JOB SUMMARY:  The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Lake Huron Region provides consulting, education, and research to help small businesses launch, grow, transition, and innovate.  The SBDC Business Consultant is responsible for client portfolio management, working with federal, state, and local partners to help business owners and entrepreneurs start, grow, and strengthen their businesses.

SVSU expects job performance to be consistent with its mission, values, and business objectives and believes that each employee contributes to improved performance by continuously searching for ways to improve offerings, products, services, and processes.

The position is currently grant-funded through September 30, 2026, as part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Small Business Support Hub Project.

The funding is provided through a cooperative agreement with the Target Alpena Development Corporation for services in the following Northeastern Michigan counties: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Iosco, and Presque Isle Counties.  This position will report into the Lake Huron Region of the Michigan SBDC, but will work closely with the Target Alpena Development Corporation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide confidential one-on-one consulting services to small business clients, including analyzing business problems, developing solutions, and providing access to resources; conducting demographic and market research as needed to assist clients; helping clients develop business plans, sales & marketing strategies, cash flow forecasts, and similar projects as required; and educating clients on financing options and credit practices appropriate to their stage of business development.

• Conduct ongoing assessment and understanding of tools, resources, systems, and technologies designed to improve or enhance small business operations, sales, and/or financial functions.

• Participate in, develop, and lead business education workshops, seminars, and other types of presentations, both online and in person.

• Maintain client records to Target Alpena Development Corporation compliance standards.

• Meet or exceed individual key performance indicators and implement strategies as directed to achieve established goals.

• Develop and maintain relationships with private, public, and non-profit business service providers to ensure a strong support network for serving and attracting SBDC clients.

• Actively participate in network and regional meetings via GoToWebinars, conference calls, and in-person gatherings, some of which may occur outside of normal business hours and at locations outside the six-county Region.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: General supervision is received from the Associate Regional Director at Saginaw Valley State University and the Regional Director of the Lake Huron Region of the Michigan Small Business Development Center. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

•  Duties are generally performed in a typical office environment where the noise level is usually quiet to moderate; temperature may vary at different seasonal times of the year.

• All work associated with this role must be performed within the state of Michigan

The above reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the essential functions of the job. It shall not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements that may be inherent in the job.  It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.  The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA or BS degree in business or a closely related field

• 2-3 years of small business ownership, general management, business consultation, or direct supervisory experience in a business organization. 

• 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 business planning, accounting, market research, e-commerce, analytics, and/or financial reporting, as well as customer relationship, project, & file management systems, databases, and web-based communication & e-learning tools. 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and networking skills.

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications.

• Ability to work with a highly diverse client base.

• Willingness to attend business functions that may occur outside of the normal work hours and locations.

• Ability to communicate with staff members, students, and corporate customers and remain neutral in stressful situations. 

• Ability to prioritize work assignments and multitask when needed.  Ability to meet with clients independently and work autonomously to achieve defined objectives with minimal supervision. 

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists, and to seek the guidance of a supervisor as needed.

• Experience and ability to positively interact with all members of the campus community

• Ability to regularly travel within the state of Michigan.  The employee is required to travel in Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Alcona, and Iosco Counties (office provided at Target Alpena Development Corporation, with weekly travel required in all other counties).

• Ability to lift an average of 30 pounds (boxes) if needed.

• Knowledge of small business ownership, business consulting, office systems, high customer service, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Mater's degree

About Saginaw Valley State University

About SVSU:Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 100 programs of study for its roughly 7,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students, faculty and staff. For eight consecutive years, SVSU has been recognized as a “Great College to Work For” (2016-2023).SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. SVSU earned the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84 percent of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements or some other component of their academic preparation.SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEAM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations and school districts to improve students’ performance in math, science and the arts at the middle school, high school and university levels. More than 70 percent of SVSU freshmen live on campus in student housin...g that has been rated No. 1 among public universities in the U.S. (2018-2023). SVSU fields 19 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level. The average class size is 23 students. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.svsu.edu.

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