Regional Center Director, SBDC

LaGuardia Community College•Long Island, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at LaGuardia Community College, part of the New York SBDC network, provides business advising, training, and technical assistance to small businesses in Queens and surrounding areas. Supported by the SBA, SUNY, and LaGuardia Community College, the Center assists entrepreneurs in starting, operating, and growing their businesses through free one-on-one advising, workshops, and outreach. The LaGuardia SBDC also manages an Outreach Center at Queens College, serving both campuses to foster business creation, job retention, and regional economic development. Under the Assistant Dean of Business Services, the Regional Center Director leads, manages, and oversees the operations of the LaGuardia Community College SBDC and its Queens College Outreach Center. This role involves program strategy, fiscal management, compliance, staff supervision, and performance outcomes. The Director manages Business Advisors and Administrative Support, ensuring high-quality services, maintains a client caseload, builds partnerships, and represents the Center with various agencies and organizations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field required.
Minimum five years of experience in private sector business.
At least two years of experience in a managerial capacity.
Relevant consulting experience may be substituted for management experience, however at least one year of private sector business management is desired.
Proven experience managing budgets and fiscal operations, preferably in federally or state-funded programs.
Demonstrated understanding of small business operations, financial analysis, and program management.
Strong ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, and meet performance targets.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with stakeholder engagement and reporting.
Strategic planning experience.
Ability to liaise with federal, state and local elected officials.
Identification and development of grant and other funding opportunities.
Familiarity with SBA programs, New York SBDC systems, and small business financing.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and the ability to learn SBDC reporting systems.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction and oversight for the LaGuardia SBDC and Queens College Outreach Center, ensuring operations align with New York SBDC network goals and performance standards.
Develop and implement annual and long-term plans to support small business growth and regional economic impact.
Supervise staff assignments, case management, performance reviews, and professional development to maintain service quality and consistency.
Conduct regular team meetings to review counseling activity, address challenges, and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
Maintain a limited client counseling caseload, providing advice on business planning, financial management, operations, marketing, and access to capital.
Ensure full compliance with Research Foundation, SUNY, SBA, and institutional program standards.
Oversee all fiscal operations of the SBDC in collaboration with LaGuardia's Business Services and ACE fiscal areas.
Prepare and monitor the program's annual budget and expenditure plans.
Develop and maintain internal fiscal controls to meet audit requirements.
Coordinate with the LaGuardia College Adult Continuing Education fiscal office and the SBDC Lead Center to review fiscal performance and manage contracts.
Prepare required fiscal and narrative reports for submission to LaGuardia administration, the Lead Center, and funding partners.
Ensure all fiscal activity, reporting, and documentation meet federal and institutional audit standards.
Represent the SBDC at meetings, conferences, and community events to promote services.
Build and sustain partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, chambers of commerce, lenders, and business organizations.
Collaborate with economic development stakeholders to coordinate resources and expand outreach.
Lead targeted outreach initiatives to engage small business owners and expand regional impact.
Coordinate with other LaGuardia Business Services programs to develop referral pipelines and shared initiatives.
Identify opportunities to enhance service offerings and develop new initiatives.
Monitor program data and evaluate outcomes to ensure network goals are met or exceeded.
Track key performance indicators, including clients served, counseling hours, new businesses established, capital accessed, and jobs created or retained.
Use data and evaluation findings to improve program operations and inform future planning.
Prepare quarterly and annual reports for submission to the SBDC Lead Center and LaGuardia administration.
Supervise, hire, and evaluate a team of Business Advisors and an Administrative Assistant across two sites.
Provide regular coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities to staff.
Oversee staff adherence to SBDC policies, procedures, and performance benchmarks.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Monitor client caseloads and outcomes to ensure service consistency and efficiency.
Perform other duties as assigned.