Entry Level Small Business Management Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Position Purpose of Classification: The Small Business Program Manager manages and coordinates day-to-day operations, service delivery, outreach activities, and program administration for the City's Small Business Office. This position serves as the primary liaison for small businesses and prospective business owners seeking assistance with navigating City processes, business resources, and local support opportunities. The Program Manager provides direct customer support, manages business engagement and case-tracking activities, coordinates training and outreach efforts, and works with City departments and external partners to improve small businesses' awareness of and access to City services, procurement opportunities, business resources, and related assistance.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This classification is distinguished by its responsibility for managing and coordinating small business assistance, outreach, eligibility determinations, and service delivery within the City Manager's Office. The position reports to the Assistant to the City Manager and requires independent judgment, strong customer service skills, public outreach, program administration, and close collaboration with City departments, particularly the Procurement Office, as well as external partners and the business community. This position manages programs, initiatives, operational processes, and service delivery functions and may coordinate the work of cross-functional teams or assigned support staff but does not include formal supervisory responsibilities unless specifically assigned.

Duties The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Serves as the primary liaison for inquiries and service requests from small businesses participating in or seeking assistance through the City's Small Business Office; provides guidance, business eprocess navigation, and case-tracking support in a timely, professional, and customer-focused manner. Assists new and existing businesses by connecting them with the appropriate department or office for information about City business-related requirements and processes. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with City departments, community organizations, business support providers, and external partners to expand awareness of and access to resources and opportunities for small businesses.

Coordinates with the Procurement Office to address routine small business inquiries and supports businesses in navigating procurement-related opportunities and procedures. Administers the City's small business eligibility process, including receiving applications, reviewing required documentation for completeness, coordinating eligibility determinations, maintaining program records, and communicating with applicants regarding requirements and application status in accordance with established policies and procedures. Develops, coordinates, and delivers City-led training and educational workshops for the business community.

Plans, coordinates, and participates in workshops, outreach events, stakeholder meetings, community events, and other business engagement activities to promote City services and programs and to represent the Small Business Office. Collects, tracks, analyzes, and reports small business engagement and contracting outcomes using available City data and information self-reported by small businesses, including, as applicable, contract awards, dollar amounts, awarding entities, and other relevant metrics. Maintains accurate records, program files, contact databases, and performance metrics for office activities.

Prepares monthly, quarterly, annual, and special reports, summaries, and presentations for City leadership regarding business contacts, service trends, outreach efforts, and program outcomes. Prepares correspondence, reports, presentations, outreach materials, and website content related to small business services and initiatives. Maintains and improves administrative processes, office practices, resource materials, reference guides, contact lists, and public-facing information to support the effective functioning of the Small Business Office.

Research and evaluates best practices in small business assistance, outreach, and program delivery to support office operations and service effectiveness. Provides budget input and monitors expenditures, including related tracking and reporting, for Small Business Office operations, programs, and initiatives. Collaborates with City departments on behalf of businesses to address questions and concerns and elevates policy, legal, technical, or operational issues to the appropriate department leadership, as needed.

Performs duties in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, municipal policies, and departmental procedures. Operates standard office equipment in the execution of duties; may operate a City vehicle as needed. May work evenings and weekends, as needed, to support program schedules, outreach activities, and community events.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; ability to use time and attendance systems, workflow and enterprise systems, and other office technology effectively for communication, scheduling, case tracking, reporting, and program administration; and ability to learn departmental and City systems as required. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of small business outreach, business resource navigation, customer service practices, and general municipal processes affecting businesses, including how to direct inquiries related to permitting, licensing, zoning, inspections, and procurement-related procedures to the appropriate department or office. Skill in customer service delivery, oral and written communication, public outreach, relationship management, organizing and managing work, maintaining records, preparing reports, analyzing data, and using office technology.

Ability to exercise independent judgment in applying program procedures and operational guidelines. Ability to respond to inquiries, provide accurate information, coordinate internal and external stakeholders, manage multiple priorities, and support effective program delivery and continuous process improvement. Additional Functions: Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Minimum Qualifications: Associate's degree in public administration, business administration, economic development, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position. Bachelor's degree preferred. Preferably, three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in small business support, economic development, community development, local government, program administration or coordination, or a related field.

Specific Licenses or Certifications Required: Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license. Core Competencies & ADA Compliance Performance Aptitudes: Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility. Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of references, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs. Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems. Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

ADA Compliance: Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds). Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odors, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature/noise extremes, or traffic hazards. The City of Albany, GA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.