Director of Small Business Development Center (Grant Funded)

Summary of Function

• (Grant Funded) Responsible for the development, management, and promotion of the AWC Small Business Development Center (SBDC), providing programs and services that support small business owners and managers throughout Yuma and La Paz Counties.
• Provides short- and long-term business counseling and consulting, seminars, workshops, training, consultant referrals, and economic development initiatives.
• Oversees daily center operations, staff, budgets, compliance, reporting, partnerships, and grant development to ensure achievement of program objectives and support regional business growth.

Typical Duties

• Serves Students.
• Serves the community.
• Develops, manages, and implements service functions associated with the small businesses, including both long- and short-term business counseling, seminars, workshops, classes, business programs, and consultant advisory services to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Advises business owners and prospective business owners who are SBDC clients.
• Provides business assistance services in accordance with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines and procedures.
• Promotes for- profit business growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity, sustainability, and management improvement in Yuma and La Paz County.
• Counsels clients based on their needs and concerns.
• Identifies appropriate resources for clients.
• Facilitates the attraction and retention of businesses in Yuma and La Paz counties.
• Promotes and facilitates regional economic growth, and serves as the liaison between the College and local organizations, public and private, that are involved with the improvement of the business climate in Yuma and La Paz counties.
• Manages daily operations of the Center to meet small business program objectives and contractual obligations.
• Serves as a liaison between Arizona Western Community College (the host organization) and local, state, and federal organizations, both public and private, that are involved with the improvement of the business climate.
• Assures compliance with the College's internal policies and procedures.
• Develops and implements a department budget; prepares the appropriate documents regarding funding requests.
• Prepares timely, periodic reports as required by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network State Office.
• Develops specialized employee training credit and non-credit programs in coordination with AWC staff.
• Seeks Federal and State grant opportunities to bolster economic development in the region.
• Meets with and seeks advice and input from the Arizona Small Business Development Network as directed by the State Advisory Board.
• Supports and participates in strategic planning initiatives, and performs other duties as assigned.