Associate Director - Small Business and Corporate Education

Overview

The salary range for this position is $6,833.33 - $7,500.00 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025, furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grant services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seek to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion, and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity; we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

San Diego State University Career Services is an award-winning, outcomes-focused career center known for innovation, strategic partnerships, and a forward-thinking approach to success and achievement. Operating at the intersection of higher education, business, industry, and economic mobility, Career Services leads public and privately affiliated programs that support professionals, business owners, and employers across the region.

Through its Small Business Development Center (SBDC) initiatives, SDSU supports aspiring business owners, pre-venture concepts, start-ups, and established businesses from formation through growth, sustainability, and expansion. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, including business formation, revenue growth, access to capital, job creation, and contracting opportunities.

Through advising, technical assistance, training, data-informed strategies, and regional partnerships, SDSU helps businesses overcome barriers, pursue opportunities, and contribute to economic competitiveness, innovation, and opportunity throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Associate Director, Small Business & Corporate Education provides strategic and operational leadership for SDSU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), corporate education initiatives, and related business programs. Reporting to the Executive Director of SDSU Career Services, the position oversees business advising, technical assistance, education, training, referrals, program delivery, and outcome tracking while ensuring performance against contractual and funding requirements.

The Associate Director develops cross-organizational partnerships, referral protocols, service standards, shared programming, and performance systems to meet small business needs. The position works closely with SDSU Career Services, ZIP Launchpad, Technology Transfer Center, Global Campus, Academic Affairs, the SBDC lead center, sister centers, and other partners to connect businesses with appropriate university and community resources.

Key SBDC focus areas include supporting innovative businesses, advancing job creation, and strengthening support for student-led businesses and student entrepreneurship. The Associate Director is accountable for program quality, compliance, partnerships, and measurable outcomes such as business formation, revenue growth, access to capital, contracting activity, and job creation.

The Associate Director will help establish SDSU as an active partner within the SBDC network serving San Diego and Imperial Counties, identify opportunities to expand the university’s presence, pursue new business development and grant funding opportunities, and align existing and emerging initiatives with university goals and priorities. Through campus and community partnerships, this work will strengthen entrepreneurial career pathways and create new opportunities for education, business growth, workforce development, and economic mobility.

Responsibilities

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Program Development and Service Coordination: 30%

• Design, launch, maintain, and continually improve service models, including intake, needs assessment, referral, service planning, advising workflows, training calendars, and service pathways, ensuring programming aligns with Lead SBDC Center priorities, SBDC network requirements, and SDSU goals and priorities.
• Develop and maintain the operating infrastructure for programming, including scheduling systems, documentation practices, marketing and communications, and mobile or community-based service delivery across San Diego and Imperial Counties.
• Integrate technology, digital tools, and emerging technologies into service delivery, outreach, and engagement strategies to continuously connect with the business community, expand access to resources, and improve the effectiveness and scalability of programming.
• Coordinate program development with relevant SDSU units and external partners to ensure services support institutional priorities, small business needs, student and alumni opportunities, and entrepreneurial career pathways.
• Document policies, procedures, curriculum, service standards, and tracking tools to promote consistency, compliance, continuity, and sustained institutional knowledge.

Training, Advising and Corporate Education: 25%

• Provide direct, individualized business advising to SBDC clients, helping pre-venture and established businesses assess needs, address challenges, identify opportunities, and develop strategies that support business formation, growth, sustainability, and measurable economic outcomes.
• Develop and deliver workshops, seminars, training programs, and other educational offerings responsive to small business needs, SBDC priorities, emerging industry trends, and areas of professional expertise.
• Coordinate advising and training activities across consultants, subject-matter experts, campus partners, and external professionals to ensure clients receive relevant, high-quality technical assistance and education.
• Serve as a coordinator for corporate education activities, working with Global Campus, Academic Affairs, Career Services, and other SDSU units to connect businesses and professionals with existing university programs, certificates, training, and continuing education opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to develop or expand business-facing services based on employer needs, market trends, emerging technologies, workforce priorities, and opportunities to strengthen entrepreneurial career pathways.

Consultant Network Leadership and Management: 15%

• Assess consultant and subject-matter expertise needs across the San Diego and Imperial SBDC Network and maintain a qualified consultant bench that addresses service, industry, language, and geographic needs.
• Recruit, vet, onboard, and contract consultants in accordance with SDSURF, university, and SBDC requirements, including vendor setup, documentation, insurance, conflicts of interest, and executed agreements.
• Assign consultants based on client and program needs; monitor performance, client feedback, service quality, and utilization; and decide on coaching, recognition, renewal, and reassignment.
• Oversee consultant documentation, use of required client management systems, confidentiality standards, invoicing, payment processes, and expenditures to ensure services are properly documented and financially accountable.
• Expand the SBDC’s expertise through SDSU faculty and staff, professionals, trainees, mentors, and advisory networks, while supervising and developing assigned program contractors, staff, and student assistants.

Compliance, Performance and Outcomes: 10%

• Serve as the center’s lead for compliance with SBA, State of California, Lead SBDC Center, SDSURF, university, and funding-partner requirements, including confidentiality, conflicts of interest, client eligibility, consultant qualifications, and applicable program standards.
• Oversee required client management, intake, reporting, and survey systems as the official systems of record; maintain appropriate access and training, establish data-entry standards and timelines, and implement new reporting requirements as they are introduced.
• Manage progress toward contracted milestones, performance measures, and economic outcomes, adjusting staffing, consultant capacity, programming, and outreach as needed to achieve annual targets.
• Oversee grant and program budgets, expenditures, invoicing, and required quarterly and annual reporting across applicable funding streams, ensuring timely and accurate fulfillment of contractual and cooperative agreement requirements.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready client records, case notes, economic impact documentation, and outcome verification through regular quality review; lead preparation for audits, monitoring visits, site reviews, and accreditation activities and incorporate findings into continuous improvement.

Partnerships & Business Development: 10%

• Represent and advocate for the SDSU SBDC and small business community with the SBA, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, lenders, investor groups, industry associations, workforce boards, educational institutions, community organizations, and business and industry advocacy groups.
• Lead business development, client recruitment, and outreach strategies, including marketing campaigns, referral pipelines, community engagement, targeted outreach, and efforts to expand services across San Diego and Imperial Counties.
• Identify and pursue grants, contracts, sponsorships, partnerships, and other new ventures that strengthen business development, diversify revenue, and help ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the program.
• Collaborate closely with the ZIP Launchpad, Technology Transfer Center, Global Campus, Academic Affairs, SDSU Imperial Valley, and other campus units to explore partnerships and initiatives that advance SBDC objectives and university goals and priorities.
• Explore opportunities to expand SDSU’s footprint in small business development, innovation, technology, corporate education, and entrepreneurial career pathways through new partnerships, programs, and business-facing initiatives.

Other Duties as Assigned 10%

Qualifications

Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of small business development, entrepreneurship, business advising, and economic development principles.
• Knowledge of SBDC, SBA, university, grant, and contractual compliance requirements.
• Skill in designing, launching, managing, and continuously improving complex programs and service models.
• Skill in providing individualized business advising and translating client needs into actionable strategies.
• Skill in recruiting, onboarding, coordinating, supervising, and evaluating consultants and subject-matter experts.
• Skill in building and maintaining partnerships with businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Skill in interpreting performance data and using metrics to improve programs and achieve contracted outcomes.
• Skill in managing budgets, expenditures, contracts, invoicing, and grant-related reporting.
• Ability to identify emerging business, workforce, technology, and market trends and translate them into new programming opportunities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, resources, and contractual requirements.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administration work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in office or administrative environment

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Experience working with the start-up, small business, entrepreneurship, and community-based ecosystems across San Diego and Imperial Counties.
• Demonstrated ability to provide regional leadership and coordinate programs, services, resources, and partnerships across multiple organizations.
• Experience with grant writing, fundraising, business development, revenue generation, or other strategies that support program growth and sustainability.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.