SBDC Business & Workforce Development Consultant

Kutztown University PASSHE•Kutztown, PA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) is a nationally accredited program that provides educational training, business resources, and experienced no-cost, confidential consulting to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Kutztown SBDC manages a team of business consultants and specialty program coordinators to assist businesses in Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Chester counties. This position provides business consulting and administers the WEDnetPA program at KUSBDC, with effort allocated across grant-funded activities as directed. General consulting duties include recruiting and managing clients with business, financing, and capital acquisition needs; conducting needs assessments and building action plans; and referring clients to SBDC specialists or outside resources as appropriate. The role also promotes Kutztown University, KUSBDC, and PASBDC network services, maintains client and milestone records in the MIS system, uses software tools to support financial and business analysis, prepares reports and success stories, and coordinates legislative outreach and related events to sustain program funding. On the WEDnetPA side, the consultant manages a portfolio of 20+ companies and 30+ contracts—reviewing applications and training plans and maintaining ongoing client contact—while leading strategic planning for an employer-driven, sector-focused workforce development model. This includes facilitating industry sector councils, researching best practices, and building partnerships across business, education, labor, and economic development to strengthen the regional workforce system. Additional responsibilities include coordinating workshops and events, representing KUSBDC/PASBDC publicly (including media engagements), and handling WEDnet invoicing and financial processes in coordination with the university's business, purchasing, and grants offices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree with significant work in business, policy or other related fields
Three or more years successful experience in a major decision-making position with project management and operational responsibilities
Strong writing, editing, project management, and organizational skills
Excellent communication skills
Ability to travel across the 4-county region (Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Chester)
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support network events and trainings
Ability to work within, and across complex organizations
Ability to manage multiple relationships
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

Small Business ownership/experience
Experience in higher education, economic development, or nonprofit communications
Experience supporting SBA-funded or other federally funded programs
Experience with WEDnet related programs

Responsibilities

Recruiting and managing clients with business, financing, and capital acquisition needs
Conducting needs assessments and building action plans
Referring clients to SBDC specialists or outside resources as appropriate
Promoting Kutztown University, KUSBDC, and PASBDC network services
Maintaining client and milestone records in the MIS system
Using software tools to support financial and business analysis
Preparing reports and success stories
Coordinating legislative outreach and related events to sustain program funding
Managing a portfolio of 20+ companies and 30+ contracts for WEDnetPA
Reviewing applications and training plans for WEDnetPA
Maintaining ongoing client contact for WEDnetPA
Leading strategic planning for an employer-driven, sector-focused workforce development model
Facilitating industry sector councils
Researching best practices
Building partnerships across business, education, labor, and economic development
Coordinating workshops and events
Representing KUSBDC/PASBDC publicly (including media engagements)
Handling WEDnet invoicing and financial processes