SBDC Business Consultant
Salary: $35,000 - $75,000 Hourly
Location: Mt. Pleasant Campus - MI
Job Type: Hourly Part-Time
Division: Small Business Development Center
Description
Mid Michigan College seeks individuals who: value collegiality and mutual respect; use data in decision making; are innovative; are service minded; are goal oriented; strive to continually improve themselves and their work processes; are willing to collaborate and seek to add value in every interaction.
The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides consulting, training and research to assist small business to launch, grow, transition and innovate.
The SBDC Business Consultant will provide professional, high quality, individualized, results-driven consulting services for established and emerging small business owners. SBDC Business Consulting services include, but are not limited to, problem solving assistance to help area businesses access capital, develop viable business plans, establish strategies for growth and survival, create practical marketing approaches, deal with unexpected challenges and generate realistic financial goals. SBDC Business Consultants leverage a variety of resources to provide clients relevant insight including, industry trends, customer demographics, competition, financial metrics and web research.
The SBDC Business Consultant will work in partnership with federal, state and local resources to help business owners make decisions and take action to grow and strengthen their business. This position will have a primary office at the Mt. Pleasant Mid Michigan College Campus, but will provide SBDC services to businesses throughout Clare, Gladwin, Isabella and Gratiot counties. The weekly commitment for this position is 15-28 hours per week. This position is funded by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and supported locally at Mid Michigan College.
Examples of Duties
- Provide in-depth, confidential, substantive, individualized, long-term, outcome-oriented consulting services to emerging and established businesses in areas including, but not limited to: identifying and assessing new market opportunities, financial analysis, financial package preparation, organizational development, operational improvements, and plan implementation.
- Provide consulting services that prepare clients to represent themselves to lending institutions and/or prospective investors such as, business plan development, financial statement preparation and analysis and cash flow preparation and analysis.
- Educate clients on financing options appropriate to their stage of business development and anticipated use of proceeds. (loans, crowdfunding, equity investments, etc.).
- Increase client awareness of basic credit practices, credit requirements, and state/federal loan programs.
- Assist small businesses in solving problems concerning operations, production, personnel administration, marketing, sales, finance, accounting, business strategy development and other disciplines required for small business growth and expansion, innovation, increased productivity, and management improvement.
- Provide basic business knowledge in areas of: operations, human resources, exporting, and cybersecurity and engage regional and statewide expertise as appropriate.
- Participate as a cohesive SBDC team member to develop and deliver excellent customer service and maintain high quality service delivery processes.
- Meet or exceed consulting milestones and objectives as established for each consultant. Key performance measures include number of clients served, number of consulting hours, and impact attributed in identified areas including: capital infusion, new business startups, jobs supported, and increased sales.
- Serve as new client’s first point of contact, evaluating next steps to receive consulting, training, or some combination thereof.
- Provide and refer clients to training opportunities designed to improve the skills and knowledge of existing and prospective business owners in areas including, financial management, marketing and small business startup amongst others with the aim of providing clients with a high-level, focused business training to help them successfully manage and operate a business venture.
- Maintain confidentiality standards and procedures regarding client information.
- Monitor and follow up with clients to support implementation of planning and follow through on decisions made.
- Support and serve as a role model for our mission, vision, values, and customer service initiatives while adhering to the organization’s policies & procedures, and compliance guidelines.
- Systematically document consulting and training in CRM system to demonstrate high quality service, facilitate knowledge transfer to all counselors assisting client, preserve client confidentiality, ensure timely and appropriate guidance and recommendations, and to exhibit effective follow-through from initial session through economic impact/closure as required by SBA.
- Assist in developing and maintaining positive, productive relationships with collaborative organizations and individuals. Play an ongoing role in maintenance of relationships with small business support organizations, financial institutions, and other public and private sector business resource partners (EDCs, Chambers, etc.).
- Develop and maintain relationships with capital sources including lenders, angel investors, Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and other state and local financing programs.
- Develop network and build rapport to identify and engage with emerging businesses, growth-oriented existing businesses and firms in transition.
- Support small business initiatives within the region to improve the climate for small business and contribute to the vitality of the small business sector.
- Partner with Mid Michigan College and other universities/colleges on class projects, when appropriate.
Typical Qualifications
Education, Certification, Licensure:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university program in Business Administration, or related field required.
- Master’s degree in related field preferred.
Experience:
- Three to five years professional work experience in small business ownership, business consultation, or management in a business/organization or any equivalent combination of knowledge, skill, and experience.
- Work history showing sound organizational skills and timely achievement of quality results in a fast-paced work environment.
