Senior Director of Programs

The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is an economic empowerment nonprofit founded in Boston in 1995, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, particularly women and veterans, turn their visions into reality.

Through tailored education, strong networks, and improved access to markets, CWE unlocks the potential of small businesses to create meaningful economic impact. As a recognized partner for women and veterans, we combine data, innovation, and community to uplift entrepreneurs.

CWE operates the largest cluster of Women’s Business Centers in the country across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, providing educational resources funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England (VBOC) supports veterans in launching and growing businesses in the region. As a Regional Partner Organization of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), CWE also facilitates certification for woman-owned businesses while fostering connections for business development with corporate members.

Position Summary:

The Senior Director of Programs at CWE plays a pivotal role in advancing our mission to be the most trusted and impactful resource for women and veteran entrepreneurs in New England. This leadership position involves supervising a dedicated team of up to 8 full-time staff members, including 1 individual who oversees the day-to-day functions of the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), up to 6 team members managing the daily operations of the Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), and 1 staff member in a cross-functional role supporting rural entrepreneurs, including women and veterans. The incumbent will possess strong people-management skills to foster a collaborative environment that empowers each individual to reach their professional goals while inspiring and driving execution aligned with CWE’s strategic objectives.

In this role, the Senior Director will focus on adapting our core curricula to meet the needs of our diverse audiences, ensuring that both the WBCs and the VBOC deliver high-quality programs. This position is crucial for creating seamless connections between our educational offerings, outreach initiatives, and key stakeholders, thereby enhancing the economic empowerment of entrepreneurs in our community. The Senior Director will also lead the delivery of multisite programs and grants.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned.

Team Management

• Oversee a team of up to 8 full-time employees to deliver high-quality services to veteran and women entrepreneurs.
• Support team members in achieving their goals.
• Ensure all team members are aligned with CWE’s mission, promoting consistent core content and strategic direction.
• Identify opportunities for improved collaboration within the team and partner with the VP of Program Operations to enhance teamwork and understanding.

Program Delivery & Management

• Work closely with the VP of Program Operations in shaping the strategy for the educational component of CWE’s Direct Services, providing support in the development of the overall strategy and setting corresponding goals.
• Collaborate with the VP of Program Operations and the Director of Certification to ensure seamless integration of educational programs and procurement services for an enhanced client experience.
• Lead the creation and implementation of the annual Program Calendar.
• Work with the Impact & Learning and Direct Service Teams to monitor program activities, ensuring alignment with CWE’s core values and quality standards.
• Organize and participate in in-person engagements to build connections and improve experiences for clients and employees.

Ensure Operational Excellence

• Understand and ensure compliance with governing documents such as CWE Standard Operating Procedures, and the federal Notices of Award.
• Ensure that grant deliverables are met or exceeded, and that all information needed for reporting is submitted in a timely manner.
• Work with program staff to maintain and improve program quality.
• Work across specialty areas to ensure that CWE’s core content is used consistently across all of our programs, with appropriate tailoring to veteran and women entrepreneurs.
• Lead delivery of multisite grants and partnerships.
• Step in as interim manager of WBCs and/or VBOC during periods of turnover or extended leave.

Volunteer Engagement and Management

• In partnership with the VP of Program Operations, CWE’s President & CEO, and local staff members, recruit and manage Advisory Boards for WBCs and for VBOC.
• Collaborate with local staff to build and manage a team of CWE Consultants and Business Coaches for client counseling and training. Ensure all receive consistent onboarding.

Work with Partner Organizations and Funders

• Sustain strong relationships with the U.S. Small Business Administration and District Offices regarding Cooperative Agreements for WBCs and VBOC. Foster high-quality communication and collaboration while adhering to available resources and parameters of the Notices of Award.
• Assist with communications and relationships with funders, helping to tell our story and ensure that we operate with excellence within the parameters of available funding.
• Represent CWE internally and externally to stakeholders.
• Facilitate CWE’s efforts to create a repository of trusted community partners and referral system.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly supervises other executives, managers, and/or direct employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following.

• Communications - Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse workforce.
• Job Knowledge - Competent in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.
• Learning Orientation – Engages in reflection and continuous improvement; values data as a tool to strengthen impact and effectiveness.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Shared values – Identifies with and embodies CWE’s values in all aspects of work.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. At least five years of professional experience, including demonstrated success with team management; preferably including work with a small business.

Language Ability: Read and interpret documents as assigned. Write routine reports and correspondence. Speak effectively before groups of clients or employees.

Mathematical Ability: Add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Compute rate, ratio and percent, and draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Video conferencing and webinar software i.e. Zoom
• Customer Relationship Management tools (CRMs)
• Constant Contact

Visual: The employee is required to routinely read documents and reports for understanding, write such reports, utilize the computer for the creation of graphics, marketing materials, and social media content. Color, size, and shape distinctions are integral to the position.

Nature and Purpose of Public Contact: Relationships with co-workers, service recipients, funders, and other members of the public. These involve frequent explanation, discussion or interpretation of practices, procedures, regulations, or guidelines to render service, plan or coordinate work efforts, or resolve operating problems. More than ordinary courtesy, tact, and diplomacy may be required.

Certificates and Licenses: Required to have and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, bend and operate a vehicle. The employee is frequently required to type on a keyboard using hands to finger. They are required to handle, feel, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and move around for work. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

The salary range for this position is $87,550 to $100,424, plus benefits. Benefits include mileage reimbursement, bereavement leave, health and dental insurance (CWE contributes a percentage to health and dental costs), family leave, life insurance (CWE pays 100% of the cost), paid holidays, jury duty leave, and vacation benefits. At CWE, we are proud to offer employees the ability to work with their managers to create a flexible schedule that suits clients, staff, and our organization. Additionally, we have implemented a flex-time policy of 4 hours/week to provide employees with time for self-care. This position is classified as full-time, and exempt.

Health and Dental

CWE offers a variety of health care plans including HMOs, PPOs and High Deductible plans for individuals, Employee + and families. CWE contributes 75% to health and dental benefit costs for individuals and family plans. CWE pays 100% of the cost of Life Insurance, AD&D, Short- and Long-term Disability. All supplemental insurance including vision coverage, additional life insurance, commuter benefits or other voluntary coverage is paid by the employee through payroll deduction.

Vacation

Vacation is accrued with length of service according to the following schedule:

• Date of hire - end of second year: 18 days (monthly accrual rate of 1.5 days)
• Start of year 3 - end of fourth year: 24 days (monthly accrual rate of 2 days)
• Start of year 5 and thereafter: 30 days (monthly accrual rate of 2.5 days)

Additional

Additional benefits include an education reimbursement of up to $1500 per calendar year for a Degree program, and up to $500 for continuing education with a maximum benefit of $1500 per year.