Job Posting: E-Center Program Manager and Outdoor Industry Director

Estes Park EDC’s mission includes helping to launch, support, and grow startups in the Estes Valley region. The E-Center programs and services are intended to serve startups and new businesses in our region. The Program Manager promotes and helps develop programs and services for startups in the Estes Valley region.

In addition, Estes Park EDC is placing an emphasis on attracting outdoor gear and apparel startups to the Estes Valley region. The E-Center Program Manager will lead efforts to attract and serve entrepreneurs and startups in the outdoor gear and apparel industry.  To serve a wider variety of startup industry clusters, you will access existing programs and services of our project Partners: 1) Innosphere, primarily through their industry-focused Program Directors and secondarily 2) Larimer SBDC.  An Innosphere Program Director supports startups through technology and product validation, entrepreneurial education, advisor matching, pilot/trial oversight, access to capital, and introductions to service providers and corporate strategic partners. The Larimer Small Business Development Center already serves as a partner for Estes Park EDC, and serves both new and existing small businesses.

 Innosphere has focused on high-growth companies in three major industry categories:

1.       Health Innovations (Digital Health, Medical Device, Diagnostics)

2.       Software & Hardware (Internet of Things, Sensors, Enterprise Software)

3.       Energy & Advanced Materials (Cleantech, Water, Transportation)

Estes Park EDC’s three major target industry categories include:

1.       Outdoor Industries (including outdoor gear and apparel)

2.       Professional Services (including health innovations and software)

3.       Craft Made Goods

The Program Manager will initially focus program efforts on the Outdoor Industry, but will be prepared to serve other industry categories through our partnership with Innosphere.

Duties and responsibilities

• Establish and expand the Estes Valley’s network across the outdoor gear and apparel industry to help identify, shape, and drive entrepreneurial opportunities in the Estes Valley region. Expand the Estes Valley’s access to the innovation ecosystem in Colorado, and employ the existing Innosphere network to serve clients in other technology-driven industry sectors.

  • Examples include: finding, analyzing, and presenting new business opportunities in health innovation, energy & advanced materials, hardware & software.

• Building and expanding the local network of business mentors, including part-year residents, to provide entrepreneurs access to an Estes Park-centered network of business expertise and potential angel investors.

  • Examples include: promoting and supporting the existing Estes Park Start-up Meetup as methods of identifying and serving clients; creating Estes Park-centered programs and events that engage local and regional entrepreneurs and mentors.

• Executing technology and business due diligence on potential client companies.

  • Examples include: reviewing market opportunity, assessing intellectual property, and supporting the Innosphere screening team with industry knowledge.

• Working collaboratively with client company management teams on business issues including strategy, operations, and fundraising.

  • Examples include: meeting with company founders on a weekly basis and holding them accountable to a development plan.

• Helping raise funds from both private and public sources, helping build a sustainable program by the end of year three that will obtain funding from an appropriate mix of sources, including corporate sponsors, individual contributors and program fees. 

Qualifications

Qualifications include:

• Business or technical degree, or strong career progression and experience related to startups and entrepreneurship desired

• Market knowledge of outdoor gear/apparel industries preferred

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• History of teamwork and collaboration

• Passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship

• Evidence of leadership and experience in initiating, developing and delivering entrepreneurial programs

• Ability to travel across the Colorado Front Range for company and industry meetings

• Ability to research and adopt new technologies

• InBIA ECM certification preferred

Working conditions/Physical requirements

Working out of office space with travel across the Front Range possible once/twice per week. No physically demanding requirements; ability to travel.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to info@estesparkedc.com .