Operations & Strategy Fellow

About MBBA

The Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) is the leading voice for Black entrepreneurship in Michigan. Our mission is to help close the racial wealth gap by advocating for policies, creating programs, and building partnerships that lead to thriving, profitable Black-owned businesses. Through bold leadership, cultural connection, and intentional systems-building, we connect Black businesses to capital, resources, and opportunity.

Position Summary

The Operations & Strategy Fellow supports MBBA’s efforts to strengthen the systems, processes, and management tools that help the organization operate effectively. This is a hands-on role for a college student, graduate student, or recent graduate who wants exposure to nonprofit operations, project management, organizational strategy, and economic development while working directly with the Chief Operating Officer. This is a 10-month position from August 2026 - May 2027 working up to 30 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and maintenance of MBBA’s operations manual and SOP library by documenting recurring workflows, creating process maps, and preparing first drafts of procedures and templates.
• Assist with maintaining and improving MBBA’s Monday.com workspaces, including project trackers, action items, owners, deadlines, status updates, and dashboard organization.
• Help maintain key organizational tracking tools, including the operating calendar, vendor and contract database, grants dashboard, and other recurring management tools.
• Support grant administration by tracking deadlines, organizing supporting documentation, updating grant records, and preparing materials for leadership review and funder reporting.
• Provide project-management support for priority organizational initiatives, including developing project plans, tracking deliverables, documenting next steps, and following up on outstanding action items.
• Conduct research and benchmarking for special projects related to nonprofit operations, small-business support, economic development, technology, vendors, and organizational strategy; summarize findings and draft recommendations for leadership.
• Assist with recurring operational reporting by organizing data and preparing concise progress updates, scorecards, and supporting materials for leadership and board review.
• Complete a fellowship capstone focused on identifying an MBBA process or operational challenge, researching potential solutions, and helping implement an approved improvement.

Who You'll Work With

You’ll report to the Chief Operating Officer and collaborate with team members across MBBA’s programs, membership, external affairs, finance, and administrative functions. The role will also provide exposure to external vendors and partners as appropriate for assigned projects.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in business, public administration, nonprofit management, finance, information systems, public policy, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and comfort managing multiple projects and deadlines at once.
• Comfortable with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets) and learning new technology; experience with Monday.com or similar project-management tools is a plus.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to turn information, research, and conversations into clear documentation and first drafts.
• Curious, solutions-oriented, and comfortable asking questions to understand how a process works and where it can be improved.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with organizational, financial, grant, vendor, or other confidential information.
• Genuine interest in Black entrepreneurship, economic development, nonprofit operations, and community-based organizations.
• Detroit-based and able to work in-person throughout the fellowship.

MBBA is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. We encourage you to learn more about the MBBA's mission and programs at