Self-Employment Program Facilitator

Ballad Group

The Ballad team is comprised of business professionals, strengthening the communities in which we live and work. Our diverse team brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and creativity to each project we undertake. We provide services related to training, business planning, government relations, Indigenous engagement, and community development. Ballad ensures that the work we undertake has meaningful impact, ALWAYS.

Today, Ballad employs nearly 100 team members across 13 offices throughout Alberta. We operate innovative simulated worksites that include construction, hospitality, warehouse, retail, and industrial training environments, helping thousands of Albertans develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the workforce.

The Opportunity

Have you built a business and want to help others do the same? Are you passionate about building Alberta’s business community?

Ballad Group is looking for an experienced entrepreneur with a passion for teaching, connecting people, and helping aspiring business owners turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.

As our Self-Employment Program Facilitator, you will bring your firsthand experience into the classroom, sharing practical tools, honest insights, and lessons learned from starting and operating a business. You will work with motivated participants as they explore their business ideas, develop business plans, and prepare to launch.

The Program

Ballad’s Self-Employment Launchpad is a 16-week program supporting unemployed and underemployed Albertans in pursuing sustainable self-employment. The program combines instructor-led training, business planning, individualized coaching, peer learning, and connections with the local business community.

Based in Airdrie, the program also serves participants in Strathmore and Okotoks through a combination of in-person and virtual delivery.

This is an in-position that takes place in our Airdrie office and is 30 hours per week.

What you’ll do

- Facilitate practical, engaging learning. Deliver workshops that help participants understand what it takes to start, operate, and sustain a business. Create an encouraging environment where participants can ask questions, test ideas, and learn from one another.

- Develop workshops and curriculum. Collaborate with program staff to build and refine a strong curriculum, including lesson plans, activities, resources, and practical assignments. Adapt content to reflect participant needs, current business practices, and local opportunities.

- Guide business plan development. Help participants develop their business models, research their markets, identify customers, plan operations, and build realistic marketing and financial strategies. Provide constructive feedback as they work toward a complete business plan and launch roadmap.

- Make business concepts accessible. Translate topics such as pricing, cash flow, budgeting, sales, risk, and business requirements into clear, practical lessons participants can apply to their own ventures.

- Integrate technology into learning. Help participants explore digital and AI tools that support business research, marketing, content creation, planning, and day-to-day operations.

- Build local connections. Network with entrepreneurs, business owners, and community organizations to create mentorship opportunities, recruit guest speakers, and connect participants with relevant expertise and resources.

- Support business launch and early operations. Work alongside the Business Coach and other program staff to facilitate peer roundtables, address emerging challenges, and help participants move from planning into action.

- Contribute to participant success. Monitor learning progress, provide timely feedback, maintain accurate training records, and collaborate with the team to address barriers and improve program delivery.

What you bring

- Firsthand experience starting and operating a business, with a practical understanding of the challenges, decisions, and persistence entrepreneurship requires.

- A passion for supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and helping others build the knowledge and confidence to succeed.

- Experience facilitating workshops, teaching adults, delivering presentations, or mentoring business owners.

- Strong knowledge of business planning, market research, marketing and sales, business operations, and financial fundamentals.

- The ability to develop engaging learning materials and explain complex concepts in clear, accessible language.

- Strong relationship-building skills and an interest in connecting participants with the local entrepreneurial community.

- Comfort facilitating both in person and online, using digital collaboration tools, and incorporating AI into practical business activities.

- Strong organization, communication, and teamwork skills, with the ability to support participants pursuing a variety of business ideas.

- A respectful, inclusive approach that recognizes the different experiences and perspectives participants bring.

- Experience developing curriculum, supporting business start-ups, or working within the Airdrie, Strathmore, and Okotoks business communities would be an asset.