The Mountain Association is looking to grow our team working to build a new economy in Eastern Kentucky. If you are passionate about Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia, with some experience in business, entrepreneurship, or nonprofit support, the Business Support Specialist position would be an ideal position for you.
I began working at the Mountain Association six years ago. My job as Consulting Services Manager is to connect small businesses and nonprofit leaders to consultants that can assist and train them in a specific area of their business, such as development of a website or an accounting system, and other unique challenges like how to better lay out a restaurant or manufacturing production floor for greater efficiency. Each year we work with more than 100 businesses and nonprofits in Eastern Kentucky on projects that will help them succeed.
As we look to grow the program to serve even more, we are hiring for a Business Support Specialist to join our two-person team, which includes myself and Stacie Fugate, who works as our part-time Business Support Associate. This new position is for a full-time, temporary program specialist. Initially, we plan for this position to last approximately two years.
After a few months of training, the Business Support Specialist will be working directly with small business and nonprofit leaders from across the 54 counties of Appalachian Kentucky to connect them to our program, as well as other resources available in the state and online.
The specialist will get to know the consultants that our clients choose to work with (see consultants some of our clients have worked with in the past here). It will be their role to maintain relationships with both clients and consultants, following up with both as they work together to see how they are doing. Part of this work will be administrative type tasks, like maintaining our project management dashboard, reviewing invoices, and tracking various data.
This position will include occasional day trips or occasional overnight stays within the region (as COVID allows) to visit clients. For me, this is one of the most joyful aspects of the job. We always come back from these visits full of ideas and inspiration on how we can better do our work.
After an initial orientation period, the specialist will then begin leading a new training program. This will involve getting input from small business owners to create a program that will meet their needs. This may include working with partners to develop in-person and online workshops as well as learning about successful training programs in other regions. For example, possible workshops could include on how to sell via Etsy, how to use Instagram to market your small business, or how to read financial reports.
If you are interested in applying, you should have a strong commitment to serving low-income groups in Eastern Kentucky and beyond. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage applications from all people. The salary will range from $40,000-$48,000 based on experience with a generous benefits package. The person will be able to work at home much of the time during COVID-19, but should be close to any one of our offices in Berea, Paintsville, and Hazard, Kentucky, for office hours. Additionally, we ask that you do not let childcare challenges related to the pandemic deter you from applying. We are open to a conversation if you’re not able to start full time due to childcare. Please find out how to apply, along with more details on the job, and our organization – including our vaccine policy – here.
I am happy to answer any questions that clarify the important role this position will play in our efforts to build a new economy in Eastern Kentucky. We are excited to grow our team and work together in this creative and challenging work.
Ketaki Bhattacharyya, ketaki@mtassociation.org
