About JumpStart Inc.

JumpStart is a non-profit venture development organization whose mission is to drive economic vitality by connecting entrepreneurs to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed. We envision Ohio as a premier destination for entrepreneurs where businesses thrive, championed by an inclusive and impactful support network.

Key to JumpStart’s success is its ability to leverage the skills, experience, and creativity of its inspired team to transform entrepreneurial aspirations into actions with measurable impact. JumpStart associates take great pride in making JumpStart a highly demanding yet incredibly fun place to work.

Position Summary:

The Director, High Growth Services is a highly skilled entrepreneurial advisor who delivers programs and services for high-potential small businesses. This role requires prior, successful entrepreneurial experience—such as founding, leading, scaling, selling, or exiting a business—and the ability to apply those lessons directly to client needs.

The Director helps entrepreneurs navigate growth challenges, strengthen business models, access capital, expand into new markets, and build sustainable companies. In addition to delivering direct advisory services, this role serves as a visible community liaison, building relationships that generate awareness, strengthen partner engagement, and stimulate qualified client deal flow. This role works closely with JumpStart’s Services team and related resources to ensure consistent, high-quality support. The following are crucial to success in this role:

Essential Job Functions

· Execute the Services strategy for high-growth content, including best-practice processes, tools, resources, and advisory frameworks.

· Apply prior entrepreneurial experience to advise clients on common founder challenges, including growth strategy, operations, capital readiness, market expansion, leadership, and execution discipline.

· Collaborate with regional JumpStart teams and network partners to understand client needs and design stage-appropriate services.

· Lead scalable delivery models for programs and services that leverage technology, cross-regional resources, collaborators, and third-party consultants.

· Maintain a clear understanding of available stage-appropriate services, resources, and best practices.

· Ensure programs and services are inclusive, accessible, and effective for diverse-led small businesses.

· Collaborate with and support all regions to ensure consistent delivery of best practices and a strong client experience.

70% Entrepreneur Advisory Services

• Provide direct advising to high-potential small businesses with more than $500,000 in revenue.

· Use firsthand entrepreneurial experience to help founders diagnose growth barriers, prioritize opportunities, and make informed strategic decisions.

· Provide expert guidance on scaling operations, including optimizing processes, expanding teams, and managing the challenges associated with rapid growth.

· Assist businesses in identifying and entering new markets, developing go-to-market strategies, and navigating regulatory requirements.

· Support high-growth companies in securing funding by connecting them with investors, assisting with pitch development, and advising on financial strategy.

· Identifies clients needs and connects them to the right resources internally or externally

20% Community Liaison

· Identify opportunities for JumpStart to collaborate and support work of various entrepreneurial communities leading to improved community relationships with JumpStart and deal flow to JumpStart

· Attend and support various non-JumpStart events to identify prospective clients and introduce them to the JumpStart.

· Serve as point of contact for client referrals from various communities to JumpStart.

· Build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including venture capitalists, private equity firms, industry experts, and corporate partners, to create opportunities for high-growth companies.

· Engage with the broader business community to promote JumpStart’s high-growth services, represent the organization at industry events, and contribute to thought leadership initiatives.

10% Program Leadership

· Develop and lead programs tailored to the needs of high-growth companies, including strategic advisory services, growth accelerators, and customized coaching.

· Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for high-growth services, using data to assess program effectiveness and make continuous improvements.

Decision-Making Responsibility

· This position requires a high degree of autonomy, business experience, and strategic decision-making. The role will assess complex situations involving multiple interconnected parameters and recommend services and investment-related decisions based on analysis and judgment.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

· Normal office demands. Travel up to 25%

· Must reside in Cleveland, Ohio

· Hybrid working environment

Required Qualifications Education, Training and/or Experience

Education, Training and/or Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in a business-related discipline; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.

· 5+ years of progressive management, business advisory, entrepreneurial leadership, or high-growth company experience.

· Required prior, successful entrepreneurial experience, demonstrated by founding, leading, scaling, selling, exiting, or serving in a senior leadership role within a growth-oriented business venture.

· Demonstrated ability to translate firsthand entrepreneurial experience into practical, actionable guidance for business owners and leadership teams.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

· Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by high-growth companies, with direct experience in scaling businesses.

· Strong understanding of financial principles, financial modeling, and investor relations.

· Ability to see the larger strategic picture, absorb large amounts of data, draw out key findings and insights, and synthesize thoughts in an easy-to-follow, logical, and coherent manner.

· Ability to relate to all organizational levels and establish credibility with entrepreneurs.

· Appreciation of all aspects and functions of a business.

· Ability to build and operate in team-based environments.

· Combination of strategic thinking and practical operational execution.

· Empathy and people leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications, Education, Training and/or Experience

· Project management and critical thinking skills

· Exceptional written, oral, and presentation communication abilities

· High achiever, disciplined, and driven

· Experience in strategic & growth planning, sales, marketing, project management, business development

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job according to specific company requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. JumpStart Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers competitive salary & comprehensive benefits (medical, vision, 401k, paid vacation).