Business Advisor

Job Title : Business Advisor

PVN ID : LA-2510-007067

Category : Instruction and Social Service

Location : LAGUARDIA C. C.

Job Description

General Description

Goldman Sachs, 10,000 Small Businesses at LaGuardia Community College, is part of a $1 billion investment to help small businesses in the United States create jobs and economic growth by providing entrepreneurs with practical business education, access to capital, and business support services. The program is based on the broadly held view of leading experts that greater access to this combination of education, capital, and support services best addresses barriers to growth. 10,000 Small Businesses is funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

Business owners selected to participate in this intensive 3–4-month program will receive rigorous training on business fundamentals through a curriculum delivered by LaGuardia Community College in collaboration with some of the nation's top business schools and tailored to the practical needs of small firms. By the time business owners graduate from the program, they will have formulated their growth plans and will be on track to expand and develop their businesses.

Business advisors are essential to the scholars' success participating in the 10,000 Small Businesses program at LaGuardia Community College. Under the direction of the Education Services Director / Lead Faculty, Business Advisors are responsible for providing effective business support services to two to three groups of business owners, support the classroom environment, and link scholars to business support services and capital. The Business Advisor will provide direct technical assistance to participants in developing a business growth plan, implementing change strategies, outreach, recruitment, measurement, and evaluation. Advisors include valuation, participation in the business education classes, and alumni services. Business Advisors must be self-directed with the desire and ability to generate innovative methods for helping small businesses and bolstering job creation. He or she will effectively interact with business owners to identify barriers to growth and develop solutions to address these challenges. The successful candidate will be outcome-oriented, a self-starter, problem solver, skillful communicator, creative, opportunistic, and an effective collaborator who can work effectively with the LaGuardia Community College 10,000 Small Businesses program team, alumni, and external community and program partners.

A 10,000 Small Businesses Business Advisor is one who :

Is committed to working with their designated scholars in a facilitative and supportive manner to identify their business needs and provide or obtain appropriate assistance

Works in a collaborative and supportive manner within the classroom and in advising sessions to help the scholars complete the program and program deliverables

Guides the scholars through the Access to Capital program opportunities

Understands and values the importance of measurement and evaluation activities and provides support in the data collection process

Uses a model of community engagement to link scholars to other Business Support Services

Dedicated to the program outcomes of job creation and revenue generation

Duties and Responsibilities

Business Support :

Provide direct technical assistance to 10,000 Small Businesses scholars

Manage a caseload of businesses, providing consultation and advice geared towards promoting business growth

Meets with each business owner on an individual basis at minimum 6- 8 times per program (through a combination of in-person and virtual meetings.

Manage relationships with participating businesses to proactively address business needs

Assess, document, and synthesize information about participating business to inform the provision of appropriate services and classroom education

Assist participating businesses in the planning and implementation of specific components of growth plans

Ensure services are tailored to individual business needs and tightly coordinated with program curriculum

Record and leverage information regarding businesses and interactions to monitor progress and provide quality services

Conceptualize, develop, and execute value-add networking opportunities for present and former participating businesses

Assist in connecting businesses to the appropriate Business Support Services (local entrepreneurship ecosystem) as needed for specialty services

Assists with Measurement and Evaluation (M & E) for baseline, graduation, and post- program surveys

Curriculum :

Understand the content and delivery approach of the curriculum

Attend all modules, clinics, and program events to support scholar learning

Advise the Educational Services Director of scholars in need of educational support during the program

Assist within the classroom to coordinate group activities and support faculty

Outreach and Recruitment Support :

Assist in scholar recruitment as directed by the Outreach and Recruitment Partnership Director

Review scholar applications and participate in the interview selection process, as needed

Community Building :

Participates in regular national BA calls to get updates, exchange best practices, discuss new challenges, etc.

Engages in business owner alumni program events, as needed

Other Duties

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited school, in Business, Entrepreneurship, Sales Public Administration, Government Affairs or related field and a minimum of three years of experience in business consulting engagements is required. Advanced degree welcomed

Knowledgeable about strong business principles practices; experience with small businesses

Ability to interact with a diverse set of businesses and people

Must be a passionate and knowledgeable advocate for the program, its participants, and LaGuardia Community College

Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to find innovative ways to serve program participants

Experience with project management and business analysis

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multi-task

Excellent spoken and written communication skills

Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (WORD, PowerPoint, Excel, ) and a willingness to learn new tools (Basecamp, LivePlan, Salesforce, Zoom, etc.)

Ability to work a flexible schedule

This is a grant-funded, in-person position with the option of some remote work, through the Research Foundation of CUNY. Appointments are subject to availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

LaGuardia Community College

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

RFCUNY Benefits RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals ()

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action / Americans with Disabilities Act / E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Key Features

Department 10,000 Small Businesses

Status Full Time

Annual Salary Range $65,000.00 - $74,620.00

Closing Date Dec 15, 2025 (Or Until Filled)

Bargaining Unit Yes

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