Small Business Advocate, Street Vendor Services

City of New York • New York, NY

20h • Hybrid

About The Position

The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is seeking a Small Business Advocate to join the NYC BEST (Business Express Service Team), specifically focusing on Street Vending. This role involves educating and advocating for entrepreneurs, particularly street vendors, in navigating city agency rules, regulations, licenses, and permits. The advocate will provide guidance on compliance, help avoid and reduce fines, and connect businesses with necessary resources. The position requires becoming an expert in the regulatory requirements of various city and state agencies.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to '1' or '2' above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in '1' above.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of City agency rules and regulations, including DOHMH, DOB, FDNY, DEP, DSNY, DCWP, NYS Agriculture and Markets, and Parks Department.
• Expertise in the regulatory requirements of multiple City or State agencies, as well as relevant Federal regulations.

Responsibilities

• Proactively engage early-stage entrepreneurs on regulatory guidance before licensing/permitting.
• Present agency and City services via phone, email, meetings, and outreach events.
• Conduct onsite walkthroughs with small businesses, providing one-on-one guidance that addresses a business’ specific questions and needs regarding compliance.
• Work with business owners to identify all City requirements for operating or opening a business, understand specific issues or concerns impacting the client, and provide guidance, information or steps towards resolution.
• Be prepared to outline the adjudication process for violations received, including general timeframes and the appropriate tribunal court for hearings.
• Refer business owners to additional resources or information as needed to further promote and enable compliance.
• Document key findings from the consultation and follow up as needed with business owners to provide additional clarification or compliance-related support.
• Support pipeline development by identifying potential clients through outreach events, community partnerships, and referrals from City agencies and community-based organizations.
• Conducting research into City, and relevant NYS, codes, permits, and requirements.
• Conduct research into rules and regulations of agency processes, as assigned.
• Support deepening NYC BEST’s impact to street vendor small business by proposing areas for improvement and development.
• Support internal trainings or knowledge-sharing sessions related to regulatory changes or agency processes.
• Ensure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & program goals are met, and that data is correctly entered in SBS Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
• Maintain accurate and specific status reports in the designated software or data analysis tools of establishments participating in these services, including inspection activity, issues encountered, opening dates, and time saved.
• Utilize tracking systems to monitor service delivery and monitor client pipeline.
• Track performance metrics such as project milestones, violations, business openings, and operational efficiencies.
• Report KPIs on a regular basis for Executive-level staff through Dashboards, reports and presentations.

Benefits

• The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED