Small Business Counselor

Job Description

Requisition ID: req39555

Job Title: Small Business Counselor

Sector: Program Administration

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Salt Lake City, UT USA

Job Description

IRC Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, regain control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC in Salt Lake City (IRC SLC) opened in 1994 and provides resettlement services through extended case management to newly arrived refugees for up to 24-months as well as over twenty different programs to educate and empower refugees.

Job Overview:

Under the direction of the Small Business Program Manager, the SBA Business Counselor will provide refugees and new Americans small business owners and entrepreneurs with opportunities for business training, one-on-one business technical assistance, and assistance with access to capital. The position is tasked with fulfilling the objectives of a Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Navigators project, in which the IRC SLC Small Business team is working with other regional “spoke” organizations to provide small business services to small business owners and entrepreneurs not served through traditional business support avenues. They are primarily responsible for program recruitment, partnership navigation, and delivery of direct small business services. This is a full time, regular term position.

Major Responsibilities:

Provide ongoing resources to ethnic community-based organizations, community partners, and other community leaders to recruit qualified entrepreneur candidates for services.
Work with SBA Navigator sub-spoke partners to provide business counseling services to refugee and other new American small business owner.
Ensure participant eligibility per donor requirements.
Provide one-on-one training technical assistance in small business development, finances, marketing, and outreach to clients, making outside referrals when needed.
Develop loan applications, including business plans, cash flow projections and other required documentation; underwrite loans to ensure alignment with IRC’s loan policies prior to submission.
Provide credit building and small business loans to eligible participants.
Develop and coordinate training workshops as needed, including arrangement of guest speakers/trainers, identify and purchase appropriate incentives as needed
Maintain case files all for program clients; including collection of appropriate client eligibility documents
Conduct participant surveys, including for business workshops
Collect, maintain, and enter data into the program’s information data systems
Collaborate with Small Business Program Manager to compile data for reports to program funders
Other duties as required

Job Requirements:
Education:

Undergraduate degree, or equivalent professional experience, in Economics, Business, Small Business Development, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Education, or related field.

Work Experience:

2 years of professional experience working in, entrepreneurship, business counseling, or small business development;
Demonstrated understanding of U.S. businesses and U.S. business development systems and laws, with experience in business counseling, banking, entrepreneurship, or related endeavors;
Experience with adult education, training, community building, and/or community development;
Experience supervising staff; preferably within a social services environment;
Previous experience working with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and varying levels of literacy and numeracy;
Experience working in a direct service role preferred;
Experience and training in trauma-informed and person-centered services;
Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

Strong organizational skills including: multi-tasking, prioritizing, planning, and effective time management;
Ability to work independently as well as on a close, collaborative team;
Fluency in written and spoken English, with bi-lingual ability in a language commonly spoken by refugees in Salt Lake City, such as Arabic, Swahili, Kirundi, or Somali preferred;
Ability to communicate with limited-English speakers, and demonstrated multicultural experience;
Ability to work with refugee participants, community leaders, community partners and volunteers from a variety of backgrounds;
Competency in Microsoft Office required; experience in web-based data entry systems, with both data extraction and design preferred; additional technical skills an asset;
Valid driver’s license, active insurance policy and access to reliable transportation.
Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Small Business Program Manager

Position Directly Supervises: MED Program Specialist and other seasonal staff as needed. May supervise: AmeriCorps members, Summer Associates, Interns, and Volunteers as needed

Work Environment:

Standard office work environment along with travel in and around the service delivery area
Flexibility to work some Saturdays and some weekday evenings as needed to support programming.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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