Business Advisor, Small Business Training Program

Business Advisor, Small Business Training Program

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Business Advisor, Small Business Training Program at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan, offering a high‑quality education to students from all backgrounds. Our commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity, and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities that prepare students for success in a global society.

Advise designated scholars on completing program deliverables, support the classroom environment, and link scholars to business support services.

• Meet with small business owners individually at least 6–8 times per program (target ~1.5–2 hours per meeting, combining in‑person and online meetings), guiding business growth. The final meeting (post Mod
  9) is dedicated to quality control of the growth plan and an advisor transition plan.
• Assist scholars in learning to use professional services appropriately, including preparation, discussion, debrief, and follow‑up.
• Connect scholars to external business support services within the local entrepreneurship ecosystem as needed.
• Help scholars understand, collect, and apply business metrics to support growth.
• Coordinate group activities in the classroom and support faculty.
• Apply course content to scholars’ businesses.
• Lead bi‑weekly planning sessions (see Scholar Support System/Triple S Overview) to support scholar business growth.
• Attend all modules, clinics, and program events to support scholar learning.
• Participate in the national program Training Seminar, focusing on advising for business growth using program deliverables, techniques for facilitating peer learning, planning and conducting individual meetings, collecting and validating baseline and graduation measurement tools, and understanding curriculum delivery.
• Prepare cohort, connect with local partner CDFIs, assist in scholar recruiting, review applications, develop scholar profiles, assign growth groups, and work with advising team.
• Participate in quarterly calls with national partners, network with business support services, and engage in scholar alumni program events.
• Participate in assessment of scholars through measurement and evaluation activities, post‑session debriefings, and program review processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Reports to:
  
  Director
• Leadership accountability:
  Implements operating plans
• Financial accountability:
  Monitors expenditures
• Customer accountability:
  Interfaces with customers outside the S/C/D
• Freedom to act:
  Operates with significant autonomy

• Education
  :
  Bachelor’s degree in business, entrepreneurship, sales, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
• Experience
  :
  Minimum 2 years of related experience, at least 3 years of successful experience in business advising for small‑business clientele, experience in community outreach and development of program partnerships, experience using project‑management principles
• Knowledge,
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  :
  • Effective interpersonal and customer‑service skills; clear, concise, professional communication orally and in writing
  • Flexibility to work evenings/weekends and set priorities to achieve goals
  • Project‑management skills: prepare timelines, project plans, and meet deadlines with little supervision
  • Teamwork: collaborate across organizational levels and build a collaborative environment
  • Integrity: high personal and professional ethical standards

• Regular Employee
• Fractional Time / Job type:
  Part‑time

Annual salary (maximum $72,000)

Work is a combination of in‑classroom participation, work from home, and visits to customer sites anywhere in Michigan or northern Ohio. Appointment is conditioned on subsidy; continuation depends on satisfactory performance and ongoing subsidy. The university welcomes applications from persons with disabilities and veterans. Wayne State is an equal‑opportunity employer.