The Program Specialist position will assist the Director in all activities that contribute to the success of the Marin SBDC program. This is a dynamic position that requires an entrepreneurial mindset with the patience of a Zen master. The perfect candidate will understand the benefit of envisioning and moving toward a clear and efficient vision while also knowing that paying attention to details, pausing and meeting grant requirements are essential. The ideal candidate will be open to working independently as well as with a team, comfortable communicating with different types of personalities and levels within an organization, efficient in managing programs, budgets, contractors/interns, performing outreach in the community, and bringing creativity and gratitude to work. The position requires a flexible schedule to be able to attend in-person events and give presentations in the evenings or early mornings and requires someone to come into the office at minimum 2-3 days a week. This is a full-time position with full benefits.
About the Marin SBDC:
The Marin SBDC is a local nonprofit hosted by Dominican University of California and partially funded by the Small Business Administration (SBA). It provides no cost one-on-one business advising to small Marin businesses (small means any business with under 500 employees) and conducts training workshops across the county. The Marin SBDC is the only technical assistance provider in the county and has served over 4000 business owners, helping start 360 businesses, create or retain 4,181 jobs, increase sales by $150M, and assist those businesses in acquiring $170M in capital infusion. It is a small nonprofit with a huge impact in the local community with at least 10 different partnerships to other nonprofits to carry out the work. Since the pandemic, the Marin SBDC has become a central resource for businesses in the county, and there is still much work to be done to serve the businesses. For more information, visit www.marinsbdc.org
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Work closely with the Director to maintain the high-quality standards of this program and assist in developing new systems for greater efficiency
Conduct intakes for new client signups, collect information needed for data reporting, assess client needs, and pair clients with specialized Advisors
Maintain regular communication with Advisors and clients to track client progress, record economic impact (success) milestones, and write client success stories
Manage training programs which includes researching best topics, setting up all components of registration, website functionality and online communications to the public, and managing and tracking grant reporting requirements
Conduct outreach, attend meetings and conferences, and make presentations pertaining to Center activities
Design systems for better marketing and connections within the community, find new ways to publicly share our successes, track client testimonials and bring in gratitude to all aspects of the work we perform
Coordinate appointments, meetings, conferences and other related activities for the program and generate appropriate correspondence and records of meetings
Prepare budgetary and data reports to aid in fundraising efforts and grant reporting
Work collaboratively with small businesses, economic and workforce development staff, City and County Officials, lenders and other technical assistance providers to further the economic well-being of Marin small business owners
Stay informed of local news and activities to be able to direct clients to other appropriate sources of business information and assistance; including, partner organizations, lenders, city departments, and other technical assistance providers
Research and compile data for statistical, financial, and program reports
Train and supervise student interns
Required Qualifications:
Listed below are the requirements of the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Basic Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Nonprofit Management, or related field
Minimum 3-5 years of work experience in Consulting, Administrative and/or Project management roles
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Familiar with online programs such as Zoom, Dropbox, Doodle, and Calendly and preferably Word Press, Constant Contact, and other database and CRM programs
Ability to quickly learn new programs and manage online accounts
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Ability to recognize and act on opportunities, make decisions, be solutions-oriented, remain adaptable and resilient in conditions that are complex
Take initiative to carry out a project and make improvements to the process while keeping in mind grant requirements and being efficient
Demonstrate Project Management and Organizational Skills
Experience in managing projects, tracking progress, creating systems that efficiently completes tasks on time and in accordance with grant protocols
Ability to work independently, take ownership of projects, set priorities, meet firm deadlines and manage projects with varying degrees of complexity and different budget and reporting cycles
Experience in preparing and monitoring budgets
Experience in leading, managing and supervising volunteers and contractors
Detailed Oriented yet Able to Hold the Bigger Vision
Ability to monitor program services for program compliance with all regulations and policies of funding sources while also keeping in mind the vision the growth of the organization
Excellent customer service, interpersonal and communication skills
Experience in communicating with active listening and speaking
Aware of emotional intelligence and how that supports constructive communication
Must be comfortable to work with different groups such as the business community, government agencies, other nonprofits, City and County officials, lenders and business advisors
Ability to connect with people at the level where they are and work with a wide range of clients (different ages, backgrounds, income levels, ethnicity, etc.) and with different levels of capabilities with technology
Be a Team Player and Bring Creativity to Work
Formulate creative ideas and problem solve and be a team thought leader
Be open to new ideas and ways to structure projects
Be able to bring joy and have fun even while managing data and reporting requirements that are bureaucratic
Preferred Qualifications:
Bilingual Spanish – English (highly preferred)
Experience with how to navigate Constant Contact, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other similar programs related to outreach
Experience using a database system to manage clients and data
Experience in instructing and/or coordinating workshops to local business
Additional Position Information:
Priority will be given to applications submitted by May 8, 2024; however, additional applications may be considered until the position is filled
Must be willing to consent to a background check
Dominican University of California is an independent, international, learner-centered university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. Dominican has a 1:10 teacher-to-student ratio, an average class size of 16, with a small-town feeling in a park- like campus. We blend interdisciplinary core courses, real-world studies, and small classes with close and supportive academic advising and mentoring.
For More Information Contact:
team@marinsbdc.org
Dominican University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to excellence through diversity, and takes pride in its multicultural environment. We are committed in thought, word, and deed to recruiting and retaining a workforce that values the diversity of its student body. The University actively promotes an institutional culture that practices equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of all under-represented groups in higher education.