Business Advisor - South Seattle

Available Title(s):

1196-NNADMINPRO - Business Management Counselor, 1196-YNADMINPRO - Business Management Counselor

Business Title:

Business Advisor - South Seattle

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The primary focus of the https://wsbdc.org/ program is business development education through individual and small group advising. In addition to the instruction/advising component of the position, as the Business Advisor, you will perform significant outreach activities to engage the community through regular contact with Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils, service clubs, and community organizations and legislators in conjunction with the Lead Office staff. The SBDC is a network of entrepreneurial minded professional business advisors with significant experience in small business who enjoy the intrinsic value of helping business owners/managers developing or improving their business knowledge and skills to effectively manage the operations of their business. In confidential, one-on-one relationships, we educate, mentor, and advise clients in all areas of growing a business.

You will also adhere to the conduct policies of the SBDC program. Most Business Advisors work independently in a community-located SBDC center, yet frequently collaborate with Business Advisors across the state who request assistance on behalf of a client with need for specific expertise. You must be well organized to manage more than 100 clients annually. Business clients will be from every sector of the local business community and require a full range of business services. You must have comprehensive knowledge and experience of small business operations. You must understand the client's situation, analyze the problems, and guide the client in developing a solution they are willing and able to implement. You will typically identify a range of solutions, discuss the pros and cons of each, and explain abstract concepts with real world examples. You will constantly seek professional development opportunities to expand their core competencies in all areas of business, including technology, necessary to start, grow, sustain, and transition a small business.

Peer mentoring is valued within the Washington SBDC Network and you will often share your expertise in response to queries from other Business Advisors. You must develop and maintain a referral network within your local service areas to ensure you maintain a robust client caseload capable of delivering significant economic impacts to the local community and the state. You must also build relationships with various and diverse stakeholders to advocate support of the SBDC program, including elected officials, funding partners, businesses, and community leaders.

New Business Advisors in the SBDC network will need to successfully complete a certification program to become fully certified as a Business Advisor. Certification is designed to allow the new Business Advisor to demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge and abilities to be successful in guiding clients toward their goals while taking advantage of learning from experienced advisors sharing best practices, tools, and processes they use to assist their clients.

The primary work location for this position is South Seattle/Tukwila.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field and four (4) years of experience in business ownership, business