BEPC is looking for a Business Attraction Development Associate in Newark, NJ to join our fast-growing team of consultants!
W2 Contract: 8 months with opportunities for extensions based on business needs and performance.
**Hybrid Position in Newark, NJ**
Pay Range: $39.23-68.65/hr. plus we offer Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance benefits!
Job Summary:
The company launched the Global Center for Urban Development (GCUD) to advance its 14-year mission to accelerate Newark’s comeback through initiatives aimed at advancing equity, racial justice, and economic empowerment. Designed to expand existing programs and invent new scalable and replicable models, the Center serves as a think-tank for innovative ideas to address social and economic inequities and actively catalyze societal change – all of which creates measurable equity and resilient futures in the communities we work.
The goal of GCUD’s and the company’s business attraction efforts is to help accelerate Newark’s revitalization by thoughtfully and equitably growing the tech and innovation ecosystems, creating new jobs and supporting the local economy, with a focus on founders of color and female founders who have been traditionally marginalized in the capital markets. This role will be responsible for sourcing, vetting, and supporting startups and retail businesses that create new jobs, increase neighborhood vibrancy, foot traffic, and drive local spend to create a thriving neighborhood.
About You:
You are customer obsessed, focusing on current (and future) Newark residents, workers, students, and entrepreneurs and visitors and will study and draw inspiration from urban areas across the world to bring best-in-class programs and solutions to Newark. You have proven success in collaborating to generate measurable action. You will drive advancement of new programs related to business attraction and growth in key impact sectors of technology & innovation and retail & dining.
Key Responsibilities:

• Build pipeline of prospective startups and retail businesses through ongoing research, outreach within founder and VC community, and attendance at industry events.
• Review incoming requests and referrals and conduct initial vetting of startups and retail businesses in pipeline.
• Perform detailed business and financial due diligence of startups and retail businesses that meet investment bar and review with investment committee for approval.
• Facilitate landlord introductions and building tours in the company’s neighborhood for interested businesses.
• Contribute to marketing strategy to drive awareness and interest in company’s Business Attraction program.
• Partner with Neighborhood Activations Director, Neighborhood Program Coordinator, and the company Content team to plan events to support Business Attraction efforts.
• Partner with Neighborhood Program Coordinator to facilitate robust support of businesses to ensure program participants scale and grow to deliver on economic impact goals. This would include providing and coordinating mentorship and support, VC connections for investment, and developing (through internal and external collaboration) workshops and curriculum to support growth of founders and business owners.
• Develop, maintain, and nurture partnerships with Newark and NJ stakeholders to strengthen ecosystem collaboration including property owners, local stakeholders, and neighbors (universities, non-profits, community organizations and all levels of government).
• Work with internal and external teams to develop robust pitch points for Newark as a business destination.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by Sr Director, Economic Impact.

Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in supporting venture capital (e.g. VC scout or investment analyst) or supporting startups (e.g. tech accelerator). Strong preference for experience in building deal flow and preparing investment memos.
• MBA or similar degree with concentrations in business, investing, finance, or economics.
• Strong record of negotiation skills.
• Excel at building strong relationships and persuasive in written and verbal communication.
• Strong use of insights and data-driven decision making.
• Willingness and ability to perform both strategic and tactical / operational tasks.
• Comfortable with and find opportunity in ambiguity.
• Outstanding work ethic and organizational skills.
• Extremely detail oriented.
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity.
• Strong Excel skills

BEOCS