Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Advisor

Southwestern Oregon Community College•Coos Bay, OR

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Provide confidential one-on-one business advising to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Coos, Curry and western Douglas Counties. Advising topics include, but are not limited to business formation, business plan development, pre-venture feasibility, financial management and bookkeeping, marketing, human resource management, sources of capital, commercialization of products, intellectual property protection, business resilience and recovery and strategic planning.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in Business or equivalent combination of business ownership and education.
Business ownership experience or appropriate subject matter expertise.
Strong understanding of business and training terminology required.
Knowledge of all aspects of business startup, management, and growth.
Knowledge of resources available to businesses, agencies supporting businesses and training opportunities available to small business owners.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using the English language with or without the use of an interpreter.
Excellent written communication skills and the ability to communicate verbally in ways that meet clients’ needs and levels of understanding.
Ability to perform data entry and access various files in college-wide information system, word processing, and spreadsheet applications.
Exhibit a high level of computer literacy, sufficient to use software such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases to produce correspondence, documents, brochures, flyers, and reports.
Accuracy in database management essential.
Ability to receive and process information in a professional, sensitive, timely, and confidential manner.
Ability to interview clients and assess needs.
Good problem-solving skills required.
Ability to work effectively and sensitively with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities.
Ability to consistently convey a pleasant and helpful attitude by using excellent interpersonal and communication skills to control sometimes stressful and emotional situations.
Requires sufficient communication and human relations skills to resolve complaints/issues, defuse anger, and gain cooperation.
Ability to plan, organize, and carry out activities independently.
Strong time management skills to support efficient work production and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of client identity and information.
Ability to respond on short notice to a client’s needs.
Ability to communicate professionally with SBDC staff, other business advisors, instructors, clients, stakeholders, economic developers, project coordinators, community members, legislators, volunteers, and lab assistants.

Nice To Haves

A comfort level with advising using video and online technology a plus.
Small business management, strategic planning, business recordkeeping, marketing techniques, human resource management, sales and business problem solving.
Experience working with Center Dynamics Center IC or other database software preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide confidential one-on-one business advising either in-person, on the phone, via Zoom, or via email to business owners and potential owners as stipulated in the agreements with the Oregon SBDC Network, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Business Oregon.
Keep all scheduled client appointments.
Adhere to the Oregon SBDC Network’s Code of Ethics.
Participate in the Oregon SBDC Network’s Professional Development and other training and networking opportunities as requested.
Refer clients to appropriate small business resources and training as appropriate.
Deliver business training as assigned.
Enter a counseling record into the Oregon SBDC Network’s Management Information System (Center IC) within five business days of each meeting with a client which tracks time spent, subjects discussed, recommendations/referrals made, and counselor and client next steps.
Capture and record economic impacts and success stories as supported by the work conducted with clients.
Ensure integrity of client data entered into Center IC.
Demonstrate continued professional growth by staying current in and expanding knowledge of business processes and systems through a plan of professional development.
Attend SBDC staff meetings.
Performs Other Duties and Special Projects as Required/Assigned