Small Business Advisor/Instructor

Columbia Gorge Community College•The Dalles, OR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Small Business Advisor/Instructor provides leadership, client advising and instruction to existing and prospective small business owners in the Columbia Gorge region. The Small Business Advisor/Instructor will provide one-on-one business advising to small businesses, and create and/or deliver training courses based on experience and interest. The position can offer remote and hybrid work hours, and continuous opportunity for professional development. We have a strong culture of being of service and lifetime learners. We work well independently but have a strong team both locally and statewide to support and challenge. There is tremendous amount of flexibility in this position in regards to when we work, the tasks we take on, and the skills we develop and put into service. You will have the opportunity to focus on what you are interested in or passionate about in business development. This position will also support the Small Business Management Programs, recruiting and enrolling clients, advising and instructing as needed. An important part of this position will be providing services to our frontier communities. This will require work in and travel throughout Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties. These frontier counties require unique support services and programming. It will require someone familiar with these communities and experience working with ultra-rural small businesses. In addition to working in and traveling in these remote communities, the position will also require some dedicated office time supporting the SBDC office on campus and at satellite locations.

Requirements

Small business experience.
Having started or run your own small business is important and provides some of the credibility needed to advise other small businesses.
Experience in managing employees is also a plus.
Must have the ability to provide advice to small business entrepreneurs and have the ability to teach adult learners.
A business degree is great, so is a degree in accounting, education, communications, or financial management.
Having some academic learning around business, advising, or instructing is certainly a plus, but many successful businesses are run by people without degrees.
Able to work in a diverse team and a diversity of clients
Strives to create and support an inclusive work environment that is committed to providing equitable services to all of our clients.
Works well without close supervision.
Financial statement comprehension is definitely required!
Marketing principles
Business plan development
Demonstrates proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and databases.
Follows through to completion of assigned tasks.
Possesses problem solving and decision-making abilities.
Possesses good communication skills (writing, spelling, listening, and speaking).
Demonstrates knowledge and good judgment in matters of college policy and procedures.
Dresses and maintains self in a professional manner.

Nice To Haves

Spanish bilingual speaker a plus but not required

Responsibilities

Provide individualized confidential business advising to pre-venture and existing business owners.
Work with established businesses in addressing their changing business management needs.
Use web-based database to track and record client counseling activities and hours, and submit written reports upon request.
Requires travel throughout the Mid-Columbia region, as well as Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman counties.
Requires some in-person office presence.
Maintain a high degree of client confidentiality and follow policies and procedures of the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network.
Providing economic impact reports.
Provide program support, recruitment, enrollment, advising and instruction for the Small Business Management programs.
Collect and document economic impact as a resulting from advising activities.
Collect and document success stories as a result from advising activities.
Be a SBDC ambassador!
Work with the director and advisory committee to update CGCC SBDC strategic plan.
Work with funding partners and college personnel to provide information for tracking client and program success.
Work closely with other instructors, counselors and staff members to serve SBDC clients.
Obtain current market information.
Maintain favorable relationships with the college and the community.
Act as liaison between local government agencies or people regulating, assisting or affecting business management and operations in the Mid-Columbia region.
Teach a variety of courses based on interest and skill set, but not limited to: marketing, record keeping, personnel management, financial management, business planning, laws and legislation affecting business. These courses may be taught in CGCC classrooms, at partner locations or online
Develop and revise training curriculum, marketing materials and business assistance tools, as needed.