Center Director for Business Expansion and Commerce Engagement

Center Director for Business Expansion and Commerce Engagement

Salary $85,000

The core responsibility of the Senior Business Development Specialist (SBDS) is to represent the interests of the Oklahoma SBDC within the state's economic development ecosystem and seek out opportunities for the Oklahoma SBDC to provide more services to companies exploring options of growth, expansion, or relocation in Oklahoma. The SBDS will provide individual small business management advising, technical services, and group training to existing small businesses owners and to new entrepreneurs in the areas of business management, financial analysis, business disruption, marketing strategy and other related business topics.

Other responsibilities include identifying problem areas in a small business, developing outreach assistance programs, and developing relationships with state economic development professionals and others providing support services to small businesses.

This position will be located at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in Oklahoma City. Will report to the State Director. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Advances, through strategic engagement, the long-term objectives identified as essential to strengthen the Oklahoma SBDC.
• Serves as a high-level liaison to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and other economic development entities across the state.
• Develops and maintains a thorough understanding of the Oklahoma SBDC network's capacities, sufficient to recognize a match between a company's needs and the business advising offered within the network, including the various specialties.
• Promotes the Oklahoma SBDC as a resource for the state and for companies doing business or seeking to do business in Oklahoma. This includes encouraging the use of the Oklahoma SBDC services once a match is identified between a company's needs and SBDC's capabilities.
• Provides business counseling, which includes business plans for strategic planning and financing, marketing, accounting, finance, production, facilities, etc. for existing and prospective businesses.
• Performs one-on-one confidential client consultation and works on attaining individual consulting goals set forth by the State Director. Client consulting can take place face-to-face, via email or technological means, or by phone.
• Works collaboratively to connect companies with the appropriate subject matter expert adviser or to bring together ad-hoc adviser teams to satisfy the potentially multiple and complex needs if required by a particular situation.
• Develops and delivers training in workshops and seminars designed to enhance one-on-one consulting efforts.
• Works with the Assistant State Director, Training Coordinator and State Director in outreach of consultation and training for small communities across the state and determines the most effective use of resources.
• Takes leadership role with state-wide network team to develop knowledge around the programs and services offered at Oklahoma Department of Commerce to support the small business community.
• Attends meetings, hearings, discussions, or other gatherings taking place within state government, as requested by the state director when it is appropriate for the Oklahoma SBDC to be present or represented and updates the Oklahoma SBDC leadership team following events.
• Prepares required reports for all counseling cases, training activities, monthly department reports, and all other paperwork required for program documentation.
• Provides input and strategic perspective to senior leadership as requested.
• Actively partners with the State Office to develop and implement promotional and advocacy activities to create awareness of SBDC and its services throughout the business and financial community. This may include public speaking to groups regarding the Oklahoma SBDC and its services. Such marketing efforts align with Oklahoma SBDC branding guidelines.
• Actively seeks out opportunities to coordinate with various departments of Commerce for awareness of trainings or opportunities to collaborate.
• Seeks opportunities to highlight the offerings and accomplishments of the Oklahoma SBDC in appropriate ways to Commerce and other applicable entities, agencies, organizations, and individuals.
• Takes a lead role in implementing a strategic awareness campaign that operates across the entire network and is aimed at making key decision makers, influencers, and policy makers across the state more aware of the benefits SBDC brings to their communities.
• Makes the leadership team aware of potential areas of opportunity or caution that may arise within the state's economic development community.
• The SBDS will travel throughout the state to provide the Oklahoma SBDC services and to attend or deliver training at conferences, meetings, or workshops.
• Develops a diverse client base, with emphasis on existing business clients and does so with sensitivity to ethnic, social-economic, and educational level diversity.
• Actively engages in a wide variety of professional development activities to maintain and grow professional knowledge. This will include attendance and delivery of training and certification or advanced course work at conferences, meetings, seminars, training events, and workshops.
• Attends all Oklahoma SBDC staff meetings, virtual and in-person, and is present as available on advising meetings.
• Consistently meets or exceeds all assigned goals and impact metrics, including contact, capitalization, and client development. (SBA goals are Clients Served, Business Starts and Capitalization)
• Must have an excellent command of the English language including vocabulary, grammar, and organization of expression required for documenting client files, client correspondence, program promotion and advocacy.
• SBDS will maintain a high-level working relationship with clients, colleagues, partners, and the public.
• The SBDS will have well developed interviewing skills including the ability to listen to clients, elicit appropriate information, relate, and evaluate information and analyze and interpret information to develop and recommend solutions to business challenges.
• The SBDS can read, understand, and apply a variety of interrelated instructions, such as those found in guidelines, regulations, policies, and management directives.
• Ability to establish priorities according to relative organizational importance and meet deadlines, set, and achieve goals, and will be able to manage time efficiently.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Additional performance responsibilities:

• Attendance and Dependability: The employee can be depended upon to report to the assigned duty station at the scheduled time. Employee can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments.
• Communication and Contact: The employee communicates effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside of the University.
• Relationships with Others: The employee works effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the University. The employee is professional in dealing with others and works to maintain a constructive working environment.
• Safety: Employee works safely, attends safety training offered/required, and follows appropriate safety rules and regulations. In relation to level of NIMs training completed, participates in incident management preparation, and performs incident duties as assigned.

Education, training and experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business or related discipline
• Five years of small business ownership or business management experience
• Intermediate knowledge of Business Capitalization, including financing, funding, and loan sourcing
• Developed network of lenders and funding partners
• Intermediate experience in financial analysis, including business valuation, cash flow management and business ratios for established businesses
• Demonstrated knowledge of accounting processes and financial statements
• Certification in developed specialty or expertise within the Center Network, i.e. International Trade, QuickBooks, Intellectual Property, Marketing, Sourcing, Business Disruption
• Completion of advanced coursework or certification in business management or economic development
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and requirements of starting and operating a successful small business
• Development and delivery of training or coursework for business owners
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service and client satisfaction
• Evening and weekend work will be required
• Ability to lift 40 pounds
• Excellent communication skills, including oral, written, and/or nonverbal
• Proficient with personal computer capabilities, using the Internet, and Microsoft Office Suite especially Outlook, Word, and Excel (Excel test may be required.)
• Cybersecurity understanding and skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Professional appearance and interpersonal demeanor
• Valid driver's license

Preferred:

• Master's degree in business management or other closely related discipline including CPA, CFA, or law degree
• Five to ten years business ownership or management experience to include management, payroll, accounting, marketing, knowledge of QuickBooks
• Experience as a loan officer or other similar business background
• Experience in economic development