Business Analyst

Job Title: Business Analyst

Organization: Shaping Our Appalachian Region  

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

Position Type: Full-Time, 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. The SEA Hubs will be located in Whitesburg, Pikeville, and Corbin. Travel throughout the region will be expected from this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Market Research and Business Insights:  

• Conduct research 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

Program Support and Participant Engagement: 

• Serve as a point of contact for entrepreneurs participating in the SEA program
• Assist with intake and evaluation of new business ideas and social enterprise applicants
• Help participants develop business plans, presentations, and pitches
• Offer basic guidance to participants on business strategy, finances, or next steps

Outreach and Collaboration:

• Assist with building connections 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
  

Administrative & Event Coordination:

• Work with the Business Accelerator Coordinator to schedule and coordinate meetings, workshops, and trainings for SEA participants
• Provide general office and administrative support for the SEA program team
• 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

Culture and Core Values

SOAR’s mission is simple: grow Eastern Kentucky’s population.

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.

Why SOAR?

The SOAR organization offers a chance to be part of a movement that’s bigger than any one of us individually. Eastern Kentucky won’t be solved by others. It’s going to take us to come together to find the solutions. Through communications, collaborations, and convenings, SOAR is on the front lines helping to get the right people in the right rooms to ensure the future of Eastern Kentucky burns as bright as ever.

SOAR offers a competitive salary along with the following benefits:

●      100% paid individual health insurance

●      SIMPLE IRA retirement plan

●      Cell phone stipend

●      Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel

●      Laptop provided

●      Annual bonus

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.