Director of Programs

NYPACE is seeking an innovative and visionary Director of Programs to lead the strategic development, execution, and expansion of our entrepreneurial and small business development initiatives. This senior leadership role is central to fostering creative and impactful program services and driving strategic activities that empower small business owners in underserved communities across New York City.

In addition to overseeing existing programs such as the Entrepreneur Flagship, Legal Sprints, and the Workshop Learning Series, the Director will proactively develop processes, resources, and an ecosystem of partners and collaborators to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. This role emphasizes innovation, creativity, and building scalable solutions to address the evolving needs of entrepreneurs.

The Director will supervise a team, cultivate strategic partnerships, and serve as a thought leader within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring NYPACE’s programs align with its mission to foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable business success.

Strategic Leadership & Innovation

• Foster Creative and Impactful Programming: Develop innovative strategies to

expand NYPACE’s program portfolio, ensuring services address emerging trends and the

evolving needs of small business owners.

• Proactive Development: Identify and implement processes, tools, and resources to

support entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses effectively.

• Lead strategic planning and program design to ensure alignment with organizational

goals and community needs.

• Evaluate and refine existing programs, including the Entrepreneur Flagship, Legal

Sprints, and Workshop Learning Series, to enhance their reach, impact, and

sustainability.

Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement

• Set Direction for Corporate Volunteer Recruitment: Establish and implement

strategies to recruit volunteers from corporate firms, with a specific focus on fostering

skills-based volunteerism to maximize program effectiveness.

• Collaborate on Day of Service Initiatives: Work closely with the Director of

Corporate Initiatives to support and enhance Day of Service program initiatives, aligning

volunteer efforts with organizational goals and corporate partnerships.

Entrepreneurial Support & Ecosystem Building

• Develop a Collaborative Ecosystem: Build and maintain a network of

partners—including community-based small business service providers, government

agencies, corporate sponsors, and business accelerators—to expand NYPACE’s impact.

• Implement mentorship, workshops, and other innovative initiatives to strengthen the

capacity of small business owners.

• Actively monitor trends in entrepreneurship, economic development, and small business

growth to create programs that anticipate and address emerging challenges.

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Cultivate relationships with small business owners, community leaders, corporate

partners, and other key stakeholders to promote NYPACE’s mission.

• Represent NYPACE at in-person conference events, forums, and meetings to build

visibility, secure new collaborations, and advocate for the needs of underserved

entrepreneurs.

Program Management & Impact Evaluation

• Oversee day-to-day program operations, ensuring all initiatives are delivered on time,

within budget, and aligned with NYPACE’s mission.

• Utilize Salesforce for Performance Tracking: Leverage Salesforce to input, track,

monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure

program success and impact. Use data-driven insights to continuously improve program

delivery.

• Work closely with development and marketing teams to secure funding, communicate

program successes, and attract new stakeholders.

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise and mentor the program team, fostering a culture of collaboration,

accountability, and innovation.

• Provide professional development opportunities to the program team to ensure

high-quality program execution.

• Act as a senior advisor to the Executive Director on program strategy and growth

opportunities.

Qualifications and Skills

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• 7-10 years in nonprofit management, small business development,

entrepreneurship, or economic development.

• At least 5 years in a leadership role with experience in program design, scaling

initiatives, and team management.

• Proven ability to develop creative and impactful program services that address the needs

of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

• Demonstrated success in building partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including

corporate sponsors, community organizations, and government agencies.

• Strong strategic thinker, project management, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in data-driven program evaluation and reporting.
• Familiarity with entrepreneurial ecosystems, including incubators, accelerators, and

mentorship programs, is highly desirable.

• Passion for fostering economic growth, financial literacy, and community empowerment.