Business Advisor

As part of a grant funded training program dedicated to job creation and revenue growth for small business owners and entrepreneurs, Salt Lake Community College seeks a qualified business advisor to provide business counseling, coaching, and mentoring & resource support to program participants and conduct outreach and recruitment to attract applicants.

Participates in scholar recruitment, selection, and advising to include:

Course Preparation

• Participates in Faculty and Business Advisor Training Seminar with a particular focus on:

– Advising for business growth using the program deliverables (Growth Plan).

– Techniques for facilitating peer learning.

– Planning and conducting individual meetings with scholars, including how to support scholars through the “Scholar Support System.”

– Leading the program metrics approach activities through established Measurement and Evaluation processes with a Diagnostics and Metrics approach with the scholars.

– Understanding the content and delivery approach of the curriculum.

• Connects with the local partner CDFI as guided by the Business Support Services Director.

• Assists in scholar recruiting as directed by the Business Support Services Director.

• Reviews scholar applications as part of admission process.

• Reviews accepted scholar data (applications and baseline assessment tools) to understand scholar’s individualized needs as well as the needs of the cohort.

• Works with the program team to plan for measurement and evaluation data collection.

• Plans advising schedule and approach.

• Creates scholar profiles for program use.

Advising and Curriculum Support 

• Meets with scholars on an individual basis at least 6-8 times per program (target of approximately 1.5 – 2 hours per meeting) to guide business growth with the final meeting (Post Mod 9) dedicated to quality control of the growth plan and an advisor transition plan.

• Assists scholars in learning how to use advisors appropriately (preparation, discussion and debrief, and follow-up).

• Works with scholars to connect them to external Business Support Services as needed for specialty services.

• Works with scholars to understand, collect and apply business metrics to support growth.

• Assists within the classroom to coordinate group activities and support faculty.

• Helps scholars apply course content to their businesses. 

• Leads bi-weekly planning sessions (See Scholar Support System/Triple S Overview) to support scholar business growth. 

• Attends all modules, clinics and program events to support scholar learning.

Assessment

• Participates in assessment of scholars through M&E activities, including ongoing awareness of validation.

• Participates in assessment of curriculum sessions through post session debriefings.

• Participates in assessment of program through team debriefing and review process.

Community Building

• Networks & presents to business & community leaders to enhance the local entrepreneurship ecosystem and to advance program recruitment.

• Engages in scholar alumni program events as needed.

Attends functions, tradeshows, sponsored events on behalf of the program

Works with alumni to gather required data and maintain a strong network for referrals.

Assists other staff members and in-class activities to ensure smooth program delivery.

Attends required calls, meetings and training sessions.

Completes data input related to scholar development and program metrics in a timely manner.

Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Demonstrate experience as a business advisor, consultant, coach, or mentor

2. Knowledge and understanding of the comprehensive community college mission

3. Advanced degree in business administration or related area

4. Strong community connections & diverse business network

Bachelor degree required; concentration in business related area preferred.

Minimum five (5) years direct experience in the following areas:

1) Demonstrated experience in small business ownership, or executive-level engagement in a small business.

2) Demonstrated experience in understanding functional areas of business operations, including small business finance.

Committed to recruiting new applicants to the program by engaging in community events and recruitment opportunities. Working with their designated scholars in a facilitative and supportive manner to identify their business needs and provide appropriate assistance with respect to the program curriculum.

Works in a collaborative and supportive manner within the classroom and in advising sessions to help the scholars complete the program and program deliverables.

Brings appropriate practitioner oriented expertise to the classroom, along with an appreciation for theoretical frameworks.

Guides the scholars through the Access to Capital program opportunities.

Understands and values the importance of metrics through measurement and evaluation activities. Collects required metrics from alumni to ensure program compliance.

Uses a model of community engagement to link scholars to other Business Support Services.

Is dedicated to the program outcomes of job creation and revenue generation.

Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of diverse people, ability, culture, ethnic background, to maintain good working relationships across the College. Ability to work with all groups in a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic background of community college students, faculty and staff, including those with disabilities.

Salt Lake Community College will complete a criminal background check on the finalist.