Small Business Advisor

City of Aurora; South Dakota; Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

On-site fitness center and well-being

Competitive retirement plan

Career development programs

Job summary

The City of Aurora is seeking a skilled economic development professional to advise startups and existing small businesses, design training programs, and collaborate with regional partners. The role supports business retention, expansion, and financing initiatives throughout the community.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 5+ years in economic development or business program management, with Spanish language skills considered a strong asset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, marketing, or directly related field.
• At least 5 years of experience as a small business owner, operator, or manager of economic development programs.
• Spanish language skills are a significant asset; experience with training facilitation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct advising to existing and start-up businesses in English and Spanish.
• Assists in preparing business plans and financing arrangements; develops and promotes small business programs.
• Helps create and deliver small business training courses.
• Serves as liaison to SBDC and maintains ongoing communication with businesses.
• Networks with community and regional economic development organizations.

Skills

Spanish language skills

Training facilitation

Business advisory

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, marketing, or directly related field

Job description

JOB LOCATION 15151 E Alameda Pkwy Aurora, Colorado 80012-1555 City of Aurora, Colorado

WHY WORK FOR AURORA?

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we’re growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora? Make a difference in the lives of real people every day Diverse community Competitive total compensation package Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan Light rail station minutes away On-site fitness center and overall employee well‑being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Salary to be commensurate with experience Hiring range: $65,603 – $72,500/annually Career range: $65,603 – $102,505/annually

The deadline to submit applications is November 28, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first‑serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice

• Provides direct advising assistance to existing and start‑up businesses in English and Spanish.
• Assists in preparing business plans and developing financing arrangements; designs, develops, and promotes small business retention and attraction programs.
• Helps create, develop, and execute small business training courses
• Serves as the City and Small Business Development Center liaison to small businesses and establishes ongoing communication.
• Networks with community and regional economic development related organizations on small business issues.
• Assists in developing and accomplishing operational priorities, goals, and objectives.
• Presents monthly updates and creates quarterly reports that address small business trends, training needs, utilization of available resources and current lending environment.
• Hosts and attends small business training sessions throughout Arapahoe and Douglas counties.
• Maintains detailed and accurate client notes, economic impact collection and event participation in SBDC Network customer database.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

The listed primary duties and responsibilities are not a comprehensive list of expectations for the job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, marketing, or directly related field.
• Experience: At least 5 years of experience as a small business owner or operator, or manager of economic development programs and/or small business development programs.
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience with training and facilitation. Spanish language skills are considered a significant asset for this role. Experience in business acquisitions or exits (buying/selling a business), and/or integrating AI and emerging technologies into small business operations.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles, practices, and operating requirements of running a small business. Economic development, business plan design, and development. Principles of commercial lending, small business loans and financing, and municipal government operations. Knowledge of small business financials, which includes profit and loss statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, basics of bookkeeping, licensing and basic tax guidelines. Skilled at analyzing business financials to recommend guidance with process improvement, sales growth, funding opportunities and future financial projections. Strong interpersonal, organizational, training and advising skills.
• Abilities: Ability to advise both startups and established small businesses on planning, growth strategies, operations, and financial sustainability. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, citizens, and elected officials. Handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Establish and fulfill goals and objectives. Ability to assess small business training needs and develop programs to meet needs. Deliver effective training workshops for small business and business partners.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Physical Demands: Sedentary physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds. Occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing. Frequent speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens. Vision for data analysis and reading written reports and documents.
• Work Environment: Works in a clean, comfortable environment.
• Position follows a hybrid work model with regular onsite presence. This position may require working 1–2 days per month at a remote office location within Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Some evening and weekend hours will be required to facilitate training sessions and/or attend networking events.
• Equipment Used: Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel and menu driven databases as a part of computer-based systems This job may require the incumbent to use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.
• The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

DRUG & BACKGROUND CHECK

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others. Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.

EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION

Notice Regarding Colorado Identification Document Protections (HB26‑1283) As part of the employment eligibility verification process, the city of Aurora may request government‑issued identification documents as permitted by law. Original identification documents will be reviewed only as necessary for employment eligibility verification and will not be retained longer than permitted by law. Applicants will retain possession and control of their original identification documents except for any temporary retention permitted or required by law.

EEO & DIVERSITY

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission. Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug‑free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. Applicants selected for safety‑sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment.

The city of Aurora uses E‑Verify to determine if employees are legally eligible to work in the United States.

CONTACT

If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation for completing this application, please feel free to contact our office at: 303.739.7225 or visit us at 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy., Suite 3500, Aurora, CO 80012.