Investment Readiness Program Manager

About Proofing Station Proofing Station is an Illinois 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation launched in 2023 that focuses on increasing access to capital for entities supporting the Midwest regional food and agriculture supply chain. The organization addresses enduring funding gaps for food and agriculture businesses that have historically been underserved and marginalized by the traditional financial system. The organization provides comprehensive financial products and technical assistance designed to support food and agriculture enterprises while advancing ecological sustainability, social and racial equity, and economic resilience across the region. Proofing Station operates with a mission-driven approach to expand investment opportunities in the food systems sector, recognizing the critical role these businesses play in regional economic development and food security. The organization’s work centers on creating pathways for entrepreneurs in the food and agriculture sector to access capital they might not otherwise obtain through conventional lending channels. By combining financial resources with technical support and mentorship, Proofing Station helps build stronger, more resilient businesses that contribute to a more equitable and sustainable food system in the Midwest. About this Role Proofing Station is seeking an Investment Readiness Program Manager to join its growing team and expand the organization’s capacity to reach more farm and food businesses across the Midwest. This is a crucial role focused on building a relationship-driven program that connects entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to become investment-ready. The organization is looking for someone rooted in food and agriculture who thrives on organizing complex processes and is energized by building systems that widen access to capital. The Investment Readiness Program Manager will lead the organization’s new Investment Readiness Program, which creates one clear pathway for food and farm businesses to move from initial contact to investment. The Program Manager owns the beginning of this journey, where businesses first connect with Proofing Station and where both parties determine together what an enterprise needs to achieve investment readiness. The role involves walking alongside founders through each step of the process, from initial conversation through the readiness review and into gap-closing support. Enterprises move through the program on a rolling basis at a pace that matches their individual readiness, with investment decisions aligned to the Investment Committee’s meeting schedule. The Program Manager’s core responsibility is maintaining momentum in the pipeline, keeping founders informed at every step, and ensuring the program remains organized and measurable throughout the process. Responsibilities Serve as a trusted liaison for Proofing Station in the food and agriculture community to ensure the organization is known, understood, and trusted by enterprises seeking capital Cultivate the pipeline through steady, relationship-grounded approaches by nurturing connections with sourcing partner organizations, ecosystem partners, and referral sources Attend and present at food and farm industry gatherings to build visibility and connections Run recurring, recorded informational sessions that help founders determine fit with the program and keep public-facing materials and messaging current Serve as the primary point of contact for applicants throughout their entire journey, communicating warmly and clearly at every step and decision point Meet founders where they are by providing meaningful feedback, relevant resources, and clear paths forward Manage intake processes and pipeline database, including eligibility screening at first contact Serve as the main point of contact for funded portfolio companies during post-investment phases, including onboarding and resource matching Coordinate the readiness review with the Director of Investments and help founders complete it Name gaps together with founders and set clear gap-closing plans Connect enterprises to vetted service providers, public programs, peer networks, and available subsidized support Coordinate and curate current and useful financial templates and readiness resources Own pipeline and portfolio data workstreams by keeping accurate records and interpreting what data shows about program flow and cadence Track and report on program metrics Manage and track the overall program budget and budget allocations for each enterprise supported Support the annual funder and impact report that Proofing Station produces Run the program’s operating workflow and keep records clean and current Requirements 3+ years of experience running a program, a portfolio of relationships, or a pipeline, ideally in food and agriculture, community lending, entrepreneurship support, or economic development Deep familiarity with food and agriculture, entrepreneurship, economic development, or small business finance with understanding of businesses, people, and founders Strong communication skills with genuine enjoyment of spending time in relationships with founders and partners via phone, video, and email Ability to write clearly and warmly Demonstrated ability as an operator who loves organizing moving parts, tracking progress, and closing loops with satisfaction in well-run processes Comfortable managing multiple different relationships simultaneously without losing track Comfort with financial concepts sufficient to help founders understand investment readiness and partner with the Director of Investments Strong quantitative and qualitative data proficiency to maintain accurate pipeline and portfolio data and provide useful reporting Sound judgment to navigate delicate situations and occasional difficult conversations with steadiness and care Facility with basic project management tools such as Pipedrive, Google Drive, and Jotform Preference given to candidates residing in the upper Midwest region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana) Benefits Contributions toward health insurance premiums Retirement matching Paid time off Holiday closures Professional development opportunities Parental leave #J-18808-Ljbffr