Small Business Development Specialist

The Avondale Development Corporation (ADC) seeks a part-time Small Business Development Specialist to provide business coaching and advice to small and micro businesses in Avondale by leveraging various relationships with local small business resources.  This position assists ADC with assessing strengths and weaknesses of the business environment in Avondale.  It also assists small businesses with various types of planning and development through direct coaching/advising and connections with a variety of local resources available.   The Small Business Development Specialist spends a lot of time out in the community and occasionally requires evening and/or weekend meetings.  This position reports to the Executive Director of the Avondale Development Corporation.

Key Responsibilities

• Performs outreach and delivers presentations to community councils, business groups and community storefront businesses to promote services.
• Provides small businesses with business management assistance and coaching.
• Conducts business analysis for ADC and individual companies, including needs assessment, strategic planning, business plan review and development, marketing plan development, operations planning, financial analysis and planning, and project implementation planning.
• Acts as connecting liaison for outreach to clients involving third party providers of business assistance and services.
• Follows up and monitors progress of client companies to ensure businesses are making the connections and getting the assistance they need.
• Markets the various assistance services targeted for small businesses in Avondale.
• Collects and maintains demographic information for reporting on our client companies.
• Establishes and maintains/enhances relationships with appropriate economic development organizations, financial institutions, business support organizations, community leaders, and other local resources.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, marketing or related field and/or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of small business issues.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial experience preferred.
• Retail experience preferred.
• Public Speaking experience preferred.
• Passion for working with small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Required Competencies

• Strong oral and written communication skills demonstrating tact, diplomacy, professionalism, and a positive demeanor. Public speaking experience preferred.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze, and assess credit risk. Able to interpret and understand financial statements, ratios, and various accounting issues and principles.
• High level of judgment and decision-making skills that allow for identifying areas of need, defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, drawing valid conclusions, and determining possible solutions to meet needs.
• Problem solving skills including identifying the root cause, envisioning future needs, and correcting/planning accordingly.
• Computer skills and comfort utilizing various technologies including Microsoft Office Applications, Google Workspace Applications, and other web-based systems.
• Time management skills, including multitasking, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines for a wide variety of tasks.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.

Job Type: Part-time Hourly (20-24 hours per week)

Equal Opportunity Employer

ADC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment.  ADC believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.  Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the community we serve.

About Avondale Development Corporation

Avondale Development Corporation (ADC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to help improve the quality of life for residents of Avondale, the largest African-American neighborhood in Cincinnati.

ADC addresses critical housing needs in Avondale through a real estate portfolio that covers rehab and new construction. We work with the area’s leading businesses and organizations to create jobs and economic opportunities for Avondale residents, and lead organizing, engagement and advocacy efforts in Avondale to foster a community of neighbors who know each other and work together for common goals. Our many partners include Avondale Community Council, Cincinnati Public Schools, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, UC Health, Uptown Consortium and the City of Cincinnati.

 Please respond with resume and contact information, to: Rhairston@Growavondale.org