As a Business Advisor, you will play a pivotal role in empowering entrepreneurs in rural communities, helping them turn their unique talents into thriving businesses. You will work with a clients from diverse communities, providing hands-on guidance, training, and support to foster economic independence and community resilience. By joining our team, you will contribute to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for underrepresented communities. We value diversity, justice, and the wisdom of the individuals we serve, and we are committed to providing a supportive and collaborative work environment where your contributions make a tangible impact. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with and learn from a wide range of people while developing your own skills in business advising, consulting, and community outreach. If you are passionate about fostering entrepreneurship as a tool for social and economic justice and believe in the power of small businesses to build generational wealth and create resilient communities, this role offers a fulfilling and purpose-driven career path. The Business Advisor will provide instructional and counseling work in the North Cascades region, focusing on business feasibility assessments, business planning, business financing, loan packaging, hiring new employees and personnel issues, developing management systems to support bankability and growth, and other business issues. The services are intensive and continuous to emerging microenterprises, helping them improve their management capacity to achieve greater operations and profitability with an onramp to the Small Business Development Centers in Mount Vernon for those ready to scale.

The Business Advisor will develop and maintain a referral partner network in Western Washington. The Business Advisor will work closely with the Small Business Development Center in Mount Vernon and representatives of other economic development and business assistance programs, with community-based service agencies, other microenterprise development programs, local representatives of the economic development councils, area chambers of commerce, and local trade associations, as well as community-based agencies and organizations targeting underserved communities.

REPORTS TO: North Cascades Program Manager

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

SUPERVISES: no supervisory responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

The Business Advisor delivers business development training and one-on-one advising to help emerging entrepreneurs in rural communities start a business and get it ready to grow. This is a hybrid (in person and at times, working from home), based in Mount Vernon, WA working with a team of advisers throughout Skagit and Island Counties. We will only consider applicants who are currently living in Skagit County or who will relocate to Skagit County by the start date.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Business Development Support - Provide training and one-on-one business advising to clients starting, stabilizing, and growing their business, focusing on helping clients to:

a. Complete a needs assessment and clarify business goals

b. Assess the feasibility of business goals

c. Develop an action plan for achieving business goals

d. Develop a business plan, operating plan, or marketing plan

e. Get their business started, stabilized, and/or growing

f. Develop management systems to support bankability and growth

g. Develop financial statements and use them for financial analysis

h. Access capital for startup, stabilization, or expansion

i. Connect to other existing business development programs, services, and resources.

2. New Client Screening - Screen potential clients via phone, email, and in-person to determine whether the applicant is income-eligible, has a goal that fits the program’s mission and is ready to move toward a specific business goal. Work with CIE’s Program Coordinators to complete new clients’ intake and enrollment process and maintain client files.

3. Outreach - Perform significant outreach activities to inform community about CIE through regular contact with economic and community development stakeholders and partners, leading the development of a strong referral partner network throughout the region.

4. Training - Schedule, coordinate, and help facilitate CIE’s Start Simple Business course and the Comadres business accelerator. Develop and facilitate workshops on the fundamentals of the operational aspects of business management to individuals and groups of business owners and managers on an as-needed basis, depending on the resources available and needs in the service area.

5. Recordkeeping - Record and report on client activities using a proprietary client management system following established policies and guidelines.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, each essential function must be performed satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Commitment to Diversity: Ability to establish interpersonal rapport and relate to individuals from various backgrounds and cultures.

· Business Management: Knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of small business operations.

· Consulting: Ability to work one-on-one with diverse clients to define their goals and concerns, identify options with the attendant potential consequences, and place them in a position to decide an appropriate course of action and provide services to help achieve their business goals.

· Communication: Strong oral, written, and listening skills. Ability to articulate complex procedures clearly. Excellent facilitation and presentation skills for diverse audiences.

· Spanish Language: Conversational Spanish language skills.

· Computer Skills: Competent with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint functionality, and able to learn new programs.

· Customer Service Orientation: The desire and ability to provide friendly and flexible services that resolve client concerns promptly. Ability to remain poised under a variety of circumstances and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that engenders confidence and trust.

· Agile Self-Starter: Ability to exercise independent judgment, make effective decisions, and complete assigned tasks without direct supervision. High tolerance for ambiguity.

· Well organized: Must be well organized to manage more than 100 clients annually from every sector of the local business community. Have theability to work effectively and efficiently in fast-paced and high-stress environments and culturally diverse communities. Ability to address multiple complex problems simultaneously without loss of efficiency or accuracy, including the ability to execute multiple assignments from multiple sources with conflicting priorities. Have the ability to sustain work and attention despite distractions and/or interruptions. Have the ability to maintain detailed, accurate and timely records of professional activities.

· Team player: Strong team attitude and approach to work. Places a higher emphasis on contributions to a work team than on receiving recognition for personal contribution. Has the ability to work in collaboration with multiple team members, to share ideas, to be open to the ideas of others, and to work toward organizational priorities and goals.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in business or job-related field of study from an accredited four-year college or university or equivalent work experience.
• Experience working with a wide range of constituencies in diverse communities.
• Experience using client management software.

License or Certificates:

· Valid Washington State driver's license.

Physical Requirements:

· Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk, working on a computer, and driving.

· Must be able to drive a motor vehicle.

· Must be able to lift 25 pounds at times.

Working Conditions, Tools and Equipment:

· Duties are performed primarily in the field, client’s place of business, or remotely. Typical office equipment used to accomplish job tasks: computer, cell phone, printer and photocopier/scanner.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

· Extensive vehicle travel to facilitate outreach events, orientations, and meet with clients and other business assistance programs within a 100+ mile radius from office location.

· Must have access to reliable transportation.