Chief Officer of the Division of Small Business Opportunities

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise.

Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $128,556-$218,545, however our target hiring range is $135,000-$175,000.

We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to :

A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

457B Retirement Plan

140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year

Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location

The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment.

Employees work where needed, at a city site and / or in the field 3-5 days a week and telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado the remaining days.

In this role you can expect to work at the Denver Post Building, 101 W Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80202

What You'll Do

At the City and County of Denver, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment that empowers all residents and neighborhoods.

Join us in making a difference by leading the Division of Small Business Opportunities (DSBO) within the Denver Economic Development and Opportunity agency (DEDO).

DEDO’s mission is to stimulate balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, and neighborhood redevelopment.

DSBO’s mission is to be the bridge that promotes and improves the participation and engagement of small, minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses through the creation an implementation of programs, thereby achieving and equitable Denver economy.

As the Chief DSBO Officer, you will be a key player in supporting emerging, small, women, disadvantaged, and minority-owned businesses.

The Chief DSBO Officer is part of the senior leadership team for Denver Economic Development and Opportunity and a key leader in the city.

You will oversee programs designed to enhance business opportunities, from outreach and certification to capacity-building and compliance.

Helping a larger, more diverse field of businesses compete for Denver contracts is an important way that we help small businesses grow, thereby achieving a more vibrant Denver economy that works for everyone.

Your Key Responsibilities :

Leadership and Oversight :

Manage the DSBO team of 31 individuals and a $5M budget, ensuring effective implementation of small business certification programs.

Serve as the primary liaison with business communities, associations, and government entities, advocating for small business interests.

Work in partnership with leaders across the City to understand the importance of DSBO programming and establish partnership in achieving DSBO objectives.

Oversee compliance for all locally and federally funded City contracts, which aggregately exceed $4B annually.

Lead presentations and speeches, representing DSBO at various forums.

Strategic Direction :

Align DSBO’s strategic goals with DEDO and the City’s overall objectives.

Develop innovative approaches to support small businesses, drawing on best practices and national trends.

Create and implement strategic new initiatives resulting in new revenue streams, including by commercializing DSBO’s certification expertise with other private and public institutions.

Drive to completion the federally mandated Disparity Study, as well as design and implement strategic programs to address and minimize the identified disparities.

Proactively identify and address emerging issues to drive continuous improvement.

Program Management :

Understand and apply federal and city regulations related to small business initiatives.

Oversee the implementation and administration of small business certification and compliance programs.

Regularly evaluate program performance and adjust strategies as needed.

Team Development :

Recruit, train, and mentor a team of professionals, ensuring they have the skills and resources to succeed.

Support staff development and career growth through regular feedback and training opportunities.

Manage the DSBO satellite office at Denver International Airport and the ACDBE program.

What You'll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels.

You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics :

Leadership Experience : Proven experience managing or leading teams, preferably within government agencies, non-profits, or business-focused organizations.

Economic Development : Experience in economic development, with a focus on small business growth, job creation, and community revitalization.

Minority and Underserved Communities : Experience working with minority and underserved business communities, with a strong understanding of the challenges they face, including access to capital, regulatory hurdles, and systemic inequities.

Policy Development : Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies or programs that promote small business and minority business growth.

Public-Private Partnership : Ability to foster and maintain partnerships between government, non-profits, and the private sector to provide resources, mentoring, and networking opportunities for small businesses.

Regulatory Knowledge : Understanding of federal, state, and local regulations related to business operations, including zoning, permits, and financial assistance programs.

Financial Acumen : Knowledge of financial tools such as grants, loans, tax credits, and other financial instruments available to small and minority-owned businesses.

Diversity and Inclusion : Expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and a track record of promoting these values in programmatic work.

Strategic Planning : Ability to develop and execute strategic plans aimed at fostering business development and economic growth in diverse communities.

Stakeholder Engagement : Strong interpersonal skills to work with business owners, community leaders, and government officials.

Public Speaking : Ability to communicate effectively with the public, media, and other stakeholders about initiatives, opportunities, and challenges.

Advocacy : Skills in advocating for policies that benefit small and minority-owned businesses at the local, state, and federal levels.

Commitment to Social Equity : A strong commitment to advancing economic equity and reducing disparities for minority entrepreneurs and small business owners

Required Minimum Qualifications

Education requirement : Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).

Experience Requirement : Five (5) years of leadership experience, which must have included director-level management responsibilities.

One (1) year of management experience must include budget and fiscal oversight responsibility, evaluation of business processes, and policy and decision-making experience with planning and organizing multiple programs, projects, operations or functions.

Education & Experience Equivalency : Two (2) years of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of posthigh school education.

Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.

We encourage you to upload the following documents to your resume (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume / CV section on the My Experience tab) :

Resume

Cover letter

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until October 31st. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than October 31st at 11 : 59pm.

Join us in shaping Denver's future by leading our efforts to support small businesses and drive economic growth. Apply today and be a part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact!

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CA1769 Executive

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click .

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$128,556.00 - $218,545.00

Starting Pay

Although the full range is posted below, our target hiring range is $135,000-$175,000.

Agency

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity

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