Mat-Su Business Advisor

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact on the growth and success of small businesses in the Mat-Su region? The Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is looking for an experienced Business Advisor to join our Wasilla team. In this full-time role, you’ll provide expert guidance to local entrepreneurs on business planning, financial management, marketing, and more. Help businesses thrive by offering strategic advice and support to overcome challenges and seize growth opportunities. If you’re passionate about supporting small businesses in Alaska, apply now to make a lasting impact in the Mat-Su region!

As the Mat-Su Business Advisor, you will provide expert guidance to small businesses, applying your knowledge of business management, financial planning, and employee management to drive sustainable growth. Your role involves analyzing financial data and developing strategies to maximize profitability and ROI, while helping clients navigate complex tax regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. With years of business ownership or management experience, you will assist clients with resource development, securing funding, and forming key partnerships. You will also use your public speaking and communication skills to create and deliver workshops, webinars, and presentations, strengthening community connections.

You will ensure clients maintain accurate records and comply with regulations by managing and updating business databases. Through your analytical expertise, you will identify growth opportunities and support businesses in maintaining efficiency and compliance. Ultimately, you will be a trusted advisor, guiding small businesses through growth challenges while optimizing their operations and financial outcomes.

To thrive in this role, the ideal candidate should have experience with the SBDC or SBA and business development preferably in the Mat-Su area. Familiarity with the banking and finance industry, as well as experience with angel and venture funding, is highly beneficial. A background in AI technology, such as ChatGPT, is preferred. The candidate should also have knowledge of marketing practices for small businesses, basic web development, QuickBooks and SEO. Experience with small business human resources and labor requirements is important, as is familiarity with the Mat-Su innovation and entrepreneurship community. International trade experience is a plus as is being bilingual.

Minimum Qualifications:

REQUIRED:
Bachelor’s degree in related field and two years relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Master’s degree preferred.

PREFERENCES:
● Five years of business ownership or business management (financial and personnel). Ownership or management experience should include executive-level responsibility for usual and necessary small business operational functions.
● Business development and financial accounting knowledge are critical.
● Business consulting/mentoring experience
● Knowledge of the local economy and proven ability to build productive relationships with community leaders.
● Experience developing materials and comfortable providing workshops and training classes
● Ability to use computerized tools to organize, analyze and store information, and communicate (Alaska SBDC utilizes G Suite Apps, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, GoToMeeting/Webinar, and ChatGPT).

Position Details:

This position is located at the Mat-Su Small Business Development Center Office in Wasilla, AK. This is a Term-Funded, Full-Time, Exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 79, based on education and experience.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

Review of application materials will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patrick Sullivan at pjsullivan@alaska.edu

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

This position is a term-funded position and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.