WORKER OWNERSHIP ACCELERATOR - EXPERIENCE MANAGER

Start.coop is seeking an Experience Manager to manage the development and coordinate the execution of our Colorado Worker Ownership Accelerator, a groundbreaking pilot program designed to guide business owners through their employee ownership journey. Intended for founders getting ready to exit soon, or those who are excited to explore alternative models for growing their legacy and making a lasting impact, this program is designed to inform, inspire, and connect forward-thinking business owners with others asking themselves similar questions and experts who can help answer them.

Our Colorado Worker Ownership Accelerator is funded by Gary Community Ventures and is being developed in partnership with Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center and Integrated Work. This innovative program will serve 18 participating businesses with peer-to-peer learning, best practices around tax and legal planning, staffing and culture, connections to technical assistance providers, and guided evaluations to determine the best worker ownership path forward. Our main goal is to ensure entrepreneurs leave feeling inspired to take next steps on their employee ownership journey and connected to a broader community of like-minded leaders.

Project Scope

Experience Design and Coordination

Program Design: Create a compelling peer cohort experience including week-by-week session outlines, detailed per-session outlines with slides and guest speaker coordination, and comprehensive follow-up resources to share lessons learned.

Delivery Coordination: Manage comprehensive logistics for program activities, ensuring all participants—including business owners, guest speakers, and technical assistance providers—are well-informed and engaged throughout the accelerator experience.

Evaluation & Assessment: Conduct post-program evaluation to measure impact and gather insights for program improvement. Interview advisors and stakeholders to capture comprehensive feedback and learnings.

Network Development

Partnership Materials: Develop compelling materials for network partners that clearly communicate the program's value proposition and requirements.

Partner Coordination: Work closely with Start.coop, Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center, Integrated Work, and other network partners to ensure materials are effectively distributed and promoted, and proactively follow-up with those doing outreach to build a solid pipeline of candidates.

Application Process: Manage the application process for the 18 participating businesses, from initial outreach through final selection and onboarding.

The Role

The Experience Manager must be capable of self-direction to drive forward this pioneering worker ownership initiative. We particularly value candidates who have prior experience working with employee ownership, cooperatives, or who are familiar with business transition programs.

This role is fully remote. However, the candidate must be available for some meetings between 11am to 5pm Eastern Time (8am to 2pm PT). We understand candidates may be balancing this role with other work.

Qualifications and Desired Experiences

  • Proven track record of designing and managing cohort-based programs, particularly those involving peer-to-peer learning and business education.

  • An understanding of worker ownership models, including employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, and other business transition strategies.

  • Strong facilitation and program design skills with experience creating engaging session outlines, coordinating guest speakers, and developing educational materials.

  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, including business owners, technical assistance providers, and funding partners.

  • Experience with program evaluation and stakeholder interviews, with the ability to capture insights and translate them into actionable recommendations.

  • Strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple moving parts, meet deadlines, and maintain program quality with minimal supervision.

  • Experience with Google Suite and Zoom

  • Experience with Typeform, Hubspot, Notion, or other database and project management tools is ideal.

  • Familiarity with maintaining program records and supporting reporting requirements for foundation grants and partnerships.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Ours is a diverse community that values the unique perspectives and experiences each member brings to the table. We endeavor to create a community and space in which everyone, and particularly our BIPOC and LGBTQ community members, can show up as their true selves, and in which we can have brave, tough conversations in addition to the fun ones. Together, we engage in critical dialogue through conscious questioning and active listening, and we work to address systemic racism and the root causes of inequality. We want our team to reflect the wide diversity of our community and we strongly encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and candidates of different abilities to apply.

Compensation

  • Compensation: $2,500 a month for 12 months

  • Status: Part-time contractor, 15-20 hours per week.

  • Location: Remote (within the U.S.).  Candidates who are local to Colorado and available for occasional in-person meetings are especially encouraged to apply.

  • Duration: July 2025 - June 2026

Benefits

  • Remote work 

  • Flexible hours

  • Helping to architect the future…!

About us

Start.coop's mission is to cultivate the next generation of cooperative businesses at scale. We're here to jump start the next generation of cooperative businesses: 

  • we grow the entrepreneur pipeline and strengthen the cooperative ecosystem, 

  • we equip cooperative entrepreneurs with skills and tools for success, and 

  • we connect cooperative businesses with the capital they need to thrive.