"Business Advisor - Small Business Development Center - University at Albany"

Job Description

The Business Advisor plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) by providing one-on-one confidential business counseling and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners. This position supports clients across all stages of the business lifecycle ranging from startup to expansion while helping foster economic development within the local community.

The Business Advisor works closely with small business clients to assess needs, identify opportunities, and develop strategic solutions in areas such as business planning, financial analysis, marketing strategies, operations, loan and grant applications, regulatory compliance, and access to capital. The advisor is responsible for maintaining accurate records of client interactions, delivering impactful consulting outcomes, and participating in outreach efforts to ensure broad community engagement.

This role requires strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of small business operations, and the ability to communicate complex business concepts clearly. Advisors must stay current on trends, challenges, and resources relevant to small businesses, including local, state, and federal programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Client Advisement (client meetings, advisement and work product)
• Training program development and execution
• Client resource development
• Administrative tasks (data entry, filing, reporting, etc.)

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

N/A

Job Requirements:

• Provide individualized business counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Assist clients with developing and refining business plans and financial projections.
• Assist clients with gaining a better understanding of their business' financial statements, operations, administration and marketing efforts.
• Support clients in identifying potential sources of capital for their venture including but not limited to bank loans, SBA guaranteed loans, USDA guaranteed loans, community loan and grant programs, venture capital and alternative lending options.
• Advise clients on marketing, e-commerce, growth strategies, procurement, business certifications, and business management best practices.
• Deliver training workshops and webinars on various business topics.
• Develop client resources and tools for utilization in and the facilitation of the client/business advisor engagement.
• Outreach and collaboration with local economic development partners, chambers of commerce and financial institutions.
• Contribute to the center's regional economic impact goals through client success stories and metrics.
• Record client activity and engagement outcomes in the NY SBDC CRM tool.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, accounting or a related field preferred, however, prior business ownership or management experience may be substituted for the degree.
• In lieu of a relevant bachelor's degree, a minimum of five (5) years of direct business experience, in business advising, consulting, entrepreneurship or management.
• Experience developing and delivering in person and virtual training.
• Business computer skills including Office 365 and ChatGPT.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

Preferred Qualifications:

• Self-motivated and directed, with experience determining priorities, strategies and processes in partnership with others.
• Ability to effectively communicate over the phone, in person, on online platforms (Zoom, Skype, Teams, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communications, customer service, client follow up, overall business acumen, quantitative and qualitative evaluation and client outreach required.
• Ability to adapt quickly to rapidly changing economic and client situations, pivot emphasis and time as required by disaster recovery or client needs; flexible, adaptable person eager to be involved in depth with economic recovery efforts within New York State, experience working remotely with clients or teams a strong plus.
• Relevant business process improvement exposure or experience, including leading others in a thorough and fact-driven analysis of overall business operations is a strong plus.
• Maturity to understand and empathize with business owners during a difficult time even while providing those same owners with direct and at times challenging questions, feedback and commentary on the state of their business plans, operations and recovery efforts.
• Verbal and written fluency in a language other than English a definite plus

Additional Information:

This is a promotional opportunity for current UAlbany employees.

Eligibility for Consideration:

• You must be employed at the University at Albany campus.
• You must be in a State-funded UUP professional position (MC employees are not eligible).
• You must have a permanent, term, or probationary appointment. Only temporary employees employed by UAlbany for three or more consecutive years can be considered eligible.

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Senior Staff Assistant, SL3, $57,151.