MI SBDC Business Consultant

Job Description
The SBDC Business Consultant provides professional, high-quality, individualized, results-driven, and confidential consulting services for established and emerging small business owners. SBDC Business Consulting services include, but are not limited to, problem-solving assistance to help businesses access capital, developing viable business plans, establishing strategies for growth and survival, creating practical marketing approaches, dealing with unexpected challenges, and generating realistic financial goals. 
 
The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides consulting, training, market research, and technology commercialization services to assist small businesses to launch, grow, transition, and innovate. The SBDC Business Consultant works in partnership with a statewide network of SBDC consultants as well as federal, state, and local resources to help business owners make decisions and take action to grow and strengthen their businesses.
 
Responsible To:  Regional Director
 
Responsibilities:
  • Provide confidential in-depth one-on-one consulting assistance to pre-venture, startup, and existing business owners in areas of business planning, financing, loan packaging, marketing, human resources, and other areas of management to promote small business sustainability and growth.
  • Develop and manage a client pipeline to provide at least 750 hours per calendar year.
  • Assist clients in accessing capital through both traditional and non-traditional funding institutions. Assists with preparing business loan proposals, structured narrative business plans, realistic financial projections, collateral documentation, and other documents as required. 
  • Participate in, develop and deliver business education workshops and other presentations both online and in person.
  • Build and maintain relationships with small business support organizations, financial institutions, consultants, and other public and private sector business resource partners for serving and attracting SBDC clients.
  • Manage an inclusive client portfolio and assure meaningful progress by client and counselor. Establish and maintain client relationships resulting in captured impact attribution.
  • Establish and maintain detailed electronic records of client assistance in the client management system in accordance with MI-SBDC policies and procedures.
  • Meet and exceed established metrics of consulting hours and economic impact goals (capital formation, business starts, jobs created, jobs retained, and sales increase)
  • Other duties determined necessary to further the goals of the regional center.
  • Willingness and ability to attend business functions that normally occur outside the normal business hours
  • Actively engage in the development and deployment of statewide SBDC innovative initiatives.
  • Build and maintain relationships with selected key stakeholders and host representatives. 
  • Train and support staff through co-counseling, professional development, and other management activities. 
  • Assist with grant writing, presentations, and other fund development activities. 
 
 Required Qualifications:
  • BA or BS degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field
  • 3-5 years of professional work experience in economic development, business consulting, or small business ownership
  • Working knowledge of profit and loss statements, core marketing principles, and other business basics
  • High-level skills in Microsoft Office, including Excel
  • Demonstrated superior interpersonal, organization, and communication skills
  • Demonstrated understanding of the industries driving the Michigan economy
  • Ability to prioritize competing deadlines and drive towards goals independently
  • Minimum of eight (8) years full-time management experience in a small business preferred. Ownership experience is a plus. 
  • Minimum three years of business consulting experience. 
  • Ability to handle complex business and organizational issues
 
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field
  • Knowledge of financial analysis, accounting & budgeting practices, capital structures, loan products, and private equity resources available to small businesses.
  • Knowledge of sales, marketing, and new business development strategies.
  • Intermediate level proficiency in a broad range of computer applications, online databases, tools, and systems used in project management, business planning, accounting, market research, e-commerce, analytics, and/or financial reporting, as well as customer relationship, databases, and e-learning tools.
 
Application Instructions: