Director of Growth- California

Director of Growth - CA

Job Description

Founded in 2012, The Acceleration Project (TAP)’s mission is to empower under-resourced small business owners and accelerate their success by providing high-impact and customized strategic, financial, operational, and marketing support. Small businesses are a vital engine of our economy, and TAP supports entrepreneurs who lack access to critical networks and resources. TAP has worked with more than 100,000 small business owners. 

Position Summary:

TAP is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join us as the Director of Growth - CA (DoG). This person must be based in Northern California. This person is responsible for supporting the Chief Growth Officer (CGO) in achieving TAP’s overall growth targets by building revenue streams and client pipeline resources in California. This person will nurture TAP’s presence in California, cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with current partners in the California small business ecosystem while also identifying and building new partnerships. As some of these partners will have a national presence, the DoG will also provide support for TAP's overall client pipeline and fundraising goals by identifying, cultivating, and implementing new partnerships with a nationwide footprint. In addition, the DoG will support the recruitment of California-based consultants to support the Talent team’s goals. The DoG will serve as lead for tracking and reporting on TAP’s performance metrics in CA.

Critical to this role is the ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication, and strategic thinking skills. The ideal candidate is willing to travel and has business development, partnership development, and/or sales experience. This individual must have a proven track record in cultivating strategic partnerships, securing funds, managing complex projects, and fostering collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders. Additionally, the DoG stays informed about industry trends and best practices in the small business Technical Assistance environment to ensure the organization’s approach remains competitive and effective.

The DoG will report to the Chief Growth Officer. This role is full-time and flexible, with an expectation of 40 hours/week. This position is a hands-on, field-oriented role and involves events and meetings during both standard business hours and occasional evenings. While the DoG will have the flexibility to work remotely for administrative tasks, most of their time will be spent engaging directly with partners, clients, or community members in person. The position will be based in CA but will require in-person meetings/events in the Westchester/NYC area at minimum twice per year.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Growth team to define and implement overall expansion goals and objectives
• Lead the development and execution of strategic plans and initiatives within California by identifying and cultivating new strategic partnerships, client pipelines, and funding opportunities via collaborations with organizations, stakeholders, and community leaders within California that align with TAP’s growth strategies. 
• Collaborate with the Service Delivery team to nurture and expand existing funding and client pipeline partnerships in California and partner with them on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of partnership initiatives in California.
• Develop and manage project timelines, key performance indicators, budgets, resource allocation and financial targets to ensure initiatives are actionable, measurable, and fundable.
• Serve as point person on reporting on overall TAP performance in CA to Leadership team.
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards strategic and business goals, making recommendations for adjustments as needed.
• Create and deliver compelling and effective TAP presentations for external audiences.
• Identify opportunities to build TAP’s presence in the ecosystem and represent the organization in external meetings, conferences, and events to build and strengthen relationships.
• Support the Talent team to recruit and retain high-quality consultants in California.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance work environment that encourages innovation and accountability.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must be based in Northern California.
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent from an accredited college/university; MBA or other advanced degree is a plus but not required.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in business development, partnership development and/or sales field, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and drive strategic outcomes.
• Flexible, self-directed, proactive, highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Demonstrate flexibility in adapting to changing job responsibilities and a willingness to upskill as needed to meet evolving organizational demands and challenges.
• Actively participate in growing TAP's donor base, reinforcing the collective responsibility of the entire team in achieving TAP's fundraising goals.
• Passion for empowering under-resourced small businesses and a commitment to the organization’s mission and values.
• Previous nonprofit or social enterprise experience is a plus.
• Able and willing to participate in events outside traditional work hours
• Able to thrive and learn in a fast-paced environment and adjust to changing organizational priorities.
• Understanding that, at times DoG might be called upon to support other TAP activities, given the small staff size and high growth environment

Benefits Package: 

• $65,000-$70,000 per year based on a full-time status (40 hours per week). Once onboard, there is potential for salary increases within the established band, as our employees have opportunities for annual merit increases and cost-of-living adjustments.
• Generous PTO 
• 10 paid holidays per year
• 2 floating holidays per year for full-time employees
• Time off between Christmas and New Year’s
• Health and dental insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@theaccelerationproject.org with ‘Director of Growth - CA’ in the subject line.  

In your cover letter, please include a response to the following questions: 

1. Why are you interested in the position? Why are you a good fit for this role? 
2. What are the most important attributes for being successful in this position?
3. What do you think makes a partner a good fit for TAP? 
4. What process would you follow to engage with a partner that you have identified as a good fit? 
5. How would you position a partnership with TAP to a potential client pipeline partner? To a potential funder?

The deadline to apply is September 17, 2025. 

TAP is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.