Senior Program Manager and SBDC Director, Polsky Exchange

University of Chicago•Hyde Park, IL

11d

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager and SBDC Director manages the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Polsky Exchange, a 21,000-square-foot co-working space and small business incubator operated by the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center. The role plans and coordinates the Center’s programs and day-to-day operations, supports local business owners through direct advising and training, and ensures the Center meets its grant requirements and performance goals. The position also works closely with the Executive Director on accreditation, programming, and state and federal agency requirements. The Director oversees SBDC personnel and consultants, manages the operational budget, develops resources and funding opportunities, and maintains relationships with community organizations, businesses, educational institutions, other SBDCs, and SBA resource partners. The position oversees client and program data, reporting, quality assurance, marketing, and Center effectiveness. The role is an individual-contributor position with supervisory responsibilities for Center personnel and a team of SBDC advisors.

Requirements

College or university degree in a related field.
Five to seven years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Strong communication skills, including public speaking.
Ability to work effectively with diverse constituents, including local business owners, State of Illinois administrators, corporate executives, students, and entrepreneurs.
Resourcefulness, creativity, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
Ability to multitask effectively under deadlines.
Strong professional, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
Ability to seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information.
Ability to work with staff at all organizational levels and with vendors, service providers, and external constituents.

Nice To Haves

B.A. or B.S. in business, economics, or another relevant field; an advanced degree in one of these fields is also preferred.
Five years of related experience, including small business management or business consulting experience.
Budget and program management experience.
Strong marketing and sales orientation.
Five years of experience in program management, community engagement, external relations, and grant administration.
Background in or exposure to small business training and issues across industries, including business formation, finance and accounting, human resources, and operations.
Experience tracking outcomes and creating key performance indicator reports and dashboards.

Responsibilities

Directly advise and train small business clients on growth strategies, financial reviews, business plans, sales and marketing strategies, and other business functions.
Help small businesses address issues supporting growth, expansion, innovation, and increased productivity.
Hire and manage a team of 2–10 SBDC advisors, depending on available funding, and supervise Center personnel, consultants, and clerical staff.
Identify high-impact client prospects and complete advising activity to meet grant metrics, including access to capital, new business starts, and job creation and retention.
Manage CRM activity, including client profiles and files, advisor-hour accuracy, outreach to inactive members, and reporting to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Plan and coordinate programs and activities consistent with Illinois SBDC goals and objectives.
Cultivate relationships with community groups, agencies, educational institutions, businesses, other SBDCs, SBA resource partners, chambers of commerce, professional associations, and economic development groups.
Attend events and advisory board meetings to develop action plans, resolve issues, share best practices, and solicit feedback.
Coordinate the Center’s day-to-day operations and work with the Executive Director on accreditation, programming, and state and federal requirements.
Create processes and tools to meet contractual metrics, reporting requirements, and timelines; monitor activities for alignment and compliance.
Develop and improve reporting tools, maintain client control records and management information systems, and provide timely and accurate reports.
Maintain an effective local Board of Advisors reflecting the Center’s market-sector focus.
Develop internal and external resources for program objectives, including seeking additional funding.
Manage the Center’s operational budget and recommend or make budgetary recommendations.
Maintain a current reference library, program database, and data on private-sector consultants for member referrals.
Establish working relationships with other Centers and businesses that can provide resources to the Center.
Maintain and analyze data on program effectiveness; develop and communicate priorities and performance standards; and conduct quality assurance reviews and recommend changes.
Promote the SBDC and the needs of the small business community, including establishing a marketing plan to increase visibility of regional services.
Perform other related work as needed.