Business Development Specialist

Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) Latin Americans United for Progress is a nonprofit organization in Holland Michigan serving the Latino community. LAUP’s Mission is to empower Latinos to participate in creating a better community for all through advocacy, education, and celebration. LAUP has been a pillar in the Latino community since its inception in 1964. LAUP has a renewed focus to inspire, equip, and empower the Latino community for the future. As a team, we believe in having a work environment that is focused on meeting the needs of our community as it aligns with our mission. We value our team members and their families. As an organization, we provide a flexible work schedule and our team members can bring their children to work on occasion. As an organization, we strive to provide a work environment where our team feels welcome to bring their whole self to work. Reports to Executive Director Status Full Time Schedule Monday–Friday during business hours, with occasional evenings and weekends as needed, plus two make-up hours per week. Review Process 90-day review, annual review, and optional merit raise. Position Summary The Business Development Specialist will develop and execute a comprehensive entrepreneurship business development strategy for Prospera the LAUP Business Hub, spearheading outreach to identify, target, and build relationships with local startups and small businesses. Serving as a public-facing representative in the community, they will provide value-added support through innovative business ecosystem programs, resources, collaborative workspaces, and educational offerings, accelerating inclusive economic development along the West Michigan Lakeshore. The Specialist will lead efforts to identify market opportunities and ecosystem gaps, formulate strategic priorities, cultivate strategic partnerships, and drive the success and positioning of business owners. In addition, they will identify and evaluate public and private grant opportunities; coordinate proposal development with internal teams and external partners; oversee all aspects of grant administration—including financial tracking, budget spend down, and programmatic reporting—and design innovative, revenue-generating services and support models that expand LAUP’s capacity, deepen community impact, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our entrepreneurship ecosystem. Core Responsibilities Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy for the LAUP Business Hub, targeting local startups and small businesses—particularly Latina/o/x, Black, women-owned, veteran, and LGBTQ+ enterprises. Serve as the public-facing representative in West Michigan: build and sustain high-impact relationships with entrepreneurs, community organizations, workforce agencies, and funding partners. Identify market opportunities and ecosystem gaps; translate insights into strategic priorities, partnership models, and growth pathways for business owners. Design, launch, and continuously refine a suite of programs—mentorship circles, access-to-capital initiatives, collaborative workspaces, workshops, and peer networks—tailored to diverse entrepreneur needs. Develop and streamline end-to-end program processes, policies, and participant journeys to ensure consistency, scalability, and high satisfaction. Leverage bilingual (English/Spanish) communication skills and deep cultural competence to engage and serve Hispanic and other underrepresented entrepreneur communities. Identify and evaluate public and private grant opportunities that align with hub priorities; coordinate proposal development with internal teams and external partners. Financial tracking, budget reconciliation, and spend-down monitoring. Manage program budgets, ensure accurate accounting system alignment, and collaborate with finance to forecast and optimize resource allocation. Innovate and pilot fee-based services, sponsorship packages, and earned-revenue models that grow LAUP’s service capacity and long-term financial health. Serve as a liaison to local chambers, economic development agencies, educational institutions, and corporate partners to amplify resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of entrepreneurship best practices, funding landscapes, and community development trends. Perform additional duties as assigned to further LAUP’s mission and respond to evolving community needs. Qualifications BA/BS in Business or Community Economic Development or related field preferred. Bilingual (English and Spanish) 3+ years experience working in business or economic development. Strong commitment to the mission and vision of the organization, including diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities. A “can do” mentality with the ability to prioritize continually shifting tasks, self-sufficient, organized, and able to prioritize workload. Demonstrated computer proficiency, with excellent working knowledge of Google Suite, Canva, email, the internet, social media, and Bloomerang database software knowledge a plus. Willingness to learn other systems and tools. Ability to work outside regular business hours as needed. Latin Americans United for Progress will provide equal employment opportunities and not unlawfully discriminate based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, religion, height, weight, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. When an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for a job, they may request it orally or in writing. Please contact Maria Morales at 616-888-7225. Job Type Full-time Pay $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year Benefits 401(k) Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Language Spanish (Required) Ability to Relocate Holland, MI 49423: Relocate before starting work (Required) #J-18808-Ljbffr