Job Title: Business Analyst

Organization: Shaping Our Appalachian Region

Project: EKY Runway Project – Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA)

Position Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Eastern Kentucky (Serving Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Perry, and Pike counties)

Reports To: SEA Project Manager

The Business Analyst will support entrepreneurs and social enterprises through the EKY Runway Program’s Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA), specifically focusing on childcare, transportation, and housing. This role is designed for someone who enjoys problem-solving, supporting new ideas, and making data meaningful and actionable. The Business Analyst position will be a mixture of research, relationship building, and hands-on support for entrepreneurs across our 12-county service region. Travel throughout the region will be expected from this position.

This role will be in office 5 days a week. Satellite offices are located throughout the 54-county service territory.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Market Research and Business Insights:

• Lead research initiatives on trends, customer needs, and opportunities to support SEA participants
• Translate complex data into clear, useful insights for internal use and entrepreneurs
• Stay up to date on local and national trends in entrepreneurship, small business, and social enterprise

2. Program Support and Participant Engagement:

• Serve as a point of contact for entrepreneurs participating in the SEA program
• Assess and vet new business ideas and social enterprise applicants, providing recommendations on viability and program fit
• Help participants develop business plans, presentations, and pitches
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of SEA programming through data-driven strategy recommendations

3. Outreach and Collaboration:

• Cultivate partnerships between participants, mentors, funders, and other partners
• Represent EKY Runway Project and SOAR at events, convenings, and networking opportunities
• Support marketing and outreach strategies to attract more applicants to the SEA program

4. Administrative & Event Coordination:

• Work with the Business Accelerator Coordinator to schedule and coordinate meetings, workshops, and trainings for SEA participants
  
• Assist with collecting and organizing information for reports, documentation, and follow up
  
  

Expectations:

• Interest in entrepreneurship, business planning, or supporting new ideas
• Entrepreneurial experience or working knowledge of entrepreneurial-led economic development.
• Banking or financial analysis experience preferred.
• Proficiency in financial modeling, market research, and business planning tools/software preferred.
• Familiarity with venture capital, angel investing, and startup financing mechanisms is highly preferred.
• Strong interest in increasing prosperity in Eastern Kentucky communities.
• Eagerness to learn new skills and take initiative on tasks
• Willingness to travel regularly across the region
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) & Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems.
• Good attention to detail and a positive attitude
• Regular and reliable attendance required
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• Must be able to handle prolonged periods of sitting at a desk or standing at an event
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time when necessary

Culture and Core Values

SOAR’s mission is simple: empower every Eastern Kentuckian to economic self-sufficiency through meaningful employment.

Our team culture is anchored by putting the interests of Eastern Kentucky first in all that we do. We believe treating others the way we want to be treated is always within our control. Our core values include faith, selflessness, grit, integrity, and empathy. We do our best to exemplify these daily in our interactions with each other and with external partners.

Please apply here.

SOAR is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.