Small Business Development Counselor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. The IRC’s Center for Financial Opportunity (CFO) helps newly arrived refugees and other low-income individuals reach self-sufficiency by finding entry-level employment and progressing to living-wage jobs, learning basic financial management skills, building assets, and starting small businesses. The IRC's Center of Financial Opportunity hosts the IRC SBDC, a Small Business Development Center that helps small business owners and entrepreneurs prosper by delivering in-language, no-cost business assistance. The small business development team offers loans and technical assistance to help CDBG-, ORR-, SBA-, and SBDC-eligible San Diego County residents start or grow a small business. Job Overview Under the supervision of the IRC Small Business Development Program Supervisor, the Small Business Counselor will support the continued development of the IRC Small Business Development Program with a strong focus on supporting the Small Business Administration Community Navigator Program and Small Business Development Center grants. As a Small Business Develop Center, the IRC SBDC offers one on one business advising on several topics including but not limited to start-up assistance, financial literacy, selling online and managing a business. The SBA Community Navigator Program, a federally funded program, focuses on providing targeted outreach for small businesses in underserved communities through leveraging partnerships with local and ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) who will connect to specific sectors of the entrepreneurial community to provide assistance during economic recovery, including: • financial assistance and access to capital • contracting and procurement • marketing, operations, business development, and exporting • industry-specific training Major Responsibilities: • Assist in the outreach and recruitment of program participants; screen and assess interested County of San Diego residents for program eligibility and participation; • Connect with ECBOs and provide assistance with coordination of technical assistance and trainings, data collection, and other administrative tasks as needed; • Lead training programs on a variety of topics including marketing, financial literacy, starting a business, best business practices, etc; • Data entry in Neoserra, SalesForce, and ETO, as necessary, to log key outcomes such as milestones, scope of work, surveys, etc; • Ensure that information required for program eligibility and reporting purposes is collected and that accurate records are maintained, including case files and client data entry across multiple databases; • Ensure necessary steps are taken to obtain relevant data in a timely fashion; follow up with all clients regularly and record all contacts with case notes; • Provide one-on-one business counseling and management assistance to new and existing San Diego County resident-owned businesses in all areas of business start-up and expansion; • Assist entrepreneurs to become ready for business financing through preparation of loan applications, business plans, and financial statements; • Underwrite and package loan applications, and present for review to the IRC’s CDFI; • Proactively facilitate referrals to outside service providers as necessary to meet the diverse needs of the program participants; • Conduct individual case management and loan collections, including "off-site" technical assistance visits to the businesses or homes of program participants; • Proactively facilitate referrals to outside service providers as necessary to meet the diverse needs of the program participants; • Assist participants in accessing funding such as grants and loans • Assist in the planning and coordination of training activities and special events; • Develop outreach materials and assist with communication to partners; • Attend regularly scheduled meetings with other IRC staff and volunteers as part of the review, evaluation, and program maintenance process; • Other duties as assigned. Job Requirements: • Excellent computer skills, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and the ability to learn the custom computer programs used for the SBDC; • Experience with CRMs such as Salesforce, ETO, Neoserra preferred; • Familiar with assessing business training needs and analyzing business-related materials, including financial reports, business and marketing plans, as well as conduct market research; • Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Finances, Public Administration, or related field. Business experience in lieu of formal business education is acceptable; • 2+ years of experience in small business development counseling and training. Experience operating a small business in lieu of small business development counseling and training may be acceptable. • Prior experience working with immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs is strongly desired; • Experience in the non-profit sector strongly preferred; • Excellent organizational, record-keeping, and analytical skills; • Strong written and verbal communication skills; • Proven ability to conduct effective instructional sessions to colleagues and entrepreneurs; • Proficiency in Spanish; • Ability to work independently, be a self-starter, and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks. Working Environment: • This position operates within a hybrid work environment, consisting of a combination of standard office-based work, remote/virtual work, and regular field engagement across the service delivery area. Regular travel between offices is required. • Access to a reliable vehicle to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area. • Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; occasional evening or weekend hours may be required. Compensation: ( Pay Range:$25.46 - $27.34 ) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct . Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding , Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients. Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles. Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.