Business and Cooperative Development Specialist (FT, Temporary)

Masa; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Masa in the Bronx is seeking a Business and Cooperative Development Specialist to incubate a language services cooperative for Spanish and Indigenous interpreters. The role provides hands-on assistance toward independent operation after incubation, reporting to the Language Justice Program Manager.

The ideal candidate has passion for cooperative models, strong project management, and experience with nonprofit programs serving immigrant and marginalized communities in NYC.

Qualifications

• Fluent in Spanish and English.
• Strong project management skills with ability to plan timelines and coordinate resources.
• Experience in business development or cooperative enterprises.
• Knowledge of cooperative models and democratic management.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate selection and onboarding for cooperative members.
• Meet with training participants to assess needs and barriers.
• Provide training on business operations, governance, and accounting.

Skills

Spanish-English fluency

Project management

Nonprofit development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Community Development

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Business and Cooperative Development Specialist (FT, Temporary)

Bronx, NY, United States of America

Full Time - Temporary

About Masa

Masa partners with Mexican and Latin American immigrant children, youth, and families in the South Bronx to develop strong learners and leaders who fully contribute to the larger community. We envision a community that is civically engaged, empowered, and educated.

Masa’s community‑led, integrated model engages the entire family, grounded in a deep commitment to strengthening literacy, leadership, and power for Mexican, Central American, and Indigenous People. Masa fosters a culturally responsive learning community in which families engage with direct service and advocacy programs to dismantle barriers to success.

About the Language Justice Program

The Language Justice Program aims to deliver language services that empower historically marginalized voices. Through this project, we seek to address the need for interpretation and translation services in Spanish and Indigenous languages from Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) across NYC, provide economic opportunities for communities that speak these languages, and support workforce development through the strengthening of a Community Interpreter Program and a language worker cooperative

About the Business and Cooperative Development Specialist position

The Business and Cooperative Development Specialist will support the incubation and formation of a language services worker cooperative for Spanish and Indigenous interpreters of Latin America and the Caribbean. This role will provide hands‑on technical assistance and support to cooperative members in acquiring the skills and knowledge required to successfully run a worker‑owned cooperative independently after a period of incubation. The Specialist reports to the Language Justice Program Manager and will work closely with worker-owners, cooperative development partners, and program consultants to ensure the group receives the structure, resources and support to advance its goals and successfully launch the language services worker cooperative.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about cooperative business models, language justice and empowering indigenous and immigrant communities; self‑driven; possess a degree of business acumen; and have strong project management skills, including the ability to set goals, plan timelines, allocate and coordinate resources, and manage tasks effectively.

This is a full-time, in-person role (40 hrs/week) that is planned to run through June 30, 2027 with the possibility of extension contingent on funding.

Key responsibilities

Coordinate the selection and onboarding process for potential cooperative members

Regularly meet with worker cooperative training participants individually to assess their needs, concerns, availability, commitment, training needs, and barriers that affect their participation

Provide technical assistance and engage consultants to provide training in business operational planning, democratic management, governance, legal, cooperative accounting, leadership development, decision‑making, collective leadership models and cooperative development best practices

Develop a workplan and coordinate weekly working group and bi‑weekly group meetings to ensure progress is being made towards successfully incorporating the worker cooperative

Remain abreast of and address group dynamics that may hinder progress

Support group in developing key documents and procedures for worker cooperative incorporation

Secure training opportunities for interpreters to continue to develop their practice and expand their menu of services

Maintain accurate records of participants, communications, attendance, progress, outstanding needs, and members engagement in different roles

Coordinate with organizational leadership and external partners to ensure continued alignment

Promote inclusive, transparent, equitable and language‑justice‑centered practices throughout the worker cooperative development process that ensures indigenous speakers and the original goals of the project are centered at all times and central to the decision‑making process

Prepare progress updates, reports, recommendations, and documentation regarding the cooperative’s development

Monitor progress towards milestones, documented lessons learned, and adapt support based on member’s feedback

Requirements

Fluent in Spanish and English

A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Community/Economic Development, or a related field is required

2–4 years of experience in business development, non‑profit program management, community organizing, or working within cooperative enterprises

Knowledgeable on worker cooperative models and collective decision‑making frameworks

Familiarity with basic business financial planning, cash flow forecasting, and operational bookkeeping OR willingness to skill up quickly

Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of guiding diverse stakeholder groups toward consensus, especially with immigrant, underserved and marginalized communities

Strong commitment to language justice, racial equity, economic justice and experience working directly alongside low‑income, immigrant, or marginalized communities

Experience supporting groups through follow‑up, planning, outreach, or organizational development

Ability to organize multiple participants, activities, deadlines, and records

Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with team members and community partners

Proficiency with email, spreadsheets, online meeting platforms, and database or customer relationship management systems

Project management skills and experience developing scalable projects from start to finish

Fluency in an Indigenous language spoken by the participating community

Previous experience providing interpretation or translation services

Experience with cooperative business models, participatory leadership, or popular education

Knowledge of small‑business, legal, accounting, or business‑planning resources

Experience using Salesforce or another client, contact, or program‑management database

Strong group facilitation and conflict‑resolution skills; ability to simplify complex business and legal concepts for diverse audiences

Familiarity with New York City community‑based organizations and immigrant‑serving networks

Physical Demands

This position is in‑person at Masa’s office, with local travel (NYC‑based) required

Moderate carrying of program materials (10‑25 lbs) is required

Work schedule may include occasional evenings and Saturday availability

Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during meetings, outreach, tabling, or events

Handling technical equipment (smartboards, projectors, laptops, interpretation devices) for events

Compensation

65-70K, commensurate with experience