Small Business Navigator

Tampa Signode Industrial Group LLC; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 74,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Tampa Signode Industrial Group LLC is seeking a Small Business Navigator responsible for supporting Tampa’s small business community. The role involves coordinating outreach, engagement, and partnerships, ensuring that entrepreneurs have access to vital resources.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in small business support, demonstrating empathy and communication skills. This role offers a salary range between $35.55 and $53.20 per hour, with the opportunity to influence local policies.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of small business work experience.
• Ability to write and speak clearly in various settings.
• Experience in marketing and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead outreach and engagement with small business stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal and external partnerships to support small businesses.
• Assess and recommend policies to strengthen small business climate.

Skills

Project management

Community engagement

Empathy for small business owners

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database

Job description

Salary $35.55 - $53.20/hour; $6,162.00 - $9,221.33/month; $73,944.00 - $110,656.00/year

This is responsible professional work to champion the City’s entrepreneurial support programs.

Nature Of Work

The small business navigator position providesdedicated support for Tampa’s small business community. The employee serves as the central point of contact for small businesses navigating City government,connecting entrepreneurs to available business support and technical assistanceservices, leading outreach and engagement to small business stakeholders andbusiness groups, and coordinating efforts to strengthen Tampa’s small businessclimate including supporting policy change and new program development. Tasksare of more than average difficulty, performed under general supervision and requiresignificant tact and, diplomacy when dealing with the public. The exercise ofreasonable initiative and independent judgment is required in ensuring thatdata compilation is accomplished in a thorough and accurate manner. Work isreviewed through conferences, reports submitted, and results obtained. Appointed position; employee serves at thepleasure of the Mayor.

Examples of Duties

Outreach, Engagement and Marketing: Lead on small business outreach and engagement with small business stakeholders andbusiness groups.Market and promote relevant programs, offers and business support to Tampa’s small business community with a focus on reaching disadvantaged and underrepresented groups who do not typically access business assistance.Speak at public meetings, business group meetings and other public forums.

Service Delivery:Serve as a central point of contact for small business owners, providing direct service to understand and assess the needs of the business.For issues relating to the City (i.e. permits, fees, zoning, small business certification, incentives, etc.), the Navigator would work with the relevant City Departments to address the business question / concern and facilitate their interactions with the department.For needs related to external business support (i.e. business planning, accessing capital, e-commerce, etc.), theNavigator would connect businesses to external business support / technical assistance partners.These services could be delivered in person, by phone, by video call, by email/chats, or some other format.

Internal and External Partner Engagement:Develop internal and external partners to support the small business navigatorprogram.Internal partners would include city departments and other governmental agencies.External partners would include business support providers (i.e. SBDC, SCORE, CareerSource, etc.), universities, banks, corporations and other institutions.

Small Business Climate:Coordinate efforts to strengthen Tampa’s small business climate by assessing the impact of proposed policies on local small businesses and making recommendations in alignment with small business needs and goals.Make recommendations on changes and improvements to existing City policies and processes.Advise on new programs or policies whichwould better support small businesses.

Data Tracking:Input interactions and client information in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database.Design and oversee program outcome tracking including through regular surveys to assess small business needs and track the City’s progress in addressing them.

Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledgeof: project management practices and proceduresspecifically concerning economic development, small business support, orrelated field; developing and maintaining relationships with business ownersand managing their experience through a business support process; coordinatingservice delivery at a local level for small businesses; inputting data in andproducing reports from a customer relationship management (CRM) database; techniquesof marketing, communications, and community engagement.

Abilityto: empathize with the challenges that smallbusiness owners face and be an advocate for them; plan, manage, and implement entrepreneurial initiatives; think strategically and participate as part of ateam; write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communicationsettings and prepare analytical and technical reports; engage diversestakeholders in a culturally competent way; establish and maintain effectiveworking relationships with city officials, officials of other governmentalorganizations, representatives of public and private organizations, communitystakeholders and the general public; speak Spanish a plus.

Physical Requirements

Mostly sedentary, indoors, requires extended use of computer, typing and viewing a monitor.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in communications, business administration, public administration, public policy, economics, urban planning, or a closely related field and three (3) years of small business work experience; OR An equivalent combination of education (not less than possession of a high school diploma/GED), training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above.

Licenses or Certifications

Possession of a valid Florida driver's license is required.

Examination

Evaluation ofeducation and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

Comments

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.