Organizational Overview

The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is a non-profit, community development financial institution providing integrated business services to low-income community entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in their own neighborhood. These businesses then enrich the economic and social fabric of the community. More information at www.ndc-mn.org .

Job Summary
The Small Business Advisor & Program Coordinator supports NDC’s mission by working directly with small business owners to provide strategic guidance and innovative solutions to enhance their operations, improve profitability, and ensure sustainability. This role involves client advising, program coordination, and team collaboration, contributing to the economic vitality of local communities.

Key Responsibilities

· Advise clients by identifying and communicating directly on realistic business strategies and appropriate marketing resources that improve their business operations and are cost effective.

· Working one on one with clients to achieve their business strategies and goals.

· Coordinating and supporting a pool of additional small business advisors, that includes entering contracts with scope of work, managing relationships, timelines, invoice reviews and contract completion.

· Plan and conduct cohort learning opportunities for clients on various business topics.

· Participate in team meetings as the NDC's Business Lab team reviews all Business Service requests, approves whom receives services, and selects the service providers to deliver agreed-upon services.

· Collaborate with team members on department workplan, goals, program development and attend the weekly Business Lab Department meetings.

· Participate in organizational strategic plan development.

· The staff member also represents the broader NDC organization in community.

· Assist the Director of Business Services with department-wide efforts and strategic objectives.

· Track and manage our different programs and provide metrics to key team members when need it, ensuring timely reporting to stakeholders.

· Develop and implement new technical assistance (TA) services, particularly in technology, to support client’s evolving needs.

· The staff member will be the lead accounting / bookkeeping setup and training technical assistance services provider for NDC clients

· Meet with small business owners to identify their accounting needs; help them create financial strategies to improve their businesses and assist with the implementation of those strategies, including the facilitation of professional consulting services.

· The staff member will provide clients with financial reviews/assessments, recommendations, templates and training 1:1 to clients. In addition, provide consultation, setup, bookkeeping, POS, and other financial or inventory related systems.

· Manage in partnership with the Director of Business Services the NDC small business accounting consultants.

· Collaborate with the department program entitled "Money Matters” which is a combination of small group and 1:1 client engagement regarding financial literacy and fiscal operational health of the business.

· Support the Biz Lab Department with AP accounting pipeline general ledger and invoices.

Qualifications

Experience:

· Minimum of 3 years of experience in business advising, program coordinating, or consulting.

· First-hand experience in small business management and operations.

· Proven experience working with culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse communities .

Education:

· Bachelor’s degree in business management, project management or related field.

Skills:

· Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

· Leadership and people management skills, with the ability to supervise junior staff and advisors effectively.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with clients and community stakeholders.

· Analytical problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot and address service delivery challenges.

· Proficiency in technology tools, including Salesforce, Wrike, or similar project management systems.

· Understanding of Social Media and Web based Tools and database software.

Preferred:

· Fluency in a second language, such as Spanish, Somali, or Hmong.

· Experience with program development and implementation, particularly in nonprofit or community development settings.

· Experience and certifications in Accounting and QuickBooks.

· Familiarity with the Twin Cities’ small business ecosystem is preferred.

Benefits provided to full-time employees

· Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage

· Health Savings Account (HAS)

· Teladoc virtual healthcare services, providing convenient access to licensed physicians, including virtual visits and in-home care when medically appropriate.

· 401(K)

· Paid Time Off (PTO)

· Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST)

· Earned Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of the time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.

Conclusion

The Small Business Advisor & Program Manager plays a critical role in empowering entrepreneurs and supporting NDC’s mission to foster economic growth within underserved communities. By offering personalized guidance, developing innovative programs, and collaborating with a dynamic team, this position provides an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

If you are passionate about small business development, community empowerment, and making a difference, we encourage you to apply and join our team.