Advisor, Entrepreneur and Business Center

Joliet Junior College•Joliet, IL

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The Advisor, Entrepreneur and Business Center meets with small business owners and prospective owners, gathers and analyzes information, and provides specific recommendations to support business success. The Advisor prepares written summaries of information, analysis, and recommended actions; conducts training and workshops on small business planning and operations; and tracks and reports client progress. The position promotes small business start-up, growth, and expansion and represents the college at community meetings as requested. The role calls for an entrepreneurial, self-motivated, performance-driven, customer-focused, and learner-centered approach, including the ability to sell and negotiate to achieve mutual goals. The Advisor provides consultation across areas such as marketing, web design, social media, management, finance and accounting, regulation and taxation, production and operations, office automation, and computers. The position develops or analyzes business plans and loan strategies, builds referral networks, and serves as a liaison with financial institutions, economic development groups, lending sources, and chambers of commerce. It also develops and oversees training proposals and programs, facilitates workshops and entrepreneurial activities, maintains client records and CRM activity, and provides technical assistance with alternative financing and state and federal initiatives. The Advisor conducts business needs assessments and supports market-driven strategic planning. The position is part-time, scheduled for 24 hours. Duties are performed indoors in a usual office environment, with evening or weekend work commensurate with demand. Local transportation is required for travel between campus locations and to community events.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, or a related area.
Three years of experience in marketing, business, finance, or a related field.
Knowledge of running professional seminars and networking events.
Demonstrated experience in sales, marketing, writing contracts, and negotiation.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate multidimensional activities simultaneously; strong marketing orientation and experience with marketing venues, including web-based tools.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; good platform and instructional skills.
Ability to work well with clients and business customers and to be entrepreneurial, bottom-line performance-driven, customer-focused, learner-centered, and able to sell and negotiate to achieve mutual goals.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with college and community members, displaying cultural competence and emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated commitment to the college’s core values of respect and inclusion, sustainability, integrity, collaboration, humor and well-being, innovation, and quality.
Access to transportation for local travel.
Ability to travel between campus locations and to and from community events.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, or a related area.
Experience in business, marketing, web design, social media marketing, finance, and accounting.
English and Spanish verbal and written communication proficiency.
Demonstrated multicultural competence.

Responsibilities

Provide consultation assistance in marketing, web design, social media, management, finance and accounting, regulation and taxation, production and operations, office automation, computers, and other areas that support small business growth.
Develop and/or analyze business plans and loan structuring strategies, and establish and maintain a referral network of professionals for client follow-up assistance.
Serve as liaison to financial institutions, economic development groups, other lending sources, and chambers of commerce.
Develop training proposals, define deliverables and costs, present proposals to company representatives, oversee or monitor training-program development and delivery, manage or advise on contract negotiations, and ensure instructional quality.
Conduct or facilitate workshops and coordinate entrepreneurial activities, including curriculum and seminars.
Develop and maintain client control records in accordance with policies and procedures.
Provide technical assistance in alternative business financing, including Community Development Corporations and revolving loan funds.
Provide technical assistance on state and federal initiatives, including modernization, the Small Business Administration loan process, and Small Business Innovative Research.
Conduct ongoing needs assessments of district businesses through focus groups, informational seminars, surveys, and field research; synthesize and reevaluate strategic planning and support a market-driven approach.
Manage a pool of business clients proactively, maintain CRM activity, and provide robust reporting on activities and success stories.
Perform related duties as assigned.