The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship invites applications for the Assistant Director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Bradley University.

The SBDC at Bradley University is a member of the Illinois SBDC network and the national America’s SBDC program. Small Business Development Centers provide direct and measurable economic benefits to the communities they serve. The national SBDC program, established in 1980, is the largest federally designated technical assistance program focused on supporting startup and growing small businesses in all 50 states and U.S. territories. SBDCs are designed to stimulate business formation and contribute to long-term business success and sustainability. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which, through a shared cooperative agreement with the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), serves as host to the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program Lead Center.

Through training and confidential one-on-one advising, the SBDC program is designed to provide professional business and economic development assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs to promote business start-ups, growth, expansion, innovation, employment, and economic development. The SBDC at Bradley University is among the largest SBDCs in Illinois and is co-located with the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) and the APEX Accelerator. In 2023 the Illinois SBDC/ITC was recognized as the SBDC of the Year by the SBA.

The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship was established in 2001 by a gift from Robert ’77 MBA ’78 and his wife Carolyn. It builds on Bradley University and the Foster College of Business’ historic strength in small business education and development. For nearly 50 years, the Foster College of Business has provided business training and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses including one of the nation’s oldest student-based consulting projects. The establishment of the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship strengthened Bradley’s commitment in entrepreneurship by bringing together related services and help growth of the local economy.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: Assistant Director, Illinois Small Business Development Center

1. Supports the SBDC Director in the center operations of the Illinois SBDC to achieve established goals and objectives in compliance with the terms and conditions of applicable cooperative agreements and Bradley University policies and procedures.
2. Advises individuals seeking to start/own/grow their business. Provides information and assistance to clients to develop their business, marketing plans and financial projections.
3. Assists owners and managers of existing small businesses to identify solutions to business related problems and take advantage of potential business opportunities. Assists these individuals and business owners/managers in identifying potential financing sources. Utilizes internal and external research data and resources in support of client advising.
4. Supports the SBDC Director in identifying programmatic needs, and developing, implementing and evaluating current and new programs and services to meet these needs.
5. Supports the SBDC Director and the Director of Programs and Budget to identify, develop, and present non-credit training programs and related marketing activities.
6. Facilitates and supports business accelerators as offered by the SBDC and the Turner Center.
7. Documents assistance in the center’s CRM system, and monitors program as required by the University and external funding sources.
8. Understands the programs and services offered by each of the business outreach centers located at Bradley University and external public and private business assistance providers, specifically those included in the Illinois Small Business Development Center Network.
9. Promotes the Illinois SBDC and the needs of the small business community. Develops relationships with other SBA resource partners, local chambers of commerce and economic development groups, professional associations, and entrepreneurship affiliated organizations.
10. Supports outreach to rural communities, businesses, and individuals to promote our services within rural areas and provide assistance and training to rural individuals and businesses.
11. Identifies and participates in professional development activities and organizations to improve job related effectiveness and public awareness of Turner Center programs and activities and to achieve and maintain Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association (IESBGA) business counselor certification.
12. Works cooperatively with other Turner Center advisers as appropriate to support center and client success including referrals and co-advising of clients.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

A Bachelor’s Degree is required (preferably in engineering, the sciences, technical, or business-related field) and two years relevant work experience. Candidates must possess exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communication (verbal and written) skills. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, possesses excellent problem solving and analytical skills, embrace change management, possess the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and be able to build positive relationships with a diverse constituency including SMEs, minorities, faculty and staff at Bradley, funding partners, local economic development and entrepreneurship entities, and resource partners. Candidates must have experience with basic computer programs including word processing and spreadsheets.

Additionally, competitive candidates should have:

• Experience in
  1. business start-up
  2. business management
  3. basic accounting and finance principals
  4. small business marketing including social media
  5. business taxation
  6. small business legal issues
• A sincere interest in working with entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Some local, regional and national travel is required and must be capable of accessing facilities that may not be ADA accessible. This is a 12-month, full-time position. Some evening and weekend work is required.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and complete contact information for a minimum of three professional references with telephone numbers. Please submit all materials at the time of initial application.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Employment with Bradley University is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Bradley University is a top-ranked, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering nearly 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students’ opportunities, choices, and resources to build their futures. Innovation, action, and collaboration drive Bradley students to generate ideas and create solutions that remake the world around them. Our comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate academic programs includes business, communications, education, engineering, fine arts, health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, and technology.

Bradley University offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability coverages, FSA, HSA, and retirement plan options. Bradley also offers significant higher education cost savings for employees and dependents through the Tuition Remission program.

Bradley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The administration, faculty and staff are committed to attracting qualified candidates from underrepresented groups.