SBDC Center Director

Sacbar; San Luis Obispo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) invites applications for the SBDC Center Director who will lead community-focused programs in San Luis Obispo County. The role drives startup support, job creation, and capital access by coordinating with regional networks, stakeholders, and Cal Poly offices.

The director oversees program operations, staff supervision, budgets, and grant compliance, while pursuing fundraising opportunities to advance the SBDC’s mission and impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and at least two years of experience in small business management, economic development, government administration, consulting, and/or other management experience.
• Experience in program planning, implementation, administration, and management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, monitor, and provide reporting on grants and other funding sources in a professional and timely manner.
• Ability to work with university partners to leverage community development efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational planning for SBDC programs and services.
• Oversee staff supervision, outreach, budget and grant management, and regulatory compliance.
• Engage with stakeholders, chambers of commerce, and funding agencies to support clients.
• Develop fundraising opportunities and coordinate with the Development Director to secure sponsorships and grants.
• Ensure compliance with program requirements and reporting for grant sponsors.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Grant writing

Stakeholder engagement

Team management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Executive Director, the SBDC Center Director plans, develops, manages, evaluates, and documents the activities of the CIE’s community-focused programs and activities that fall within the scope of the mission of the CalPoly CIE Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC’s mission is to provide high-quality, no-cost business advising services to startups and established small businesses within San Luis Obispo County. The SBDC Center Director will lead efforts to create economic opportunity in the region by supporting startup entrepreneurs and established small businesses in launching their companies, creating and retaining jobs, and accessing capital.

The SBDC Center Director works directly with the Regional SBDC Director for the Central California SBDC Network (Regional SBDC Network), which is led by UC Merced. The SBDC Center Director is a representative of the SBDC and the CIE in the community among SLO County stakeholders, including REACH, the region’s Chambers of Commerce, and local Federal and State-funded economic development agencies (collectively, Stakeholders). At Cal Poly, the SBDC Center Director and their direct reports work closely with the Cal Poly Office of Research’s Grants Development Office and Sponsored Programs Office all grants that fund SBDC programs.

The SBDC Center Director is responsible for providing leadership in developing, managing, and executing the SBDC programs. This includes the day-to-day management of SBDC operations, including but not limited to program activities, staff supervision, outreach, budget and grant management, operations, and compliance with applicable rules and regulations under the CIE and Regional SBDC Network organizations. The SBDC Center Director plans, organizes, and evaluates the work of staff, advisors, faculty, interns, volunteers, and others providing services in connection with the SBDC programs. The SBDC Center Director also works in concert with the CIE Executive Director and CIE Development Director to support fundraising and sponsorship opportunities that will help advance the SBDC’s overall mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

Economic Development

• Strategically deploys the resources of the SBDC to help meet regional economic development metrics.
• Plans, develops, manages, and coordinates proposals with Stakeholders to address current or future economic
• Development needs, and collaborates with these Stakeholders to achieve planned actions and results, all in support of SBDC client growth.
• Represents the SBDC and the CIE in the community among SLO County stakeholders, including REACH, the region’s Chambers of Commerce, and local Federal and State-funded economic development agencies.

Community

• Provides leadership in the regional business community as an active board, council, agency, and committee member to negotiate and collaborate with economic development stakeholders.
• Plans, organizes, controls, and manages sponsorships, partnerships, and grants to expand the SBDC programs throughout SLO County.
• Plans, organizes, controls, manages, and provides business development services to SBDC clients by:
• Hiring, supervising, coaching, and empowering the SBDC advisors in providing one-on-one business advising services;
• Designing and executing events, trainings, workshops, and programs that support SBDC clients so that they can grow and scale their businesses, including programs related to sales, marketing, finance, legal, human resources, technology innovation, and commercialization;
• Establishing and managing the SBDC’s presence outside of the SLO HotHouse to reach SBDC clients throughout SLO County.

SBDC Client Management

• Manages or provides the delivery of relevant services to SBDC clients within a defined scope of work and timeline.
• Provides consulting, coaching, mentoring, and leadership support to BDC clients, which results in executable business plans, including connections to advisors, organizations, and resources that can best serve such SBDC clients.
• Plans, develops, organizes, controls, and manages a network of resources to support technology startups in the CIE Incubator Program, including advisors, mentors, consultants, capital, talent acquisition, and product/service development.
• Maintains professional standards as a Small Business Advisor by participating in professional development activities and obtaining the Certified Business Development Advisor credential within the first 45 days of employment.

Capital Access Activities

• Develop pathways for SBDC clients to obtain capital by building strong relationships with funding sources, including: (i) Angel/VC groups for equity financing, (ii) institutional investors for private debt financing, (iii) banks for traditional business loans, SBA loans, and lines of credit, and (iv) Federal Agencies for SBIR/STTR grants.
• Engage with the Regional SBDC Network’s Capital Access Center to further access pathways to capital for SBDC clients.
• Perform outreach and maintain collaborative relationships with local financial institutions, relevant service providers, the local business community, and local business associations, as well as local, state, and federal agencies.
• Prepares, coaches, and assists SBDC clients in securing funding to support their business growth objectives by helping them connect with funding sources.

Fiscal and Administrative

• Negotiates, directs, manages, and administers the SBDC’s award of Federal, State, and other grants, including working closely with the Cal Poly Office of Research’s Grants Development Office and Sponsored Programs Office.
• Plans, organizes, controls, integrates, and evaluates the development and growth of the SBDC in San Luis Obispo County, to ensure that operations comply with the policies and procedures of the Small Business Administration.
• Works with the Director of Finance and Administration at the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business (OCOB) to develop, plan, direct, administer, and monitor the SBDC budget and track spending against numerous grant awards.
• Creates, directs, and manages systems and processes to ensure grant compliance and adherence to the policies and procedures of the grant sponsors, including directing, overseeing, developing, and reviewing a wide variety of reports and presentations for the grant sponsors.
• Recruits, hires, supervises, and manages SBDC staff, independent contractors, interns, faculty, and volunteers, and leverages community resources to develop, direct, supervise and implement programs to achieve the region’s economic development goals and fulfill the objectives of grant contracts.
• Supervises the SBDC staff a network of business advisors, and other staff that may be hired by the SBDC or CIE to support the SBDC programs.
• Plans and evaluates staff performance, including: establishing performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitoring performance and providing coaching for performance improvement and development; providing compensation to recognize performance; and taking disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with Cal Poly’s personnel rules and policies.

Fundraising and Grants

• The SBDC Center Director shall identify, develop, and analyze funding sources to support successful advancement activities and grant proposals aligned with the SBDC strategic plan and annual budget. The SBDC Center Director will collaborate with the Executive Director and the Development Director to identify and cultivate private funding opportunities. This will include assessing the compatibility of grant and funding opportunities with SBDC goals and priorities, assisting in drafting and preparing proposals and grant applications, and facilitating cross-departmental and community collaborations.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university/college and at least two years of experience in small business management, economic development, government administration, consulting, and/or other management experience.
• Experience in program planning, implementation, administration, and management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, monitor, and provide reporting on grants and other funding sources in a professional and timely manner
• Ability to understand how to integrate community focused development efforts within the context of a university sponsored center to leverage the strengths of each
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and to effectively communicate on an individual and group basis.
• Must be a self-starter who can work with little supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work independently using discretion and independent judgment.
• A background check is required for all regular benefited positions.
• Ability to work full-time in-person at the HotHouse.
• Ability to work occasional, varied hours as required to attend SBDC functions, including weekends and evenings.
• Ability to travel as required.
• The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Preferred Qualification

• Experience in reviewing and acting upon complex individual and organizational matters – particularly the ability to work cooperatively with a wide cross-section of people representing diverse interests.
• Direct working experience in effective team coordination and demonstrable problem-solving skills.
• Experience in training, mentoring, supervising, and evaluating staff.
• Budget administration and management experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining accurate and detailed records.
• Grant proposal and/or report writing skills.
• Job-related experience with online computer systems, databases, word processing, spreadsheet software, email, and web applications required.
• Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and managing multiple activities simultaneously.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate with individuals in person and remotely
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard and calculator
• Ability to work with written materials by reading or via accommodations
• Ability to be stationary at a desk or work station for an extended period of time
• Ability to raise 20 pounds to shoulder height
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull objects with or without accommodations

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university/college and at least two years of experience in small business management, economic development, government administration, consulting, and/or other management experience.
• Experience in program planning, implementation, administration, and management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, monitor, and provide reporting on grants and other funding sources in a professional and timely manner
• Ability to understand how to integrate community focused development efforts within the context of a university sponsored center to leverage the strengths of each
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and to effectively communicate on an individual and group basis.
• Must be a self-starter who can work with little supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work independently using discretion and independent judgment.
• A background check is required for all regular benefited positions.
• Ability to work full-time in-person at the HotHouse.
• Ability to work occasional, varied hours as required to attend SBDC functions, including weekends and evenings.
• Ability to travel as required.
• The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.