Small Business Consultant OPS

University of North Florida Alumni Association•Jacksonville, FL

13d

About The Position

The Small Business Consultant provides consulting, training, and outreach services to prospective and existing small business owners throughout the Florida SBDC at UNF’s 18-county service area. The consultant reports to the Assistant Director or above and collaborates with university personnel, community stakeholders, economic development organizations, and funding partners to support small-business growth and success. The role delivers one-on-one business consulting, educational programs, and community outreach, helping clients with business planning, financial management, and access to capital. It includes assisting clients with financing readiness and applications, developing and delivering training, representing the Florida SBDC at UNF in the community, maintaining client records, meeting program requirements and performance measures, and providing supervision and guidance to assigned staff. Travel throughout the service area and occasional early-morning, evening, and after-hours events are required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Management, Entrepreneurship, or a related field.
At least five years of professional experience in one or more of the following: commercial lending, small-business banking, business finance, financial analysis, capital-access consulting, business ownership, economic development, small-business consulting, or related business advisory services.
Demonstrated experience assisting small businesses with financial management, business planning, and access to capital.
Experience analyzing financial statements, cash flow, profitability, and financial projections.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google applications, virtual meeting platforms, and CRM systems.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel throughout the service area.
Ability to meet the position’s travel requirements, including occasional early-morning, evening, and after-hours business events and meetings.
Ability to complete a background check; a credit check may also be required.
As a designated Responsible Employee under Title IX, promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse as specified in the job description.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SBA lending programs, including SBA 7(a), 504, and Microloan Programs.
Existing relationships with commercial lenders, community lenders, and capital providers.
Experience providing consulting or advisory services to entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
Experience delivering business-training workshops and public presentations.
Knowledge of Florida’s small-business ecosystem and economic-development resources.
Previous experience with a Small Business Development Center, economic-development organization, financial institution, or entrepreneurial-support organization.

Responsibilities

Provide consulting services to prospective, startup, and existing Florida small businesses.
Help clients start, manage, and grow small businesses, including developing, implementing, and evaluating business plans and growth strategies.
Conduct financial analysis and prepare financial projections, cash-flow forecasts, and budgets.
Deliver assigned Florida SBDC programs and services, including microenterprise and specialty assistance programs.
Maintain accurate client records and activity reporting in required management information systems.
Collaborate with internal and external partners to deliver services effectively.
Help clients identify and access suitable capital sources, including bank financing, SBA loan programs, microloans, CDFIs, grants, and alternative financing.
Conduct loan-readiness assessments and assist with financial-statement review, cash-flow analysis, debt-service evaluation, and financial projections.
Help clients prepare financing packages and lender or investor documentation, educate them about financing requirements and funding resources, and prepare them for meetings with capital providers.
Develop and maintain relationships with lenders, financial institutions, investors, and other capital providers.
Develop educational content and training materials for entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
Deliver workshops, webinars, and training programs independently and with partners; identify opportunities to expand programming and engagement.
Present on business planning, finance, access to capital, and small-business management.
Conduct outreach about Florida SBDC services and impact and represent Florida SBDC at UNF at community, business, and economic-development events.
Help identify and secure resources for expanding SBDC programs and services; maintain relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, resource partners, and funding entities.
Serve on boards, committees, or task forces as assigned.
Foster an engaged, collaborative work environment and supervise and guide assigned OPS staff, student assistants, training assistants, and consulting coordinators as assigned.
Ensure compliance with Florida SBDC Network, UNF, and funding-partner requirements; meet program deliverables, performance measures, and annual KPIs.
Assist with interpreting and implementing departmental policies and procedures.
Travel throughout the 18-county service area and attend assigned professional-development events, as well as occasional early-morning, evening, and after-hours business events and meetings.
During declared campus emergencies, perform designated job-related duties at an off-campus location or place of residence and perform other duties as assigned.