Program Developer

Help strengthen Maine’s child care sector by supporting entrepreneurs who are starting, growing, and sustaining small businesses.

If you are:

• A program developer with experience creating and delivering high-impact content;

• Experienced in small business ownership, business planning, or entrepreneurship support;

• A thoughtful communicator who builds trust with people from diverse backgrounds; and

• Passionate about child care, entrepreneurship, and a more equitable Maine economy;

Then CEI is the place to put your talents and passions to work.

Who we are:

Headquartered in Maine, CEI is a community development finance institution that is a national leader in rural economic and business development. CEI's mission is to build a just, vibrant, and climate-resilient future for people and communities in Maine and rural communities. We do this by integrating finance, business expertise, and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably.

Over 70 percent of our financing and advice go to businesses expanding opportunities for low-income communities, communities of color, and others who our economy has left behind. Learn more about working at CEI here.

What we believe:

Stewardship: As careful, responsible managers of the resources entrusted to us, we recognize that our decisions and actions have near – and long-term impacts for people and the planet.

Equity: We work to ensure that all people, especially those facing individual or system barriers to opportunity, can secure a livelihood that enables them to build assets and share prosperity.

Diversity: We engage diverse staff, board members, and partners who bring lived experience, community connections, and know-how to the problems we aim to solve.

Innovation: We foster creativity and entrepreneurial spirit at CEI, through our networks, and in the communities we serve.

**Collaboration:**We share knowledge, practices, and resources, and partner with people and organizations to deepen our mission impact.

Who we are**seeking:**

CEI seeks a Program Developer to design and deliver programs that help child care entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain financially sound businesses. The role combines program development, business advising, partner engagement, and outcome reporting.

This full-time, grant-funded position runs through September 2029 and is based in Brunswick, Maine, with a hybrid schedule.

The ideal candidate has experience working with diverse rural and urban communities, supporting small businesses, and managing multiple high-touch programs at once.

Some of your key responsibilities in this role will be:

• Design and deliver child care entrepreneurship programs that support business starts, growth, access to capital, and long-term sustainability.

• Advise child care entrepreneurs on business planning, financial analysis, financing proposals, and problem-solving in partnership with CEI advisors.

• Build and manage partnerships with sector groups, community organizations, advisors, and child care professionals.

• Track outcomes and strengthen programs by setting milestones, managing risks, capturing lessons, and reporting results to funders.

• Identify funding opportunities and support grant applications with colleagues.

Preferred candidates will have:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience developing business plans, running a small business, or supporting entrepreneurs.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to adapt to different audiences and literacy levels.

• Experience managing sensitive matters with diplomacy and tact.

• Experience with adult learning or curriculum development preferred.

• Strong general management knowledge, including business planning, marketing, and finance.

Other details:

This full-time, exempt, grant-funded role runs through September 2029 and is based at CEI’s headquarters in Brunswick, ME. CEI offers excellent benefits, generous time off, and a salary range of $60,000–$70,000. We work in a flexible hybrid model: three days from home and two days in the office, with Tuesdays as our shared anchor day.

CEI’s compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate, and retain high-performing employees who are committed to the mission, values, and business success of CEI. While maintaining fiscal responsibility, we pay our employees fairly and consistently relative to the market, reward the achievement of individual, team, and organizational goals; and provide an environment for people to engage in impactful, mission-driven work.

Thepayrange posted for this roleindicatesthe minimum and maximumwe wouldoffer for a qualified candidate,dependenton experience and qualifications.

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.