Job Title: Business Development Specialist

Report to: Business Development Manager FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Remote - SE MN Pay: $63,000

Department: Minnesota

Mission and Organizational Background:

The mission of First Children’s Finance (FCF) is to grow the supply and business sustainability of excellent child care. Founded in 1991, FCF provides business and financial assistance to business owners and leaders in the field of Early Care and Education (ECE). To achieve our goals, FCF works on three levels: Individual Business Level, Community Level and Systems Level. FCF is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Minneapolis that provides business development programs and/or financing to ECE providers in multiple states, with regional offices in four: Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Vermont. For more information, see the First Children’s website at: http://www.firstchildrensfinance.org.

Job Summary:

FCF Minnesota team is seeking a Business Development Specialist (BDS) to work with small businesses in Southeast Minnesota. This position is a remote work opportunity with the expectation of travel within the region when required to meet with partners, individual child care businesses, and communities.

The Business Development Specialist position provides business and financial planning, consultation, training and support to early care and education providers; promotes FCF and its programs and services; and connects to a diverse group of FCF stakeholders, partners, and constituents. This position works closely with members of the FCF team to promote and ensure the effectiveness of FCF’s core programs, including: (1) consulting services and technical assistance to child care businesses; (2) training and education to a variety of audiences; and (3) facilitation of community engagement activities. 

Candidate should reside in or near the Southeast region of Minnesota.

Essential Functions:

• Develops, promotes, and implements programs, services, and resources to support the mission of FCF.
• Provides training and consultation support to child care businesses to improve business practices and strengthen operations.
• Assists start-up child care businesses and existing child care businesses experiencing financial crisis. 
• Provides input and analyzes financial and program data. 
• Assists with program reporting as assigned.
• Facilitates small-group and community engagement activities in support of FCF’s community-based programming.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of four years’ experience in financial management, planning and/or training.
• Successful experience in consulting, training, lending, and/or financial analysis.
• Experience working with small businesses, or experience owning/operating a small business.
• A strategic thinker and planner as well as an effective implementer.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, with a can-do attitude.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Familiar with state child care licensing regulations.

Preferred:

• Direct experience with child care.
• Experience in resource development and/or fundraising.
• Experience in private sector engagement and partnership.
• Public speaking experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to promote a positive image of FCF and position FCF as a key resource in the field of early care and education.
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze financial statements and develop and manage budgets.
• Ability to work collaboratively with communities of color and low-resourced communities.
• Ability to think strategically and implement plans on the ground.
• Ability to be flexible and work collaboratively with a diverse FCF staff, customers, partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision yet be a part of a team.
• Ability to work flexible schedule including a few evenings.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.

 Work Conditions:

• Must be able to work on the computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel when needed.

Additional Notes: 

This job description represents the major functions of the position but is not intended to be all-inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for taking direction from FCF representatives in completing projects or performing duties deemed necessary for the program and FCF success.

Benefits:

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, holidays, paid time off, and paid family medical leave. Allowable travel costs are reimbursed.

First Children’s Finance honors candidates’ time and effort in job-seeking by providing transparency regarding compensation. Creating transparency regarding salary information reduces the gender pay gap, and eliminates salary negotiation, which rarely benefits people of color or women. It is a value of our organization to support equitable hiring practices. 

First Children’s Finance is an Equal Employment Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer.