Business Consultant Senior

• Provides business counseling and training services to small business owners, would-be entrepreneurs and to individuals and firms developing new products, technologies or markets.

Major Duties

• Develops and manages a client to provide in-depth one-on-one consulting assistance to pre-venture, startup and existing business owners in areas of business planning, financing, loan packaging, marketing, human resources, demographics and other areas of management and technical support in order to promote small business growth, expansion and productivity.

• Assists in providing guidance, training, and mentorship to students and external clients that provides the resources necessary to launch businesses, such as start-up fundamentals and other relevant business topics.

• Assists with clients in assessing capital through both traditional and non-traditional funding institutions.

• Assists with preparing business loan proposals, structured narrative business plans, extensive and detailed financial projections, collateral documentation, equipment lists, resumes and other documents as required.

• Builds and maintains relationships with small business. Supports organizations, financial institutions, consultants and other public and private sector business resources partners.

• Advises on business finance and assists clients in determining financial needs and potential funding sources.

• Maintain client records to Small Business Administration (SBA) compliance standards in the Michigan SBDC CRM system.

• Meet or exceed individual key performance indicators and implement strategies as directed to achieve goals established in regional annual strategic plan.

• The Michigan SBDC is held responsible by funders to meet a certain level of hours per year and ensure a high standard of service delivery across the Michigan SBDC network. To meet these standards all full-time equivalent business consultants will meet the annual consulting and preparation hours requirement of 800 hours per year. Exceptions to this requirement will be determined by the Regional Director or direct supervisor based on roles and responsibilities that are assigned to the specific consultant.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution.

• Broad knowledge of the principles and practices of small business.

• Strong business computer skills, especially word processing, developing spreadsheets and database management.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and analyze financial statements.

• Working knowledge of techniques used in collecting and interpreting market and demographic data.

• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of industries driving the Michigan economy.

• Ability to work independently, handle multiple assignments and establish work priorities.

• Strong interpersonal skills, written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Ability to work irregular shifts and extended hours, including weekends and holidays.

• Ability to travel to business clients throughout Southwest Michigan.

• Ability to speak in Spanish.

Special Instructions to Applicants

• Internal applicants should use the WMU - Internal Application.

• External applicants should use the WMU - Application.

Additional Position Information

• Terminal position ends on 3/31/2025, with the potential for annual renewal based on grant funding.

• Staff Compensation System pay grades and rates are available at: https://wmich.edu/hr/staffcompensation

• Western Michigan University offers generous benefits to its employees including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement, and tuition discount for the employee and tuition remission for eligible dependents. To access information about the specific benefits available for this position, go to: https://www.wmich.edu/hr/enrollment-staff

Physical requirements and working conditions

• Office or other indoor work with minimal physical demands such as occasionally lifting or moving materials less than 25 pounds.

• Work is generally performed in a well-lit, temperature-controlled indoor environment with occasional exposure to the outdoors or any number of elements.