Senior Director, KCSourceLink and MOSourceLink, UMKC's Innovation Center

UMKC's Innovation Center- KCSourceLink and MOSourceLink KCSourceLink is the connection to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas City. With a network of 250+ business-building resources, KCSourceLink helps aspiring and existing business owners start, grow and accelerate businesses across the 18-county, bistate Kansas City region. KCSourceLink also identifies gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and then strategically works with partners to fill those gaps and strengthen support for businesses-all while measuring and reporting on the progress of the ecosystem. MOSourceLink connects a network of nearly 500 organizations across the state of Missouri that provide programs and services to help companies start and grow. Acting as a clearinghouse for information, MOSourceLink supports entrepreneurrs by providing easy access to the right resource at the right time. Job Description The Senior Director is primarily responsible for the strategic management of KCSoucreLink and MOSourceLink programs & staff. This role is critical to developing and fostering community relationships that connect entrepreneurs to support resources and grow the entrepreneur ecosystem. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following: - Provide strategic direction to KCSourceLink and MOSourceLink programs; set short- and long-term goals and objectives; manage operations and staff to connect entrepreneurs to support resources and support the growth of the entrepreneur ecosystem. - Understand and form relationships with entrepreneur support organizations and community organizations that support entrepreneurs; monitor and report on programs and services offered. - Convene constituencies, including entrepreneur support organizations, entrepreneurs, funders and others to connect the entrepreneurial ecosystem. - Identify gaps within the network of support and lead cross-organization collaborative efforts to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem - report on progress for the community. - Seek and apply for grant opportunities. Track progress towards grant goals, report on goals toward grants and provide grant reports to funders. Develop and maintain funder relationships. - Oversee budgets. - Oversee marketing strategy and planning. - Oversee presentations and program representation at community events, media engagements and partner programs. - Manage data and survey systems (internal CRM system as well as outsourced research); document and regularly report on activities and progress toward goals. - Manage annual Global Entrepreneurship Week in the Kansas City region. - Provide guidance to constituencies concerning programs and projects offered across the state. - Continually learn about entrepreneurship and opportunities to best serve entrepreneurs and influence others to take action to implement change. - Serve as the main point of contact for programs and entrepreneurial information The successful candidate must: - Have strong program, project and seasoned people management skills. - Demonstrated ability to build relationships with people and organizations in the community to achieve collaborative goals. - Able to incite action from others that do not have a direct report to candidate. - Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with funders and raise funds. - Have excellent customer service skills working with internal and external audiences. - Able to use judgement to identify, troubleshoot and resolve technical and/or operational problems. - Demonstrate a proven ability to participate in long-term planning and strategies for a program. - Have an understanding of the needs of entrepreneurs (microenterprise, Main Street, innovation-led and second stage) and entrepreneurial infrastructure. - Have demonstrated skill in working with partners, staff and funder . - Possess strong skills in Windows, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. - Able to coordinate resources and set priorities to meet objects and competing priorities. - Maintain confidentiality. - Work with a high degree of integrity and hold high ethical standards. Minimum Qualifications A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 6 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary