VP of Programs

Overview

At Lendistry, we’re a mission-driven team changing the game for small business owners and the communities they serve. We’re looking for strategic thinkers and passionate doers—people who show up every day ready to make a real difference.

A Day in the Life

The VP of Programs is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, operational excellence, and measurable impact of all direct service programs at The Center by Lendistry. This position oversees accelerator and capacity building programs, business advising services, technical assistance delivery, and organizational training, ensuring world-class service to diverse small business owners and community development practitioners while driving continuous program innovation and improvement.

Reporting directly to the VP of Operations, the VP of Programs leads a team of program managers and business advisors, managing all aspects of program design, delivery, evaluation, and scaling. This role is critical to achieving The Center's mission of fueling business growth, building generational wealth, and advancing equitable economic development. Some travel may be required.

The Center is the non-profit educational and technical assistance strategic partner of Lendistry, a minority-led, technology enabled Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). The Center by Lendistry (TCbL) supports diverse small businesses through education, technical assistance, and access to competitive financing. Our mission is to close the racial wealth gap by anchoring small businesses and the communities where they do business.

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic direction for all accelerator and capacity building programs and direct service offerings aligned with organizational strategic plan
• Lead program innovation and development of new service models based on community needs and market opportunities
• Oversee program design, curriculum development, and content delivery across all cohorts, training programs, and service offerings
• Ensure programs effectively integrate The Center's climate resilience strategy and asset-building framework
• Champion equity-centered program design that lowers barriers and serves underrepresented entrepreneurs and community development practitioners
• Collaborate with VP of Operations on strategic planning, priority-setting, and resource allocation for programs

Team Leadership & Management

• Directly supervise (3) current and program staff and any other future staff
• Build and mentor a high-performing team with clear roles, professional development pathways, and succession planning
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance evaluations, and goal-setting aligned with organizational objectives
• Foster collaborative team culture centered on learning, accountability, and mission impact
• Onboard and develop program staff as needed to support organizational growth
• Ensure equitable workload distribution and staff capacity planning

Program Operations & Quality

• Oversee day-to-day operations of all accelerator and capacity building programs and business advising services
• Ensure consistent program quality, participant satisfaction, and outcome achievement across all offerings
• Refine and implement standard operating procedures for program lifecycle management (design, recruitment, delivery, evaluation)
• Monitor program budgets, expense tracking, and cost-effectiveness for all small business and capacity building programs
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements, reporting deadlines, and funder obligations for program-specific contracts

Grant Management & Resource Development

• Lead grant reporting for all program-specific grants and contracts, ensuring timely, accurate, and compelling narratives
• Coordinate with program staff to collect data, outcomes, case studies, and impact metrics for funder reports
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements including deliverables, documentation, and reporting schedules
• Contribute programmatic expertise to grant proposals and funding applications
• Collaborate with COO on resource development strategy, identifying funding opportunities aligned with program…