Small Business Program Manager

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills, and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive, and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer                  

                                               

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The starting hiring range for this position is $67,161.00 - $88,988.00/year, based on experience and education.

We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day, and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location

The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the community several days a week, weekend and after hours working at events will be required. In this position, you can expect to work on site at three days a week at the Wellington E. Webb Building – 201 W Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80202, or the Denver International Airport.

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) serves to support Denver’s businesses, employers and workforce, creating shared prosperity and sustained economic growth.

DEDO has sharpened its focus and enhanced alignment across divisions, ensuring its work is centered on the premise that quality jobs are the most powerful tool to create better outcomes for Denverites. We accomplish this by making Denver a place that is easy to do business with, fosters job creation, and builds an economy that works for everyone. We help residents gain the skills, training, and credentials needed to secure quality jobs while also supporting, growing, and recruiting local employers.

Denver Business Development is focused on growing, strengthening, and supporting Denver’s businesses. This division prioritizes small businesses through 1:1 technical assistance, financing, grants, strategic planning, certification, and connections to additional resources. It also works to attract, retain, and grow businesses in the City and County of Denver. Denver Business Development supports entrepreneurs and startups helping diversify Denver’s economy and build the jobs of the future. It sells Denver on a global stage as a destination for businesses to launch or expand operations and take benefit from the city’s highly-educated and talented workforce. The division also serves Denver’s minority and women-owned businesses through small business certification, ensuring opportunity for priority businesses.

Denver Business Development is hiring for a full-time Small Business Program Manager.

What you will do:

• Assist the Director in the provision of leadership on all small business matters within the City, State and Federal levels. Assist in the preparation of formal correspondence, speaking points, briefings, marketing collateral, narratives, charters, reports, etc. for DEDO executive management, Mayor's Office, commissions, boards, committees, and other elected officials.
• Oversee Project Management and Program Development. Manage day-to-day administration of small business programs.
• Responsible for oversight, implementation and administration of DSBO strategic development programs including the Citywide Mentor Protégé Program, Division of Small Business Opportunity Equity and Empowerment Council (DEEC), and future programs. Program tasks and reporting include: data metrics, event budget management, coordination, summaries/recaps
• Responsible for strategic development partnership agreements and deliverables which include but are not limited to HCC Contractor Academy, the opportunity council, Leading Edge, and Bonding Education.
• Develop and administer small business training and education programs through the establishment of standards, systems and guidelines. Assist in the design and launch of new small business programs and initiatives. Conduct needs assessments and stakeholder consultations to inform program development.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to pilot and scale new offerings.
• Draft program material, report, presentations, and speaking points. Deliver presentations and represent the programs. Deliver Innovative, Effective and Efficient Event Planning and Management.
• Plan, facilitate and execute all DSBO led community engagement and outreach events including but not limited to the Citywide Mentor Protégé Program and DSBO’s Equity and Empowerment Council (DEEC). Lead scheduling, logistical coordination, virtual platform management, marketing, speaker recruitment, agenda development, presentation and speech development, quotes/invoicing, etc.
• Oversee Volunteers, Contractors, Consultants, Vendors, On-calls, and other staff who work with the programs. Including recruitment, training and management of volunteer  
• Serve as key liaison and subject matter expert to the small business and entrepreneur community, business associations, and governmental agencies and entities about the DSBO, DEDO, DEN and City and County of Denver. Assist Certification team as needed with site visits. Assist with BIG event tracking and volunteer requests.

Ideal Candidate Summary

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Strong organizational and time management skills. Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience with program evaluation and performance tracking. Ability to research, employ deductive reasoning and interpret government ordinances, rules/regulations
• Ability to deliver concise, professional and engaging presentations. Ability to provide complex information to internal and external stakeholders regarding DSBO program specifics, including resources available to small businesses. Comfortable with public speaking and delivering presentations.
• Knowledge of small business development, especially for diverse communities and business owners.
• Familiarity with technical assistance, capacity building, and access-to-capital strategies.
• Understanding of public procurement and certification processes is a plus.
• Skilled in building relationships with diverse communities, business owners, and advocacy groups. Experience planning and executing public events, workshops, and stakeholder meetings.
• Ability to represent the agency at community events, often outside of regular business hours. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of small business certification process a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications and virtual meeting platforms.  
• Creative and resourceful in problem-solving ability and improving processes
• Willingness and flexibility to assist across teams as needed and availability. Working experience in a team environment.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years’ experience performing full performance professional level duties within a specialized, functional area. (This does not include clerical experience.)
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.

Application Deadline

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Resume
• Cover letter, detailing your experience with leading a programs and projects supporting small business development in a government setting.  

This position is expected to stay open until December 1, 2025. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., MST.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CA2307 Administrator I

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$67,161.00 - $110,816.00

Target Pay

$67,161.00 - $88,988.00/year, based on experience and education

Agency

Denver Economic Development & Opportunity

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.