Department: Office Rsrch Innov and Econ Impact
Classification: Program Admin Specialist 1
Job Category: Classified Staff
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA (subject to change)
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship
Pay Band: 04
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Restricted: Yes
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:The Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and local host organizations that provides advising, training, and technical assistance to small businesses across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia SBDC Lead Office administers and manages a statewide network of 25 SBDC centers operated by 13 subrecipients, including universities, community colleges, and economic development organizations. The Virginia SBDC is a program of Mason Enterprise within George Mason University.
Capital Pathways is a specialized initiative within the Virginia SBDC Network focused on helping very small businesses (fewer than 10 employees) and emerging or growth-ready firms overcome barriers to accessing capital. The program delivers an immersive, hands-on experience emphasizing financial, credit, and legal readiness through group workshops and bootcamps, webinars with expert speakers, bookkeeping trainings, and extended one-on-one assistance from financial, accounting, and legal professionals.
About the Position:The Business Advisor, Capital Pathways is responsible for advising prospective and existing Capital Pathways clients to help them strengthen their businesses, improve financial, credit, and legal readiness, and successfully access capital. The Business Advisor provides individualized advising, delivers group training, and contributes to outreach and partnership activities that advance the program's impact across Virginia. This role requires deep knowledge of small business finance, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work independently while collaborating closely with program staff and partners. Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred to effectively serve the program's target client base.
Responsibilities:Client Advising and Technical Assistance:
- Provide one-on-one advising to prospective and existing small business clients on business strategy, financial management, and access-to-capital readiness;
- Analyze client situations and provide recommendations related to legal foundations, financial practices, pricing and profitability, financial projections, financial statements, KPIs, credit building, tax compliance, lender and investor readiness, and accounting systems; and
- Maintain an appropriate client load consistent with annual deliverables and strategic plan objectives.
Program Documentation and Compliance:
- Document all advising, training, and client interactions in the CRM system in a timely, accurate, and comprehensive manner;
- Maintain client files and records in compliance with Virginia SBDC Network, VSBFA, and U.S. Treasury SSBCI reporting requirements; and
- Support collection, validation, and submission of required client and program data.
Training Design and Delivery:
- Design, develop, and deliver group trainings, workshops, and webinars related to small business finance, operations, and access to capital; and
- Serve as a presenter or facilitator for program events, bootcamps, and peer learning sessions.
Outreach, Partnerships, and Representation:
- Contribute to Capital Pathways outreach and awareness within target markets across Virginia;
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse business communities, including minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses; and
- Represent Capital Pathways at business community events, partner meetings, and public forums.
Program Support and Special Projects:
- Provide input to the SSBCI Program Manager regarding program operations, improvements, and strategic initiatives;
- Collaborate with program staff on marketing, outreach, partnership development, and special projects; and
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of Capital Pathways objectives.
Required Qualifications: