Business Advisor – Small Business Development Center

Position ID: 196758

About University at
Albany:

Established in 1844 and designated a University Center of the State University of New York in 1962, the University at
Albany’s broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service engages a diverse student body of
more than 17,000 students in nine schools and colleges across three campuses.

Located in Albany, New York, New York State’s capital,
the University is convenient to Boston, New York City, and the Adirondacks.

Job Description:

The Business Advisor plays
a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) by providing one-on-one confidential business
counseling and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners. This position supports clients across all stages of the
business lifecycle ranging from startup to expansion while helping foster economic development within the local community.

The
Business Advisor works closely with small business clients to assess needs, identify opportunities, and develop strategic solutions in areas
such as business planning, financial analysis, marketing strategies, operations, loan and grant applications, regulatory compliance, and
access to capital. The advisor is responsible for maintaining accurate records of client interactions, delivering impactful consulting
outcomes, and participating in outreach efforts to ensure broad community engagement.

This role requires strong analytical skills, a
deep understanding of small business operations, and the ability to communicate complex business concepts clearly. Advisors must stay
current on trends, challenges, and resources relevant to small businesses, including local, state, and federal
programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Client Advisement (client meetings, advisement and work
  product)
• Training program development and execution
• Client resource development
• Administrative tasks (data entry,
  filing, reporting, etc.)

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

• N/A

Job
Requirements:

• Provide individualized business counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Assist
  clients with developing and refining business plans and financial projections.
• Assist clients with gaining a better understanding of
  their business’ financial statements, operations, administration and marketing efforts.
• Support clients in identifying potential
  sources of capital for their venture including but not limited to bank loans, SBA guaranteed loans, USDA guaranteed loans, community loan
  and grant programs, venture capital and alternative lending options.
• Advise clients on marketing, e-commerce, growth strategies,
  procurement, business certifications, and business management best practices.
• Deliver training workshops and webinars on various
  business topics.
• Develop client resources and tools for utilization in and the facilitation of the client/business advisor
  engagement.
• Outreach and collaboration with local economic development partners, chambers of commerce and financial
  institutions.
• Contribute to the center’s regional economic impact goals through client success stories and metrics. – Record client
  activity and engagement outcomes in the NY SBDC CRM tool.

Requirements:

Minimum
Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, accounting or a related field preferred, however,
  prior business ownership or management experience may be substituted for the degree.
• In lieu of a relevant bachelor’s degree, a
  minimum of five (5) years of direct business experience, in business advising, consulting, entrepreneurship or
  management.
• Experience developing and delivering in person and virtual training.
• Business computer skills including Office
  365 and ChatGPT.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus
  community
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their
  role

Preferred Qualifications:

• Self-motivated and directed, with experience determining priorities,
  strategies and processes in partnership with others.
• Ability to effectively communicate over the phone, in person, on online
  platforms (Zoom, Skype, Teams, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communications, customer service,
  client follow up, overall business acumen, quantitative and qualitative evaluation and client outreach required.
• Ability to adapt
  quickly to rapidly changing economic and client situations, pivot emphasis and time as required by disaster recovery or client needs;
  flexible, adaptable person eager to be involved in depth with economic recovery efforts within New York State, experience working remotely
  with clients or teams a strong plus.
• Relevant business process improvement exposure or experience, including leading others in a
  thorough and fact-driven analysis of overall business operations is a strong plus.
• Maturity to understand and empathize with
  business owners during a difficult time even while providing those same owners with direct and at times challenging questions, feedback and
  commentary on the state of their business plans, operations and recovery efforts.
• Verbal and written fluency in a language other
  than English a definite plus

Additional Information:

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Senior Staff Assistant, SL3,
$57,151.

Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the
future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that UAlbany is not
an E-Verify employer.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act,
mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists
of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University’s
current campus security policies. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by
clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is
permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her
current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of
employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of
verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the
Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected].

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA
EMPLOYER

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=196758

Application
Instructions:

Applicants MUST submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating all the
  required minimum qualifications and any of the applicable preferred qualifications
• List of 3 professional references with e-mail
  addresses and telephone numbers

Note: After submitting your resume, the subsequent pages give you instructions for
uploading additional documents (i.e. cover letter etc.).

See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through
this website.

Returning Applicants – Login to your UAlbany Careers Account to check your completed application.

Closing date for receipt of
applications: March 11, 2026