General Business Counselor This position is a senior-level professional position through which the Small Business Development Center's counseling, training, research, and technical assistance services are provided to small business owners, would-be entrepreneurs, and individuals and firms developing new products, technologies, or markets. The position is expected to provide expert-level business advice and in-depth assistance to a sizable number of clients, both in the Charlotte office and elsewhere throughout an assigned multi-county geographic area. The position also includes group training design/facilitation and marketing/outreach activities. The incumbent is expected to manage a large and varied client portfolio made up of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as pre-venture companies, guiding all business disciplines. Counseling provided is expected to result in economic impact (business starts, revenue generation, sales growth, job creation, etc) and other reportable success stories. The position requires meeting several metrics, including a minimum of 948 hours of counseling activity per year. The incumbent will deliver at least two training events per year (fee-based and/or free), which includes marketing, planning, and/or delivering to target markets in support of the Regional Service Center Annual Work Plan. Minimum Education/Experience - Bachelor's degree and one (1) year of experience related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience - A bachelor's degree in business administration and a minimum of three years of relevant work experience, or five years of relevant work experience, is preferred. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Prior Small Business Development Center experience is highly preferred. The ideal candidate should have broad knowledge and experience in general business principles and procedures, as well as the ability to communicate, execute, and deploy solutions to overall business issues. Business ownership or business managerial experience is required. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential. The incumbent must have the ability to handle multiple assignments, organize work, and assign priorities with minimal supervision, and must be self-motivated. Public speaking experience is preferred, and the ability to interact with large groups of people is essential.
