Business Advisor - Klickitat/Skamania

Updated: about 16 hours ago
Location: Klickitat, WASHINGTON
Job Type: FullTime

Available Title(s):

1196-NN_ADMINPRO - Business Management Counselor, 1196-YN_ADMINPRO - Business Management Counselor

Business Title:

Business Advisor - Klickitat/Skamania

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The primary focus of the Small Business Development Center ( SBDC) program is business development education through individual and small group advising. The SBDC is a network of entrepreneurially minded professional Business Advisors with significant experience in small business who enjoy the intrinsic value of helping business owners/managers developing or improving their business knowledge and skills to effectively manage the operations of their business.


As a Business Advisor, in confidential, one-on-one relationships, and in adherence to the conduct policies of the SBDC program, you will educate, mentor, and advise clients in all areas of growing a business. You will work independently in a community-located SBDC center, yet frequently collaborate with Business Advisors across the state who request assistance on behalf of a client with need for specific expertise. You must develop and maintain a referral network within your local service areas to ensure you maintain a robust client caseload capable of delivering significant economic impacts to the local community and the state.


In addition to the instruction/advising component of the position, you will perform significant outreach activities to engage the community through regular contact with Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils, service clubs, community organizations, and legislators in conjunction with the Lead Office staff. You must also build relationships with various and diverse stakeholders to advocate support of the SBDC program, including elected officials, funding partners, businesses, and community leaders.


New Business Advisors in the SBDC network will need to successfully complete a certification program to become fully certified as a Business Advisor. Certification is designed to allow the new Business Advisor to demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge and abilities to be successful in guiding clients toward their goals while taking advantage of learning from experienced advisors sharing best practices, tools, and processes they use to assist their clients.
This position is located in Klickitat/Skamania, WA.


Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in business or related field and four (4) years of experience in business ownership, business management, and/or program development. A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. These positions may require additional licenses or certifications.

  • Robust computer skills including demonstrated proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, email, and Excel applications.

  • Within six (6) months of hire, complete or be making satisfactory progress toward completion as determined by the SBDC's Certification and Professional Development Committee, the Washington SBDC certification. Upon successful completion, the candidate will be designated a Certified Business Advisor (CBA) and will be expected to pursue on-going professional development and continuing education to maintain their certification.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bilingual in English/Spanish.

  • Demonstrated local economic development, community, and business relationships.

  • Experience in advising small businesses.

  • Five (5) or more years of small business ownership and/or management.

  • Experience developing and/or teaching management workshops.

  • Program and/or product development experience.

  • Work experience with technology-based firms.

Additional Information:

Area/College: Office of Research
Department Name: Washington Small Business Development Center
Department Link: Small Business Development Center Webpage
Monthly Salary: $5,583.33 - $6,286.74 | In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range. For additional information, please review WSU’s Administrative Professional Compensation .  

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation .

Overtime Eligibility: Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement.
This is a Permanent position.
Posting Close Date: This position has been extended to close on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11:59 P.M. Screening has begun and will remain ongoing until the vacancy has been filled.
Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34 , engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need.  A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.
Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Documents may be submitted in one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF if possible. Applicants will be requested to provide contact information for professional references within the online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

  • External candidates, please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of your application.

  • Internal candidates, please upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.


Required Documents:

  • Resume

  • Cover Letter

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected] .