Regional Director, Small Business Development Center

University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work within Iowa

Health, dental, life and disability保险

Retirement plan contributions

Paid vacation and sick leave

Job summary

The University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA invites applications for Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center to lead regional counseling and entrepreneurship programs. This senior role oversees administration, budgeting, grants, and program delivery, aligning university resources with regional partners to spur growth and job creation.

The Director will build strategic partnerships, ensure SBA and university compliance, and guide a team of advisors and staff while advancing

Qualifications

• 5-8 years progressive experience in business consulting or management.
• 3+ years in leadership or supervisory role.
• Experience advising small-to-medium businesses.
• Experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and performance evaluation.
• Ability to travel and valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of SBDC advising and support for a varied portfolio.
• Provide strategic business counseling on planning, growth, capital readiness.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with businesses, economic development, financial institutions, and government agencies.
• Represent the SBDC through workshops and events.
• Ensure compliance with SBA and university requirements.
• Develop and manage budgets; prepare grants and funding agreements.
• Provide leadership and direction for SBDC operations and staff.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Strategic planning

Business advisory

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree (Business/Finance)

Tools

CPA CMA CEcD certifications

Job description

Regional Director, Small Business Development Center

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

New

Research Services

The Regional Director of the University of Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves as a strategic leader for small-business and entrepreneurship support across the region. This role is responsible for the administrative, fiscal, and operational success of the center, ensuring the delivery of high-impact business counseling and training. The Director requires a blend of financial, entrepreneurial, advisory, and leadership capability, with demonstrated understanding of the challenges facing business owners and growth-oriented ventures. By integrating SBDC services with university resources and regional stakeholders, the Director drives measurable economic growth, job creation, and capital infusion throughout the service area.

The position reports to the Director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and plays a key role in advancing the center’s mission of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic impact across Johnson, Cedar, Poweshiek, Iowa, and Washington counties.

The position combines direct client advising, center leadership, regional partnership development, program innovation, and administrative oversight. The successful candidate must effectively manage competing priorities while maintaining an active advisory presence, fostering strategic partnerships, ensuring compliance with SBDC and SBA requirements, and demonstrating measurable impact for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.

This position is eligible for hybrid work within Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually and must comply with the remote work program and related policies.

Key Areas of Responsibilities & Specific Job Tasks

• Lead the delivery of high-quality SBDC advising and support services for a varied portfolio of businesses, including startups, growth-stage firms, and community-based small businesses.
• Provide strategic business counseling related to business planning, growth strategies, commercialization, operations, and capital readiness.
• Serve as a senior advisor to entrepreneurs, business owners, faculty, researchers, and innovation-driven ventures.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with businesses, economic development organizations, financial institutions, educational partners, and government agencies.
• Establish and maintain referral networks to expand resources available to clients.
• Represent the SBDC through workshops, speaking engagements, advising sessions, and community events.
• Ensure visibility of SBDC programs through marketing, communications, and public outreach efforts.
• Promote SBDC services through presentations, events, and strategic partnerships.
• Provide confidential business consulting services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• Assist clients with business planning, growth strategies, and operational development.
• Support clients in securing financing, investment capital, and business resources.
• Develop and manage budgets to support SBDC operations and programming.
• Prepare and administer grants, contracts, and funding agreements.
• Ensure compliance with SBA, university, state, and federal requirements.
• Provide leadership and direction for SBDC operations and staff. Recruit, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate staff and consultants.

Get to know the Tippie College of Business

Since 1847, the Tippie College of Business has cultivated a legacy of innovation, thought leadership, and excellence in business education. We have nearly 6,000 students within undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs spanning six academic departments—accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, marketing, and management and entrepreneurship. We are eight centers and institutes, and four student-managed endowment funds. We’re over 59,000 alumni—and growing. Tippie is regularly listed in top business school rankings. We also hold the gold standard of accreditations, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and have maintained the accreditation for over 95 years (since 1923).

But who we are is not just in the curriculum we curate—it’s also in the community we create. Our leadership embraces our responsibility to pursue academic excellence within a welcoming environment where every student can thrive. More than 150 years after our founding, we continue to be a place where students can grow and flourish in their professional or academic careers.

Education Requirement

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 - 8 years of progressive experience in business consulting, commercial lending, or corporate management, including at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience owning, operating, managing, or advising small-to-medium-sized businesses, including responsibility for business operations, strategic planning, growth initiatives, or financial performance.
• Extensive experience in business consulting, economic development, commercial lending, entrepreneurship support, or business management.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing financial statements, developing budgets, evaluating business performance, and applying accounting and financial management principles.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to business owners and organizational leaders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including experience conveying complex business, financial, or economic information to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with businesses, community organizations, financial institutions, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to travel and must possess a valid driver’s license and meet and maintain standards of the UI Fleet Safety Program.
• Ability to foster a welcoming and respectful workplace environment while recognizing personal differences. Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, or a related field.
• Professional certification such as CPA, CMA, CEcD, or similar credential.
• Experience working within or alongside a university, research institution, healthcare system, or similarly complex organization.
• Familiarity with innovation-driven or research-based companies, including exposure to commercialization, life sciences, healthcare, or regulated industries.
• Experience with SBDC, SBA, or other publicly funded business support or economic development programs.
• Prior experience supervising staff, advisors, or contractors.
• Comfort working in a data-driven environment that includes outcomes tracking and reporting.

Benefits Highlights

Regular salaried position. Pay Level 6A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa. Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.

About Iowa

Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Economic Dev Assoc Director
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: Hybrid within Iowa

Compensation

• Pay Level: 6A

Contact Information

• Organization: College of Business
• Contact Name: Adrian Cunningham
• Contact Email: [e-mail]

Equal opportunity employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail]. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.