The Working World is a nonprofit CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) that builds cooperative businesses using a groundbreaking model that combines non-extractive finance with tailor-made technical support. We put finance into the hands of working people without making them put down collateral or take a debt burden that could threaten their well-being. We do this by promoting a more inclusive form of ownership — businesses that are collectively run and owned by their workers — and by tying loan returns to project success, acting as a partner to ensure stability and sustainability.

In the last fifteen years, we have lent over $16 million to more than 300 worker cooperatives in Argentina, Nicaragua, and the United States, resulting in growing businesses, jobs created, more workers in positions of ownership, and real community wealth building. Our goals are idealistic, but our methods are practical — our team has experience in business strategy, community economic development, and finance, and we work for concrete results with maximum impact. We support sustainability and autonomy in communities that have been most impacted by the extractive economy, de-industrialization and systemic discrimination, paving the way for a new, democratic and sustainable economy in NYC and beyond.

The Position

We’re looking for someone deeply committed to social and economic justice, with some basic knowledge of business development. Business- and/or social justice-related academic or extracurricular work is a plus, especially as it shows commitment to community economic development and familiarity with the day-to-day work involved. Associate Project Officers will have to learn and apply basic cooperative business concepts as they collaborate with worker-owners to develop and implement business plans. Candidates must have exceptional social skills, a deep desire to learn about cooperative business, and be eager to engage deeply with the businesses and workers that we support.

We are looking for people who are equally idealistic and practical, and who are open and eager to learn The Working World’s lending methodology and approach. Candidates must also be organized self-starters and have the patience and drive to work toward longer-term goals.

Ideally, we are looking for candidates from or with extensive experience in the different communities we work with, particularly African-American, Latinx, and/or immigrant communities.

Our target start date is August 5, 2019 for one full-time position in New York, NY.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support in the coordination and facilitation of weekly meetings with cooperatives and worker-owners both on- and off-site, sometimes outside of regular work hours
• Support Senior Project Officers in research and financial analyses to prepare new investments and business plans
• Measure progress on business goals and problem-solve with cooperatives, assisting with key business functions when necessary
• Develop weekly progress reports and participate in team troubleshooting meetings
• Help organize and facilitate community events and cooperative business workshops

Key Qualifications:

• B.A., or equivalent experience
• Strong interest in economic justice and cooperative development
• Some work or volunteer experience in economic justice, community development, business and entrepreneurship, public administration, and/or community organizing
• Experience working in African-American, Latino and/or immigrant communities and with women entrepreneurs
• Spanish proficiency strongly preferred
• Business development knowledge, including feasibility studies, project planning, and financial projections, a plus
• Experience with community organizing a plus
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

The Working World is committed to a diverse staff team and encourages candidates of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds to apply. Staff are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, in accordance with federal and state law.

Level of Language Proficiency

How To Apply