U

University of Chicago

Private research university in Chicago, IL

Senior Program Manager and SBDC Director

Strategy & Management ConsultingConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeChicago, IL, USA$75k - $95kIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A college or university degree in a related field is required.
  • A minimum of 5–7 years of work experience in a related job discipline is required.
  • A B.A. or B.S. degree in business, economics, or another relevant field is preferred.
  • An advanced degree in business, economics, or another relevant field is preferred.
  • Five years of work experience in a related job discipline, including small business management or business consulting experience, is preferred.
  • Budget and program management experience is preferred.
  • A strong marketing and sales orientation is preferred.
  • Five years of experience in program management, community engagement, external relations, and grant administration is preferred.
  • Background with or exposure to small business training and issues across industries, including business formation, finance and accounting, human resources, and operations, is strongly preferred.
  • Experience tracking outcomes and creating key performance indicator reports and dashboards is preferred.
  • Excellent communication skills, including public speaking, are preferred.
  • The ability to work effectively with local business owners, State of Illinois administrators, corporate executives, students, and entrepreneurs is preferred.
  • Resourcefulness, creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently are preferred.
  • The ability to multitask effectively under deadlines is preferred.
  • Strong professional, interpersonal, and customer service skills are preferred.
  • The ability to seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information is preferred.
  • The ability to work well with staff at all organizational levels, vendors, service providers, and external constituents is preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Directly advise and train small business clients by assisting them in developing growth strategies, performing financial reviews, making recommendations using organizational tools and templates for business plans, developing sales and marketing strategies, and addressing other business functions.
  • Hire and manage a team of 2–10 SBDC advisors, depending on available funding.
  • Assist small businesses in solving problems in areas that support growth and expansion, innovation, and increased productivity.
  • Identify high-impact client prospects to initiate and complete advising and achieve grant-required metrics, including facilitating access to capital, supporting new business starts, supporting job creation and retention, and meeting other key performance indicators determined by the State of Illinois.
  • Manage CRM activity, including creating client profiles, organizing client files, ensuring advisors accurately enter advising hours, conducting outreach to inactive members, and reporting metrics to the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in accordance with standard procedures and monthly goals.
  • Plan and coordinate programs and activities consistent with the goals and objectives of the Illinois Small Business Development Center.
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with community groups, agencies, educational institutions, businesses, and other SBDCs in the network.
  • Attend events and advisory board meetings to create action plans, resolve issues, share best practices, and solicit feedback.
  • Plan, organize, and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Small Business Development Center at the Polsky Exchange.
  • Work with the Executive Director on SBDC accreditation, programming, and relevant state and federal agency updates and requirements.
  • Create tools and processes to ensure contractually required metrics, reports, and timelines are met.
  • Monitor program activities to ensure goals are aligned and compliant.
  • Review, improve, and develop advanced reporting tools.
  • Maintain an effective local Board of Advisors that reflects the Center's market sector focus.
  • Develop internal and external resources to accomplish program objectives, including actively seeking additional funding resources.
  • Supervise Center personnel, including consultants and clerical staff.
  • Manage the Center's operational budget.
  • Maintain a current reference library and database as required by the SBDC program.
  • Establish linkages and working relationships with other Centers or small businesses that may provide additional resources to the Center.
  • Maintain current data on private-sector consultants for referral to members of the small business community.
  • Maintain client control records and the management information system.
  • Provide timely and accurate reports to the SBDC.
  • Maintain and analyze data on program effectiveness.
  • Promote the SBDC and the needs of the small business community.
  • Establish a marketing plan to ensure high visibility for services offered to the region.
  • Coordinate and cultivate relationships with other SBA resource partners, local chambers of commerce, professional associations, and economic development groups.
  • Develop and communicate program priorities and performance standards, assess operations against these criteria, plan and conduct quality assurance reviews, and recommend changes as appropriate.
  • Manage program budgets and make or recommend budgetary changes.
  • Perform other related work as needed.

About the Company

University of Chicago

Private research university in Chicago, IL

The University of Chicago is a private research university founded in 1890 in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. It comprises the College, graduate divisions, and professional schools across a broad range of disciplines.

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