Six: Background check and reference checks