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STARTUP

CHAMPIONS NETWORK (SCN)


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

POSITION DESCRIPTION

OPPORTUNITY

SCN (Startup Champions Network)) seeks a dynamic new Executive Director. Our ideal candidate will be
an effective leader with business expertise and a passion for entrepreneurship, experience at a local
entrepreneurial ecosystem level, as well as the drive, intellect, and professional presence to support and
promote business acceleration.

The inaugural Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors, and it is critical that this
individual be well-versed in the broader national entrepreneur support ecosystem (including but not
limited to business incubation, acceleration, coworking/emerging startup models, and economic
environments i.e. programs serving rural, urban, and developing economies).

Qualified Executive Director candidates execute well (with demonstrated successes), understand
tactics for building organizations, build partnerships with others to strengthen the reputation and
foundation of the SCN, and will cast and help execute a creative vision for the entire organization.

POSITION PURPOSE + MARKERS OF SUCCESS over the next 12 months, this Executive Director will:

1. Grow SCNs revenues through high-value partnerships, increased membership, and expanded
donor support.
2. Refine and implement the organizations vision, from existing strategic plan, achieving key
metrics that demonstrate markers of success.
3. Leverage SCNs new headquarters presence in Kansas City, MO to create a home office for the
disaggregated Champions Network.
4. Continually assess the organizations structure, and hire and develop a high-performing
staff to achieve strategic goals and objectives.

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Position Specification :: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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SCN:: ORGANIZATION INFORMATION



About + Mission

Organization: SCN is a national sharing group dedicated to supporting innovation ecosystem


builders across the United States and the entrepreneurs they serve. We are
building a national network of best-in-class innovation ecosystem builders and
connecting them to people, resources, and events around the nation to support
their communities and their work.

Vision: A dense and tightly connected network of innovation ecosystem builders and
related support organizations who collaborate frequently and seamlessly to bring
about more successful entrepreneurial startup ventures across the United States.

SCN strives to engage and represent stakeholders within entrepreneurial ecosystems and creates value
for members by: providing current information and research on trends in entrepreneurship, provide
collaboration opportunities and networking resources to help members develop and manage successful
entrepreneurship centers and local ecosystems; informing and educating leaders, potential supporters
and stakeholders of the significant benefits of business incubation/acceleration; building public
awareness of incubation/acceleration as a valuable economic development strategy; expanding valuable
resources through the development of industry partnerships; and through supporting (equipping,
empowering, and engaging) the work of local ecosystem builders across the country through
communication, collaboration, networking, and summit execution. It conducts research, compiles
statistics, and produces information services that provide hands-on approaches to effective program
development and management, and promotes industry outcomes and impacts. SCNs ultimate goal is to
support recognized local ecosystems builders so they can most adequately and completely support the
local entrepreneur.















For more information or to express interest in this opportunity, please submit application electronically to
jess@championsnetwork.co
Please send information via email only rather than fax, US Mail or other services.










SCN
Position Specification :: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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COMPETENCIES REQUIRED OF INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:



FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP + RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT the successful candidate will offer demonstration
of:

Designing and executing a clearly defined and compelling strategic/business plan.
Generating topline revenue: successful engagement of an existing member base and
development of new programming, events/sponsorships, partnerships, grants, and international
opportunities to grow SCNs membership network and grow revenues.
Experience developing budgets and understanding principals of non-profit budget
compliance and auditing processes.
Managing operations and programs to consistently add value to members, partners,
sponsors, and other stakeholders.
Balancing multiple demands, prioritizing tasks, and retaining clear focus in carrying out
ones duties.
Maintaining sound financial practices and controls to ensure that all funds are appropriately
safeguarded and administered.
Ensuring compliance with federal, state and local regulations, organizational bylaws, and
relevant policies.
Writing complex business plans and organizational manuals, as one action item in the
first 12 months is to collaborate with the members and partners to build an ecosystem
playbook.



TALENT + ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT strong candidates will be known for:

Developing a short and long-term strategy for attracting, and retaining a high-performance staff
and membership.
Coaching and empowering staff members and ensuring motivation through personalized
methods.
Introducing and maintaining a culture of innovation, individual accountability and excellence,
and leveraging systems and communication tools to drive desired results.
For more information or to express interest in this opportunity, please submit application electronically to
jess@championsnetwork.co
Please send information via email only rather than fax, US Mail or other services.

Partnering with people of diverse backgrounds and experience levels across distant
geographies.
Keeping members engaged and empowered as actors in the network.
Serving as primary liaison between key strategic partners and especially the Kauffman
Foundation (as the person will be based in the Kauffman offices in Kansas City, MO).

BRAND STRATEGY, COMMUNICATIONS, + OUTREACH the successful candidate will offer a history of:

Differentiating an organization from similar players, deftly defining an organizations identity,
core purpose(s), and greatest assets.
Developing and communicating thought leadership in a manner that establishes credibility
and builds mind-share among key organizations and stakeholders within local, regional, and
national entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Leveraging branding/marketing experience to deploy a strong organizational image and
implement a branding strategy that embraces all stakeholders.
Representing an organization to all constituencies, government agencies, industry
organizations, and the general public.
Displaying cultural astuteness and diplomacy in business development and stakeholder
interactions.
Planning events within an entrepreneurial ecosystem that are inclusive of many
different viewpoints and agendas.
Organizing large groups of people who are from around the country and participating
in a summit or event for only a short period of time. This includes best practices in
moving people, organizing people, planning events, getting quality speakers, and other
diverse event planning skills.

For more information or to express interest in this opportunity, please submit application electronically to
jess@championsnetwork.co
Please send information via email only rather than fax, US Mail or other services.

SCN
Position Specification :: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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BOARD ENGAGEMENT + LEADERSHIP the ideal candidate will demonstrate successful delivery in the
following areas:

Working with a board and/or staff in the development and execution of strategic plan(s) with
successful results.
Reporting directly to the board, ED will work to design and execute current and innovative
revenue strategies and program components that meet organizations present and
foreseeable-future needs.
Ensuring the board and its committees are assigned clear roles in achieving a strategic plan, as
well as plans for communication, accountability and deadlines.

CREDENTIALS

Education
1. Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in the area of business, public
administration, or a related field
2. Preferred: Masters-level degree from an accredited college or university in the area of business,
public administration or a related field, plus substantial experience in the field of trade
association leadership, entrepreneurship, and/or non-profit development.

Experience
The successful candidates background will include the following:

5+ years career experience, with increasing leadership responsibilities, including a track record
as an Executive Director, Executive Director and/or Founder of his/her own company.
Key experience should include:
o Executive management of a nonprofit with over $1M in operating income
o Experienced founder of a startup/growth business
o Successful sales/business development executive
o Business incubator/accelerator founder or key leader
o Policy or government/public affairs influencer roles
Experience in energizing and engaging a global membership organization, through new
programming and appealing value-add education, research, content, and resources.
Expertise in launching and growing nonprofit and/or business entities, including progressive and
innovative product development strategies (to include events, sponsorship, and international
opportunities)
Knowledge of business incubation and entrepreneurship

SCN invites qualified candidates to apply for consideration in this outstanding opportunity. SCN is an equal
opportunity employer, and is committed to recruiting and considering the most qualified candidate for
this position; thus candidates will be screened and referred without regard to race, color, religion, gender,
national origin, or age and in full compliance with the 1992 Americans with Disabilities Act.


For more information or to express interest in this opportunity, please submit application electronically to
jess@championsnetwork.co
Please send information via email only rather than fax, US Mail or other services.


Applications will be held in confidence and must include:
A letter outlining the applicants background, qualifications and vision for the position
A current resume and contact information for five professional references

All candidates that advance after the initial resume screen and interviews may be required to complete
a Predictive Index behavioral assessment, and a background check will be performed on all finalists.
References will not be contacted, and a background check will not be performed without the prior
approval of the applicant.

This position is currently open and a decision on employment will be made in the immediate future.

For more information or to express interest in this opportunity, please submit application electronically to
jess@championsnetwork.co
Please send information via email only rather than fax, US Mail or other services.

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