La Esquina Manager

La Esquina - meaning the corner (of Alum Rock & King Road) - is a collective co-led by SOMOS Mayfair, the Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley, and Excite Credit Union, is a cornerstone of this vision. Anchored in East San José, La Esquina serves as an ecosystem for economic mobility and justice—supporting over 4,000 individuals annually with pathways to entrepreneurship, childcare, cooperative development, and advocacy. Together, we are building a model of development without displacement, rooted in the self-determination and leadership of immigrant families.

Position Overview:

The La Esquina Manager will play a pivotal role in coordinating cross-partner efforts that advance economic justice through the development of worker-owned cooperatives and shared programming. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in collaborative environments, values community-led innovation, and can manage the operational and strategic coordination, and complexity, needed to bring La Esquina’s vision to life.

The Manager will oversee the implementation of co-op development activities, support quarterly shared learning efforts, manage logistics for La Esquina programming and site-based operations, and act as the liaison between partners responsible for communications, reporting, and impact tracking. This role is key to ensuring La Esquina functions as a seamless and culturally responsive space where immigrant families can access resources, build wealth, and shape the systems that impact their lives.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications and Qualities

• Deep commitment to racial and economic justice, particularly in support of immigrant and working-class communities.
• Experience building cross-sector partnerships and collaborating toward shared impact and collective power.
• Relational and values-driven leadership rooted in humility, integrity, and curiosity, with strong project follow-through.
• Skilled project manager with experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives in community development, workforce, or cooperative models.
• Familiarity with community wealth-building strategies, including entrepreneurship, co-op development, and ecosystem approaches.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to serve as a liaison and support communications, reporting, and evaluation.
• Detail-oriented logistics coordinator, able to manage shared programming and activities with cultural responsiveness and precision.
• Flexible and adaptable team member, comfortable navigating shifting priorities and balancing big-picture vision with operational detail.
• “No task too small” mindset, eager to contribute across roles and responsibilities to ensure team and community success.
• Collaborative and strengths-based leadership style, grounded in mutual respect and community trust.
• Asset-based perspective, recognizing the leadership and potential in every community member and partner.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bilingual/biliterate in Spanish and English required.
• Strong organizational, planning, and coordination skills, with the ability to move between long-term planning and day-to-day execution.
• Knowledge of cooperative business models, economic justice frameworks, or entrepreneurship ecosystems is a plus.
• Comfortable with collaborative tools and systems (Google Workspace, Canva)
• Reputation for being trustworthy, dependable, and solutions-oriented.
• Experience managing events, meetings, or learning exchanges that foster shared learning and collaboration.
• Successful cross-functional communication and collaboration experience.

Position Requirements

• Ability to work onsite (in person) at Quetzal Gardens, La Esquina Headquarters
• Flexibility in your schedule to attend evening and weekend job activities
• Valid California driver’s license, good driving history, and proof of insurance
• DOJ Fingerprint and Background Clearance
• TB Clearance and ability to act as a Mandated Reporter
• Must participate in all mandatory trainings

Duties and Responsibilities (approximate % of time)

Co-Op and Ecosystem Coordination (40%)

• Support implementation of co-op development goals, including coordination of technical assistance, leadership development, and peer-to-peer supports.
• Act as primary contact for co-op ecosystem partners to ensure clear communication and seamless project tracking.
• Help document and share stories of impact tied to worker power and economic justice, in coordination with communications staff.
• Oversee and facilitate collective progress toward the establishment of a worker cooperative development hub at La Esquina.
• Serve as an ambassador for the collective to strengthen existing external partnerships and support fostering new ones with community leaders, sponsors and more.

Quarterly Learning and Partner Alignment (25%)

• Design and manage quarterly learning sessions across La Esquina partners to deepen knowledge sharing and strategy alignment.
• Capture insights and outcomes from shared learning spaces and ensure they are integrated into program improvement.
• Support development of agendas, facilitation materials, and follow-up for meetings across programs and partners.

Operations and Site Logistics (20%)

• Manage scheduling, track space reservation requests for La Esquina programming, and communicate with program partners to support effective use of shared facilities.
• Support event and program logistics by liaising with staff and partners to anticipate needs related to space setup, equipment, and scheduling.

Communications, Impact Tracking, and Reporting Liaison (10%)

• Serve as liaison between SOMOS and partner teams responsible for communications, reporting, and impact data collection.
• Ensure program activities are documented and integrated into narrative and quantitative reports for funders and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and use of joint communication and referral systems.

Administrative and Miscellaneous Duties (5%)

• Execute a Learning & Professional Development Plan to develop or strengthen essential skills and seek opportunities for greater and on-going learning, including community organizing models and the practice of popular education pedagogy
• Attend required Professional Development sessions with UPM (Universidad Popular Mayfair) and participate in other relevant professional development opportunities to enhance skills and stay current with best practices in the field.
• Participate in SOMOS Mayfair staff meetings, trainings, and organizational campaigns.
• Flexibility to work on other relevant special projects and tasks as assigned.
• Participate in SOMOS Mayfair staff meetings and training and support major organizational campaigns and projects
• Flexibility to work on other projects related to the role, as needed.