Business Operations Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

What if your knack for keeping systems running and supporting people could power a lender making a real impact for Colorado’s small business owners and entrepreneurs? 

Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) is a nonprofit business lending organization dedicated to supporting the success of small businesses in Colorado. We provide access to capital for entrepreneurs who are unable to secure traditional financing. Our primary focus includes business owners who may be low-to-moderate income, minorities, women, or veterans. We are committed to creating meaningful impact in Colorado’s communities by providing equitable and affordable business financing for entrepreneurs who cannot access bank loans or other financial resources. 

Why This Role Matters

At CEF, we see our community impact through job creation, wealth building for disadvantaged populations, and the growth and success of the businesses we fund. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we offer loans, grants, and free business coaching to entrepreneurs to help them succeed.

Our Guiding Principles

Everything we do, from how we guide borrowers end to end through the loan lifecycle to how we show up for each other as a team in our everyday work, is guided by seven guiding principles. The Guiding Principles are not abstract value; they are the specific standards by which we hire, grow, and evaluate our team. Our Guiding Principles shape every step of our process, not just the final interview. 

• Collaborative: We achieve more together than alone.

• Continuous Improvement: We are always learning and getting better.

• People-Centric: We put people-borrowers and colleagues at the center of everything.

• Simplify & Remove Barriers: We make it easier for people to access what they need.

• Open & Direct Communication: We say what we mean and mean what we say.

• Flexibility/Agility: We adapt quickly and stay effective when things change. 

• Impact Driven: We measure success by the difference we make.

Mission-Focused Team, Real Community Impact 

The team, led by the Director of Business Operations sits at the intersection of people, process, and systems. It documents how work gets done, identifies friction, and helps implement improvements in our technology systems and process workflows. The team is also responsible for day-to-day technical support for the organization.   

CEF offers a hybrid work environment with a blend of in-person connection and opportunities to be remote. Employees must be Colorado-based and can expect to travel to our Denver headquarters Monday-Thursday each week for onsite support and cross-functional collaboration with peers and leaders.

At Colorado Enterprise Fund, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential.   

On a given day, your work will include these essential duties: 

Cross-Functional Operations 

• Managing workflows, handoffs, and deadlines across all organizational teams so work handoffs move smoothly and deadlines stay on track .

Technical Support & Issue Resolution

• Troubleshooting and resolving common technology problems, such as password resets, VPN connectivity, and on-premises audio-visual equipment.

CRM Data Integrity & Management

• Monitoring CRM records, running data-quality reports, resolving errors, or missing information.

Process Documentation & Improvement

• Writing procedures, checklists, and simple process maps, and identifying inefficiencies or compliance risks.

Reporting & Data Analysis Support

• Pulling data and preparing first-draft reports for internal leadership and external stakeholders.

Systems Liaison & Request Management

• Gathering staff feedback on system issues and change requests, and translating them into clear, actionable tickets for the technology team. 

System Implementation & Internal Training

• Testing system changes and new tools, supporting rollout, delivering user training, and following up after adoption.

Special Projects 

• Supporting assigned projects such as audit preparation, policy updates, and vendor coordination.

Technical Acumen

• Proficiency in using business software applications, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite, and familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems. 
• Experience working with spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets), including creating formulas and formatting for readability, and supporting others in using them.  

What You Bring: 

• Minimum 2 years of experience in operations, administration, technology support, or a related role. An equivalent combination of work experience, education, certifications, or specialized workforce development skills training will be considered. 
• Internal Communication & Stakeholder Coordination: Serving as a clear, responsive point of contact for internal teams by sharing timely updates, balancing stakeholder expectations, keeping colleagues informed on operational changes, project status, and system issues.
• Self-Accountability: Excellent time management and organizational skills, including an ability to engage in consistent, detailed documentation of work performed with minimal supervision.
• Continuous Learning: Proactively seeking out new knowledge, tools, and best practices by staying curious, asking questions, and continuously building skills to improve operations and adapt to evolving business and technology needs. 
• Confidentiality & Data Privacy: Reliability in safeguarding borrower information in accordance with organizational data privacy and information security policies, applicable financial privacy regulations and related compliance guidelines. 
• Cultural Emotional Intelligence: Flexibility and agility to respectfully work across a broad range of cultures, backgrounds, personalities, and working styles.
• Compliance & Risk Awareness: Strict adherence to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), with a commitment to stay up to date on industry knowledge.

As an established CDFI, we offer the following benefits:

• Health, vision, dental and life insurance, paid parental leave, as well as 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage. 
• CEF also offers a monthly hybrid work stipend, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5% of an employee’s contribution. 
• Our paid time off policies include ten (10) paid holidays per year, fifteen (15) days paid vacation to start, with an increase in year two, along with paid health and wellness time.

If this role excites you, apply online today! The application takes under 20 minutes to complete and requires a current resume. Your time is valuable, so know that we commit to reviewing every qualified application that comes through.