SBDC Business Consultant
External posting
Full-Time, Temporary, Exempt , Administrative/Professional
Grant-Funded position

The position is currently funded for one year through the SBA Federal Award.
JOB SUMMARY:

The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Lake Huron Region provides consulting, education, and research to help small businesses launch, grow, transition, and innovate. The SBDC Business Consultant is responsible for client portfolio management, working with federal, state, and local partners to help business owners and entrepreneurs start, grow, and strengthen their businesses. This position is funded by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the employer, Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU).
SVSU expects job performance to be consistent with its mission, values, and business objectives and believes that each employee contributes to improved performance by continuously searching for ways to improve offerings, products, services, and processes.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide confidential one-on-one consulting services to small business clients of the Michigan SBDC, including:

• analyzing business problems, developing solutions, and providing access to resources;
• conducting demographic and market research as needed to assist clients;
• helping clients develop business plans, sales & marketing strategies, cash flow forecasts, and similar projects as required; and
• educating clients on financing options and credit practices appropriate to their stage of business development.

• Conduct ongoing assessment and understanding of tools, resources, systems and technologies designed to improve or enhance small business operations, sales and/or financial functions.
• Participate in, develop and lead business education workshops, seminars and other types of presentations, both online and in person.
• Maintain client records to Small Business Administration (SBA) compliance standards in the SBDC CRM System.
• Meet or exceed individual key performance indicators and implement strategies as directed to achieve goals established in the regional annual strategic plan.
• Develop and maintain relationships with private, public, and non-profit business service providers to ensure a strong support network for serving and attracting MI-SBDC clients.
• Actively participate in network and regional meetings via GoToWebinars, conference calls and in-person gatherings, some of which may occur outside of normal business hours and at locations outside the four-county Region.
• Other duties determined necessary to further goals of the SBDC Regional operation.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises assigned volunteers, student aides, and other support staff.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

General supervision is received from the Associate Regional Director and Regional Director of the Lake Huron Region of the Michigan Small Business Development Center.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA or BS degree in business or a closely related field, Masters degree preferred.
• 2-3 years of small business ownership, general management, business consultation, or direct supervisory experience in a business organization.
• Knowledge of financial analysis, accounting & budgeting practices, capital structures, loan products, and private equity resources available to small businesses.
• Knowledge of sales, marketing, and new business development strategies.
• Intermediate level proficiency in a broad range of computer applications, online databases, tools, and systems used in business planning, accounting, market research, e-commerce, analytics, and/or financial reporting, as well as customer relationship, project, & file management systems, databases, and web-based communication & e-learning tools.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and networking skills.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications.
• Ability to work with a highly diverse client base.
• Willingness to attend business functions that may occur outside of the normal work hours and locations.
• Ability to communicate with staff members, students, and corporate customers and remain neutral in stressful situations.
• Ability to prioritize work assignments and multi-task when needed. Ability to meet with clients independently and work autonomously to achieve defined objectives with minimal supervision.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists, and to seek the guidance of a supervisor as needed.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of and responsibilities with or without accommodations.
• Ability to regularly travel within the state of Michigan.
• Ability to lift an average of 30 pounds (boxes) if needed.
• The employee is required to travel in the region served by the SBDC.
• Knowledge of small business ownership, business consulting, office systems, high customer service and problem-solving skills.

The employee works in a typical office environment where the noise level is usually quiet to moderate; temperature may vary at different seasonal times of the year.

About SVSU:
Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 100 programs of study for its roughly 7,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students, faculty and staff. For eight consecutive years, SVSU has been recognized as a “Great College to Work For” (2016-2023).
SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. SVSU earned the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84 percent of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements or some other component of their academic preparation.
SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEAM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations and school districts to improve students’ performance in math, science and the arts at the middle school, high school and university levels.
More than 70 percent of SVSU freshmen live on campus in student housing that has been rated No. 1 among public universities in the U.S. (2018-2023). SVSU fields 19 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level. The average class size is 23 students.