Business Assistance Specialist, Northern Tier

About the role

The position serves as a Business Assistance Specialist, focusing on supporting aspiring and existing small business owners through the SBDC-led Business Assistance Service Centers. The appointment runs from June 30, 2027, with a potential extension until September 30, 2027.

Responsibilities

• Provides hands-on assistance and step-by-step guidance in foundational business areas including financial literacy, business planning, budgeting, recordkeeping, and other essential business practices.
• Affords practical, individualized support to clients navigating early-stage business development, operational barriers, and access to resources.
• Conducts outreach and community engagement with local organizations, partners, and stakeholders to increase awareness of small business resources and services.
• Supports clients with microgrant applications by helping them navigate program requirements and assemble supporting documentation.
• Works collaboratively with SBDC staff and external partners to connect clients to appropriate consulting, training, and specialized services as their needs evolve.
• Develops and delivers workshops, presentations, and training programs on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and core small business topics, including coordinating guest speakers and subject matter experts as appropriate.
• Buys and maintains collaborative relationships with internal departments, community organizations, resource partners, and stakeholders to support program goals.
• Makes frequent travel throughout a four-county Northern Tier service area, with occasional travel to the SBDC office in Scranton and other locations within Pennsylvania; includes significant field-based work and a flexible schedule with regular evening and weekend hours to support outreach, training, and community engagement.
• Maintains all deliverables and reporting requirements established by the Director, including those necessary for funding, grant, and contractual compliance.

Requirements

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to provide clear, structured, step-by-step guidance in a client-facing environment.
• Effective delivery of presentations, workshops, and training sessions to small and large groups.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage responsibilities with minimal supervision in a field-based environment.
• Proficiency with standard business software and digital tools.
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
• The ability to uphold human dignity and respect by recognizing each person’s worth, valuing diverse perspectives, and treating others with kindness, fairness, and empathy.
• Must be able to respect, support and contribute to the University’s Catholic and Jesuit mission.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree required in business, communications, education, social sciences, or related field.
• Preferred Education: Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Experience: Experience in client-facing roles such as advising, coaching, education, workforce development, community outreach, or small business support.
• Demonstrated Interest: Demonstrated interest in small business development, with ability to learn and apply foundational business concepts in a client-facing setting.
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience in entrepreneurship, small business operations, or small business ownership preferred.
• Years of Experience: 0 years.