Business Transitions Coordinator

The Industrial Commons

Business Transitions Coordinator 

Job Title: Business Transitions Coordinator

Reports To: Director of Business Transitions

Department/Location: Business Development Field

Revision Dates: 11/24/25

Pay range

$57,000 - $62,000

Overview: The Business Transitions Coordinator will support The Industrial Commons’ Director of Business Transitions in engaging directly with business owners and industry partners, walking them through an educational and consultative process to support a conversion to employee ownership. This position will play a key role in facilitating the employee ownership transition process, organizing elements of the transition from exploration to closing. 

About The Industrial Commons: The Industrial Commons is a nonprofit in Morganton, NC creating an ecosystem focused on rooting local wealth and ownership. TIC is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Primary Function:

Essential functions:

Business and Partnership Development (50%)

Assist in engaging and educating businesses in employee ownership models. Work closely with the Director of Business Transitions to identify potential new business opportunities, and to convene stakeholders and partners to expand regional knowledge around employee ownership. 

• Pipeline Development and Management:
• Support Director of Business Transitions in building a pipeline of businesses interested in transitioning to employee ownership. 
• Identify potential target markets and support in conducting outreach to businesses at various stages of interest. 
• Maintain an established lead tracking system with proactive follow-up with potential clients. 
• Work closely with Business Transitions leadership to prioritize sectors and businesses based on potential impact and alignment with Business Transition’s mission. 
• Use KPIs to track the success of business development initiatives, ensuring the pipeline is growing in a sustainable and strategic manner. 

• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building:
• Maintain relationships with other organizations including industry associations, business networks, state and local leaders, small business associations, and financial institutions, to promote joint initiatives and generate leads.
• Build relationships founded on trust, collaboration, and reliability. 

Employee Ownership Conversion (50%)

Provide education, consultation, and hands-on support to business owners and workers exploring transitioning to employee ownership. This role will support the Director of Business Transitions in guiding businesses through the conversion process, from initial exploration to post-transition support, ensuring successful employee ownership models are established and sustained.

• Consultation & Education:
• Coordinate information sessions and workshops utilizing subject matter experts to educate business owners, workers, and stakeholders on the benefits of employee ownership. 
• Create, update, and utilize case studies to support peer learning opportunities and share experiences and best practices.

• Conversion Process Facilitation:
• Serve as a point of contact with TIC clients and stakeholders, representing the organization and coordinating the execution of projects and deliverables.
• Play a support role to the Director of Business Transitions throughout the conversion process, supporting business owners and workers through business, financial, legal, and governance transitions, utilizing expert resources when necessary. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Business Transitions and a team of external advisors, including legal professionals, accountants, and cooperative ownership consultants, to ensure all technical aspects of the conversion (e.g., business valuation, financing options, legal formation) are effectively coordinated. 
• Support development and management of timelines, documents, deliverables, and milestones to keep the conversion process on track. 
• Facilitate pre and post-support for groups of workers developing democratic structures within their workplaces. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience: 

• Commitment to TIC’s vision and mission
• 5 years in business support services or economic development role OR Bachelor’s Degree in business, economics, public administration, or a related field OR combination of equivalent experience and education
• Comfortable attending industry events and meeting partners in person
• Strong organizational and problem solving skills
• Strong relationship management skills

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Deep familiarity with small business development; ability to communicate effectively and assess business needs
• Demonstrated experience in managing workflows, updating databases, tracking deliverables, and executing routine operations consistently
• Bilingual (Spanish) proficiency strongly preferred but not required

Physical Demands and Work Environment: 

• Ability to occasionally lift 15 lbs-50 lbs
• Ability to remain in a stationary position with computer work
• Must be able to move about various office environments to access office machinery, products, and to communicate with staff
• Valid driver’s license
• Regional travel required, company vehicle available if needed
• 5-10% of work time involves travel with overnight stays 

Core Competencies:

• Relationship Development - Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders through active listening, trust-building, and culturally sensitive communication that advances organizational goals.
• Project Coordination and Facilitation - Ability to manage multiple initiatives, tracking progress systems, facilitating meetings, and adapting to changing circumstances while meeting deadlines.
• Educational Communication and Consultation - Translates complex information into accessible formats and provides expert guidance through presentations, training sessions, and consultations tailored to diverse audience needs.
• Information, Data Management and Communication - Organizes, analyzes, and disseminates data by maintaining accurate information systems, creating clear reports and visualizations, and ensuring compliance with relevant policies.