Part-Time Small Business Liaison

Apply by 11:59pm on March 4, 2026.

Description:

If you have technical assistance experience serving minority-owned and independently-owned local businesses and a passion for mission-driven work, this position presents an exciting opportunity to join a small team with a big agenda.

Union Square Main Streets (USMS) is an established economic empowerment nonprofit supported by public funding, donations, and community events such as the Union Square Farmers Market and the Fluff Festival that works to strengthen the dynamic neighborhood of businesses and people in Union Square by:

  • promoting and celebrating the Square’s unique and spirited character

  • advocating for and assisting local businesses

  • working to create welcoming public spaces, and

  • fostering connection and collaboration among diverse stakeholders and partners.

Since 2005, USMS has served the small businesses that make up the dynamic neighborhood of Union Square. These ethnic restaurants and grocery stores, entrepreneurial start-ups, and shops offering a spectrum of services are a big part of the glue that holds Union Square together. Many of these are owned or staffed by recent or longer-term immigrants.

This is a particularly meaningful time to work with USMS. Working with the City of Somerville, USMS is partnering with residents, businesses, developers, and other property owners to shape the Square’s future in a way that will preserve its unique character while taking advantage of new and emerging industries, increasing demand for housing, the Green Line’s arrival, and shifts in the national retail landscape. 

The USMS Bilingual Small Business Liaison plays an integral and multi-faceted role in USMS’ work and is charged with working closely with the USMS Executive Director, staff, committees, partners, property owners, and businesses throughout the Square to confront these challenges:

  • Preserve and nurture Union Square’s unique small business composition by providing support for permitting and licenses processes, business plan development, lease negotiations, and other technical assistance designed to strengthen individual businesses 

  • Support businesses as they adapt to multiple years of disruptive City infrastructure improvements and 20+ years of major development construction ahead, including helping to generate plans to mitigate temporary or permanent displacement

  • Develop creative strategies to incorporate small locally-owned business and entrepreneurial activity in new development

  • Respond to emerging realities in businesses whether they be specific to COVID-19 recovery, construction impacts, or more broad in terms the general evolution of retail and federal policy  

  • Increase economic opportunity for minority-owned businesses that for far too long have not had equitable access to entrepreneurial resources

This position provides an exciting opportunity to build experience and networks while expanding knowledge and gaining skills related to place-based economic empowerment. The position is built on:

  • USMS’ 22 years of serving Union Square’s diverse business district 

  • Priorities determined by USMS’ most recent community-driven strategic plan, and 

  • A clear commitment to increasing economic opportunity for minority-owned and independent businesses.

Bilingual Small Business Liaison responsibilities and tasks may include, but are not limited to:

  • Working in tandem with the Executive Director to establish and nurture meaningful, supportive, and authentic relationships with local business leaders, property owners, city staff, nonprofit partners, and mission-aligned groups throughout the greater Boston region   

  • Providing hands-on technical assistance to support Union Square businesses as they:

    • Navigate Somerville’s permitting and licensing processes

    • Develop business plans

    • Negotiate leases

    • Access capital

    • Implement low cost marketing strategies

    • Plan fraud and scam prevention tactics   

  • Serving as a lead contributor to USMS produced technical assistance workshops  

  • Connecting businesses to resources such as skill building workshops, webinars, City led programs, grant opportunities, etc. 

  • Walking the district to stay connected to what’s happening on the ground, check in with businesses, build trust, and maintain visibility in the community 

  • Contributing to the development of fundraising proposals and reports through data collection and analysis, impact statement creation, and casemaking with the goal of evolving this part-time position into full-time 

  • Maintaining an inventory of available small business commercial space within the district 

  • Contributing to  the monthly Union Square Business Meeting by proposing agenda topics, delivering the Small Business Liaison report, recruiting speakers, and supporting logistical elements with the goal of deepening engagement  

  • Serving as lead staff liaison to the USMS Economic Vitality Working Group by contributing to agenda creation, taking notes, organizing files, and supporting the Chair as needed 

  • Recruiting business leaders to participate in and/or host Business Meetings and participate in events like the Good Food For All, Fluff Festival, and the Union Square Jingle

  • Contributing to planning and executing programs and events based upon USMS priorities and contract requirements that serve local businesses 

  • Leading data collection, documentation, and invoicing for technical assistance funders

A majority of the Small Business Liaison’s work is conducted within the district inside businesses, at meetings, at partner locations, at City Hall, at ISD, public events, etc. Occasional evening or weekend responsibilities for events, Board, and City meetings.

Qualifications:

  • Belief in, and a solid understanding of, economic empowerment goals and strategies 

  • A minimum of 2 years experience providing small business technical assistance, mentoring, and/or improved access to resources

  • Ability to communicate effectively in more than one language, with a strong preference for English, Spanish, and/or Portuguese

  • Proficiency in reading and writing in a second language in order to translate business and legal documents

  • Experience with equity-focused entrepreneurial ecosystems   

  • Appetite for connecting with people on a human level across cultural backgrounds

  • Knowledgeable about the use of digital platforms and mechanisms to support knowledge sharing and communication among individuals with varying degrees of digital literacy 

  • Interest in researching and analyzing data and best practices related to small business economic empowerment    

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred 

  • Excellent organizational skills, ability to problem solve, prioritize, and meet deadlines

  • Strong written and interpersonal communication skills 

  • Detail oriented and able to work both independently and as part of a team

  • Strong computer skills, including Google Drive 

  • A high degree of personal and professional integrity

  • Passion for community-driven work and working with a small team with a big agenda

This nonexempt position will be compensated with a salary between $70,000-$80,000 based on experience and an unexpectedly generous benefits package.

Compensation: This is a nonexempt 20 hours per week position. The hourly wage is $38.46 per hour, firm due to budget restrictions. 

USMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: USMS recruits, hires, trains, promotes and retains individuals in all job titles without regard to age, rage, color, religion, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship, national origin, military status, or any other similarly protected status. Employees will be selected, retained, and promoted on the basis of their qualifications and job performance.

COVID-19: All USMS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and boosted as available and accessible by the first day of work. Requests for accommodations due to medical or religious reasons will be evaluated. 

How to Apply: Letters or videos of interest and resumes sent to usms@unionsquaremain.org will be accepted through 11:59pm on March 4, 2026. USMS is eager to identify  its newest team member. Interviews will be conducted with qualified candidates on a rolling basis with a goal of welcoming our next Bilingual Small Business Liaison in early April.