Veterans Business Specialist
University of North Dakota

Job Info

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Position Information: Description

The UND Center for Business Engagement and Development is an internal umbrella department at UND, hosting the North Dakota Small Business Development Centers (ND SBDC) program, the North Dakota Procurement Technical Assistance Centers program (ND PTAC), and the Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) of the Dakotas program. These programs are federal-state-local partnership programs that provide training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses through geographically dispersed service centers in North Dakota and South Dakota (VBOC only). The Lead Center is in Gamble Hall on the UND campus, and provides leadership, supervision, service, and support for these programs that are part of the North Dakota Small Business Development Network.

The VBOC mission is to provide business training and counseling services to active-duty personnel, veterans from any era, and military spouses who want to learn more about, then start and grow a small business of their own. The VBOC network has 22 centers spread across the US to serve veterans and military spouses in all 50 states and US territories.

The Veterans Business Specialist functions within the Veterans Business Outreach Center program, focusing on serving primarily South Dakota. Required services provided by the VBOC program include client advising, conducting training workshops, and attending various outreach events across ND and SD.

This position is the South Dakota point of contact for the VBOC of the Dakotas program, its clients and referral sources. This position is accountable for meeting annual program goals in collaboration and coordination with the VBOC Director and other staff. The Veterans Business Specialist is responsible for providing professional start up, management, and business growth assistance to clients through one-on-one client advising, and via virtual and/or in-person training events, including scheduling, facilitating, and overall coordination for successful Boots to Business and B2B Reboot training programs in South Dakota. The position also represents the program and network at VBOC related meetings/events. Travel to clients and stakeholders throughout SD is expected and may need to take place outside of normal business hours. There may also need to be occasional travel to North Dakota.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate all aspects of Boots to Business, B2B Reboot, and other training events
  • Coordination of events includes organizing and training instructors and/or presenters, event location logistics, curriculum familiarity, event material preparation and marketing, assisting with registration of attendees, facilitating the actual event, hosting or moderating virtual events, tracking attendees, and follow-up activities (reporting and evaluations)
  • Assist with organizing and promoting high quality collaborative business training programs (non-curriculum based) that are responsive to the needs of the business community served
  • Support other VBOC staff in preparation for other types of training events or presentations, assessing participants’ interest, education, and experience to determine training and services to assist clients in reaching goals.
  • Maintain accurate, complete, and timely reporting of all trainings in required databases and systems, ensuring precise documentation is recorded before and/or after the event
  • Routinely report on training activities to director to satisfy program reporting requirements
• Provide business advising/technical assistance to Veterans, Guard, Reserve and military-connected family members in the areas of business planning, start-up and growth, financing and management
  • Serve as the initial contact point for clients in SD, guiding them to online registration process, setting up advising appointments, completing initial intake sessions ensuring client’s needs are met and appropriate collaboration and referral between SBA resource partners occurs as appropriate
  • Provide one-on-one, individualized business advising to clients. This may require some evening or weekend appointments, in person, by phone, video-conference, email correspondence, and travel from the office to a client’s location may be necessary
  • Accurate, complete, and timely recording of all client activity including preparation tasks, research, advising activities, next steps, and contact hours in the Neoserra system, ensuring all recorded information meets federal reporting rules and regulations, and supports the network’s metrics and strategy.
  • Routinely report progress on advising activities and objectives to director to satisfy program reporting requirements
• VBOC program outreach: effectively engage in collaboration and promote the program
  • Actively seek and initiate new, and foster relationships through networking opportunities to improve program visibility and awareness of VBOC service offerings and training opportunities (with military chapters and organizations, including Army, Air Force, Guard, Reserve, universities/colleges, and other partners and stakeholders that serve in the entrepreneurial ecosystem)
  • Collaborate and attend meetings with North & South Dakota SBA District Offices, SBA resource partners and other key stakeholders while actively working together to enhance program visibility and impact with the Dakotas
  • Participate in community organizations such as Bunker Labs, area Chambers of Commerce, VA boards, etc.
  • As appropriate, network with other VBOCs, SBDCs, PTACs, and relevant stakeholders to learn and promote the programs
  • Actively participate and contribute as a member of the department team. participate in ND Small Business Development Network activities and quarterly meetings, supporting alignment of the VBOC program’s role within the network, promoting interaction, engagement, and cooperation between staff and programs
  • Attend VBOC quarterly/annually meetings and other meetings as requested by supervisor
• VBOC program marketing
  • Assist with maintaining/updating a communications plan for the program that supports the mission and benefits of the program and aligns with the strategic plan, building the program’s online presence and brand awareness to diverse audiences
  • Collaborate with program staff and department leadership to create and publish high-quality print and digital program materials and promotional pieces (textual and image based, including but not limited to client success stories, press releases, e-newsletter for clients and stakeholders, websites, and public-facing content, social media sites, email and event marketing, etc.), and communicate to appropriate resources for public dissemination.
  • Assess, monitor, adjust creative content to foster engagement and maintain appropriate perception regarding program purpose and reputation, reporting notable concerns and opportunities to Director and department leadership (conduct analyses to optimize outreach activities, create, analyze and maintain metrics report on marketing, event and outreach activities, manage and improve search engine and social media content strategies, stay up to date on the latest trends and changes to ensure strong click-through rates, traffic, conversions, views, etc.)
  • Manage and maintain communication mailing/email lists and databases
  • Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports and other written materials
  • Handle sensitive communications with professionalism and confidentiality
  • Other strategic special projects or activities as assigned
• Professional development
  • Keep abreast of program guidelines, policy changes and new developments related to the program
  • Seek, identify, obtain, and share professional development training to improve job performance and enable understanding and advancement of the VBOC program, in alignment with program direction, budget, and goals
  • Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, conferences, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies
  • As appropriate, network with other VBOCs and relevant stakeholders to both learn about and promote the program
  • Share VBOC knowledge, activities and impacts at appropriate meetings/professional development sessions

Required Competencies

• Business Planning (development, key components, implementation, market/industry research)
• Marketing (strategies, competition analysis, development, implementation and evaluation of a plan, e-commerce, digital marketing)
• Demonstrated robust interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking (in front of large and diverse audiences), with the ability to quickly adapt and build rapport in training situations based on the audience’s verbal and non-verbal ques, as well as answering questions that come up during training sessions
• Superior effective communication skills, including written skills, active listening, effective client interviewing using open ended questions, attention to detail, creative problem solving, proactively determine client needs and next steps, and the ability to handle difficult people.
• Ability to cultivate, build, and maintain working relationships with individuals or organizations with diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and be willing to look at situations from several points of view
• Demonstrated desire to learn, and the ability to take constructive criticism, make changes and grow
• Must be able to maintain sensitive and confidentiality of information, with no exceptions
• Work independently within a cohesive program team, and a collaborative network focused on the same goals
• Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, client satisfaction, and a high regard for others and completing tasks on time
• Passionate about being innovative and finding opportunities outside the norm to help clients and the program achieve the desired goals
• Demonstrated exceptional customer service and satisfaction for both internal and external stakeholders
• Possess the ability to prioritize, organize, coordinate and complete complex tasks using independent judgment, attention to detail, accuracy and speed, with minimal supervision, must have very high self-motivation
• Motivated to create and foster collaborative working relationships with a variety of businesses and organizations at local, state, and national levels

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Entrepreneurship, Management, Marketing, Education or a related field and a minimum of one year full-time experience that is relevant to this position and its multi-faceted responsibilities
• Experience with entrepreneurial and small business programs / client advising / military service
• Demonstrated experience with professional social media and marketing campaigns
• Advanced experience with the operations of computers and software, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, conference call and/or webinar applications (Zoom, Zoom webinar, and Teams)
• Experience learning new database/MIS systems emerging office technologies quickly
• Valid Driver's License
• Must have reliable transportation, some overnight travel will be required
• Successful completion of criminal history records check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Military service or military-related experience
• Experience in teaching and facilitating trainings and/or workshops, in-person and virtually, to audiences that have diverse skills and backgrounds
• Experience working with SBA programs, SBA resource partners, or other organization that is client-facing and business focused
• Experience in business ownership or management
• Prior business consulting/advising/coaching experience
• Experience with web-design programs, Adobe, and Dropbox

Minimum Hiring Salary/Position Classification

$45,000/year, Full-time, benefited, exempt

Work Schedule/Start Date

General schedule Mon-Fri 8-5, however, evening and weekend events may be required as well as travel. 

Benefits

Includes single or family health care coverage (premiums paid for by the university), basic life insurance, EAP, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual and sick leave. Optional benefits available: supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

To Apply

For full consideration, all application materials must be fully submitted by 11:59PM on the closing date.

Additional Information

To find out why living and working in Greater Grand Forks is way cooler, check out Grand Forks is Cooler.

All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EO/Title IX for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.

Confidentiality of Application Materials

Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three finalists who will be invited to campus.

EEO Statement

The University of North Dakota is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or other protected characteristic. Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to provide information regarding their gender, race and/or ethnicity, veteran’s status and disability status as part of the application process. This information will remain confidential and separate from your application.

Veteran’s Preference

Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 or NGB 22 and if claiming disabled status, a current letter of disability from the VA dated within the last 12 months.

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of North Dakota publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university’s policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at UND.edu. You may also request a paper copy of the report from the UND Police Department located at 3851 Campus Road, Grand Forks, ND, 58202.

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