Senior Manager, Colorado SBDC Partnerships and Marketing

Overview

The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network delivers professional, high quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs across Colorado. The Colorado SBDC Network provides problem solving assistance to help small businesses achieve their goals, including growth, innovation, improved operations, access to capital, and success. The Colorado SBDC Network combines federal (U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA]), state, and local resources with those of educational systems and the private sector to meet the specialized and complex needs of the small business community.

The Colorado SBDC Network is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT). Colorado OEDIT was created to foster a positive business climate that encourages quality economic development through financial and technical assistance provided in support of local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado.

NOTE:

This posting is open only to individuals on a promotional list of the listed department. The posting is for transparency purposes only to comply with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Applications from individuals not on the department promotional list will not be accepted.

The Senior Manager, Colorado SBDC, Partnerships and Marketing is responsible for elevating the Colorado SBDC brand, securing the diverse funding streams necessary to sustain operations, and building a robust ecosystem of community partners. Reporting to the Colorado SBDC State Director, this role ensures the Colorado SBDC Network has the financial resources, partner support, and public visibility to effectively serve Colorado’s small business owners and entrepreneurs long term.

The candidate will manage a small team and work with Colorado SBDC Network staff, OEDIT’s Business Support Division, and OEDIT’s Marketing & Communications team to create a unified brand voice that maximizes resource awareness, align center outreach with statewide economic development goals, and secure essential public-private funding. Through marketing and partnership building, this position will connect business owners impacted by COVID-19 with no- or low-cost Colorado SBDC and OEDIT resources to aid in recovery and resiliency.

The position offers full-time employment as an exempt, at-will State of Colorado Employee with an anticipated duration through June 2027, with the possibility of extension based on available funding.

Strategic Partnerships & Outreach

• Ecosystem Integration:
  Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with chambers of commerce, Economic Development Corporations/Commissions (EDCs), and the financial sector to align municipal leaders and private partners in driving network investment.
• Resource Alignment:
  Identify and vet "in-kind resource partners" (e.g., CPAs, lawyers, marketing firms) to provide pro bono or discounted services to Colorado SBDC clients.
• Stakeholder Liaison:
  Support the State Director in stewarding high-stakes relationships with legislative, community, and host stakeholders while representing the brand at key industry conferences and community forums.

Fundraising & Revenue Development

• Cash Match Procurement:
  Secure "cash match" funds required by the SBA and State grants through corporate sponsor ships and private donations.
• Sponsorship Programs:
  Partner with the State Director to strategize statewide sponsorship programs—from value proposition design and market positioning to high-level negotiations and closing.
• Reporting & Compliance:
  Lead the statewide reporting framework for Colorado SBDC funding. Drive Salesforce CRM adoption across the network to ensure donor data accuracy and transparency.
• Impact Marketing:
  Develop and execute a strategic storytelling framework to convey Colorado SBDC impact through visually engaging reports and multi-channel marketing collateral.

…Marketing & Brand Management, Digital Media Management sections retained with structured headings below…

Marketing & Brand Management

• Content Strategy:
  Oversee a high-impact…