Community Development Professional

The University of North Carolina System's Small Business and Technology Development Center ( SBTDC), in partnership with the US Small Business Administration, is the recognized, primary organization through which the state of North Carolina provides business counseling, management education, and technology development services to help the business community successfully meet challenges, manage change, and plan for the future. The SBTDC's mission is to positively impact North Carolina's economy by helping to grow small and mid-sized businesses and launch promising start-ups.

The General Business Counselor is responsible for providing business management advisory services to SBTDC's small and mid-sized companies.

The individual provides business advice and counsel to all size small business clients with a focus on the SBTDC's pre-venture and existing small business segments. The individual collaborates and consults with other team members to assess prospective clients and provide appropriate case manager assignment and/or professional referrals. The individual acts as the principal trainer for nascent entrepreneurs and plans and delivers other training events as required.

Professional Knowledge: Knowledge of program policies, procedures, technology, best practices and their theoretical bases. Ability to interpret and apply a variety of interrelated policies/procedures/programs for clients and to address clients' non-routine issues. Knowledge of new theories/trends/laws or precedents demonstrated by recommending and implementing improvements or necessary changes to policies/procedures/programs.

Program/Project Administration: Ability to administer and manage a program with established guidelines and standards in its entirety or to administer several components of a multi-faceted program. Ability to ensure program/project accountability. Ability to define scope, goals, tasks, deliverables, timelines, tools and resources. Ability to assess the needs of the work unit or project. Ability to develop and monitor program/project databases, schedules and reports. Ability to ensure accuracy of data and compliance with program standards. Ability to perform professional program administrative duties, including technical decisions. Ability to prepare related reports as required.

Consultation: Ability to advise and collaborate with clients, program participants and others to resolve difficult issues in assigned program area(s). Ability to identify trends. Ability to recognize the impact of policies/procedures/laws. Ability to apply knowledge/understanding of program culture/issues/work relationships to address situations. Ability to share knowledge and critical thinking process. Ability to promote the use of best practices to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes in the resolution of issues. Ability to determine and document a course of action to address complex, ambiguous and unique operational and/or programmatic issues in assigned areas.

Information Analysis & Decision-Making: Ability to analyze business operations and financial statements for overall program administration. Ability to develop initiatives to meet program/project needs and objectives. Ability to assess/resolve unprecedented problems that require research and review of policy/procedures for the program or assigned components. Ability to resolve problems or compliance issues, based on delegated authority.

Communication & Marketing: Ability to maintain and enhance professional relationships to increase credibility for building support and reaching consensus when explaining and interpreting program policies and procedures within assigned area(s). Ability to convey sensitive information or decisions to clients. Ability to work toward mutual resolutions that are in the best interests of the organization and across organizational lines. Ability to promote and market assigned area(s) and persuade clients of the needs and beneficial outcomes of the program. Ability to plan and implement marketing strategies and functions. Ability to apply creativity to development of strategies and functions. Ability to take a lead in presentation of products and cultivation of donors. Ability to develop and conduct multiple training programs to meet organizational training needs. Ability to identify objectives and provide instructions in a variety of training disciplines which include and encompass all levels of work.

Leadership: Ability to develop and manage a program/project plan. Ability to provide consultation on issues and requests from clients. Ability to consult with higher-level professionals to discuss alternative solutions.

Bachelor's degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

This position is Exempt from the State Human Resources Act.

Elizabeth City State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.

Any offer of employment to a successful candidate will be conditioned upon the University's receipt of a satisfactory criminal background report.

You must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD 214 form. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with your application during the process of applying to the job posting. Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. Elizabeth City State University State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Elizabeth City State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.