Associate Director, East Bay SBDC

Job Announcement
· This Is Not a State Position

Location

Hours

Full Time
· 12 Months/Year

$95,000 – $125,000, DOE

East Bay SBDC Area Director

Project

Northern California Small Business Development Center (Nor Cal SBDC)

Position open until filled
· Apply by 5:00 PM, July 30, 2026 for first-round review

The Northern California Small Business Development Center (Nor Cal SBDC) is one of the nation’s largest economic development networks, serving 36 counties and playing a pivotal role in the region’s economic development ecosystem. Through coordinated efforts across Northern California, Nor Cal SBDC connects entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to launch, grow, and strengthen their businesses.

As one of the Nor Cal SBDC Area Centers, the East Bay Small Business Development Center (East Bay SBDC) serves entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Each year, the center provides no-cost business advising, training, and access to capital assistance to more than 1,000 businesses, helping them navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve long-term success.

The East Bay SBDC leadership team is responsible for ensuring Alameda and Contra Costa counties’ small business community benefits from accessible, high-quality one-on-one advising, education, and resources while fostering strategic collaborations with lenders, partner organizations, and regional stakeholders that support a thriving local economy.

The Nor Cal SBDC network is hosted by Cal Poly Humboldt University’s Sponsored Programs Foundation and funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), and other federal, state, and local grants and contracts.

The Associate Director is a senior leadership role within the East Bay Small Business Development Center (East Bay SBDC), combining hands-on business advising with operational management. Reporting to the Area Director, this position cultivates strategic partnerships, supports advisor success, and advances the center’s growth, visibility, and overall impact.

Working closely with the Area Director, the Associate Director guides day-to-day operations, oversees advisor activities, executes strategic initiatives, and ensures the delivery of high-quality services throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The position also helps expand referral networks, increase business outreach, enhance the client experience, and strengthen community engagement.

Balancing direct business advising with regional leadership responsibilities, the Associate Director maintains an active client portfolio while serving as a resource for advisors by providing guidance on complex client engagements and supporting advisor onboarding and development. Approximately 50% of the role is dedicated to advising entrepreneurs and small businesses, while the remaining time focuses on advancing regional partnerships, supporting advisor development, expanding business development opportunities, and representing the East Bay SBDC throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished relationship-builder who thrives on helping entrepreneurs succeed, cultivating strategic partnerships, mentoring advisors, and advancing initiatives that strengthen the East Bay’s business community.

• Build and maintain an active portfolio of entrepreneurs and small business clients.
• Provide one-on-one advising and technical assistance in areas including startup planning, business strategy, financial analysis, capital readiness, growth planning, operational improvement, and resource navigation.
• Accurately document client activity, outcomes, and success metrics in the Neo Serra database.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing advising team of both staff and independent contractors, focused on client success, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support advisor onboarding, coaching, and professional development initiatives.
• Facilitate advisor meetings, referral coordination, and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Serve…