Business Advisor

Utah State University • Hurricane, UT

6h • Hybrid

About The Position

Overview The SBDC Business Advisor is a part-time professional (12–16 hours per week) who partners with early-stage and growing small businesses to provide strategic consulting and guidance across the lifecycle of a venture. This role is responsible for meeting directly with clients and working hands-on to support business start-ups, growth strategy, capital and funding access, marketing efforts, and exit/transition planning. The advisor will spend approximately 85% of their time engaging with clients (meetings, plan review, financial & market research, strategy development) and about 15% of their time supporting trainings, workshops, and community-outreach activities on behalf of the SBDC. The ideal candidate is well-versed in core business disciplines, with deep expertise in at least 2–3 specialty areas that small businesses commonly need (for example, financing and capital structure, digital marketing strategy, operations scaling, or business exit strategy). This advisor will work under the St. George Regional Director for the SBDC program and be committed to supporting entrepreneurship and small business development in Utah. This position is eligible for hybrid work within the state of Utah.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Marketing, Finance or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience either running a small business/entrepreneurial venture or working within economic development with a focus on small business support.
• Strong competencies in core business areas (e.g., business planning, financial analysis, marketing strategy, operations) and recognized expertise in at least 2–3 of these specialty areas.
• Experience mentoring, teaching or training individuals or groups.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (written and verbal), and presentation skills; ability to engage and build rapport with diverse small business clients, from sole proprietors to growing firms.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision and manage time effectively within a part-time role.
• Commitment to the mission of the SBDC and to supporting the growth of small businesses in Utah.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated community involvement (e.g., participation in local business or entrepreneurial organizations, chambers of commerce, mentoring programs or other civic/business engagement) is strongly desired.

Responsibilities

• Meet with small business clients (new ventures and existing firms) to assess business needs, review business plans, financials, marketing plans, and market research.
• Provide one-on-one consulting to clients on a wide range of business issues including startup feasibility, growth strategy, access to capital and funding, marketing strategy, operations/scale planning, succession or exit strategy.
• Conduct research (industry trends, competitive analysis, market sizing) and help clients translate that research into actionable business strategy and operational plans.
• Review, critique and assist clients in developing business plans, financial projections, cash-flow statements, budgets, and funding packages.
• Coach clients through the capital access process: identifying funding sources, preparing pitch materials, advising on debt vs equity, guiding through lender/investor conversations.
• Lead or co-lead trainings, workshops, webinars or outreach events related to entrepreneurship and small business growth.
• Engage with the local business community and industry partners to build referral networks, raise awareness of the SBDC services.
• Track and report on client engagements and outcomes per SBDC program requirements.
• Maintain a high standard of professionalism, confidentiality, and responsiveness in client engagements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees