Business Consultant

About the role

Louisiana State University of Alexandria is a publicly supported institution that provides undergraduate level college education to the citizens of Central Louisiana. The university is a unit of the LSU System and operates under the auspices of the Louisiana Board of Regents. LSUA is located in Rapides Parish. All Job Postings will close at 12:01a.m. CST (1:01a.m. EST) on the specified Closing Date (if designated). If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application progress will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through "My Draft Applications" located on your Candidate Home page. Job Posting Title: Business Consultant Position Type: Professional / Unclassified Department: LSUA ASA - LSBDC (Britni Danielle C Lilley (00274492)) Work Location: LSU - Alexandria Pay Grade: Professional Job Description: PURPOSE: The Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) Business Consultant fosters a strong climate for small business growth by providing in-depth, confidential, no-cost business counseling, no- to low-cost training, and resource and referral services to Louisiana's small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. RESPONSIBILITES: Small Business Counseling and Training: - Interview and assess client needs. - Provide counseling or e-counseling that includes feasibility, financial, regulatory, and operational guidance, and technical assistance on the various aspects of starting and expanding a successful small business, including, but not limited to: o Analyze the specific business and industry data in finance, marketing, management, and operations, o Guide the development of business plans and financial packages; calculating and interpreting historical and projected financial ratios o Prepare proforma cash flow and financial statements o Identify problems and areas for improvement o Provide guidance on expansion to include employment requirements, foreign markets, government contracting, and technology commercialization o Conduct quality-based assessments o Provide information on federal, state, and local regulations and programs o Provide guidance in loan packaging to pre-venture, start-up, or advanced-stage existing businesses - Develop a resource network to provide referrals to appropriate resources. - Plan and market no- to low-cost training on subjects relevant to small business start-ups and growth. - Recruit government, private, and public entities, businesses, and businesspersons to provide voluntary training. - Evaluate programs' effectiveness and measure the impact of services provided. - Assist in the transfer of university-based knowledge to the small business community. Ensure timely and accurate counseling data input into Center IC client information management system. - Other duties as assigned by the State Office Program and Small Business Advocate: - Promote the LSBDC program and advocate for small businesses through presentations to communities and entities. - Develop relationships with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, SBA, University Leadership, banks, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, trade groups, educational institutions, legislators, and hosts. - Develop appropriate advertising, promotion, and marketing materials. Miscellaneous: - Attend regional and state meetings and conferences as required. - Develop and provide specific information, reports, and/or special services as requested or required by the SBA/SBDC Administrators, the SBA Business Development Specialist, and the State Director of the LSBDC. - Support area, state, and federal research projects concerning small businesses and disseminate results to the community. Competency Statement(s): The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform job duties at a high level. - Leadership Skills - the ability to influence, motivate, and elevate others to do more than they knew possible, as well as an ability to know when to lead and when to follow. - Small Business Path - a clear understanding of taking an idea or concept and developing a solid plan to start, stabilize, grow, or expand. - Emotional Intelligence - the ability to recognize and discern emotions to guide thinking and behavior to adapt to dynamic environments and collaborative teams. - Interpersonal Relations - the ability to deliver exceptional customer service by exceeding the expectations of clients, stakeholders, and colleagues with every encounter. - Consultation/Advising Skills - a keen ability to effectively analyze, interpret, and coach clients from various industries on multi-faceted business concepts to a positive outcome that directs their path to success. Must be able to help clients with all facets of the business planning process. - Communication Skills - knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of