Program Assistant- Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Description

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Note: This position is 49% part-time permanent.

The Office of Innovation and Economic Development is SIU’s primary outreach arm to the region, offering business development, workforce innovation, economic development, and community engagement services and activities throughout Southern Illinois.

Pending grant funding, part-time, front-facing, first-point-of-contact for the Office of Innovation and Economic Development's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SIU.

Examples of Duties

Under the direction of the Office of Innovation and Economic Development Executive Director (OIED) and the Program Director of Entrepreneurship & Business Development (Small Business Development Center, aka SBDC), this position will handle the following duties:

- Front-line management of public office, serve as the first point of contact for services of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), International Trade Center (ITC), and APEX Accelerator at SIU - including high volume incoming phone calls and messages,
- Assist SBDC, APEX, ITC, and Incubator staff members with managing calendars for advising appointments and training activities,
- Conduct SBDC, APEX, ITC client research as requested and log hours and details into Neoserra,
- Complete required IESBGA business counselor certification course work within the first three months of employment,
- Answer intake questions from and provide initial SBDC, ITC, and APEX paperwork to clients,
- Provide basic business information to SBDC, ITC, and APEX clients,
- Serve as backup to take meeting notes for SBDC, ITC, and APEX meetings,
- Assist with OIED programs and special events - events may be on-site, or off-site;
- Enter SBDC, ITC, APEX workshops into Neoserra,
- Assist OIED Business Office with fiscal transactions related to grants and programs within the SBDC, ITC, and APEX related accounts,
- Serve as backup to supervise student employees, following OIED and SIU policies and procedures,
- Assist with quarterly reporting as requested,
- Assist with annual inventory verification and related paperwork,
- Backup opening and closing procedures,
- Complete travel arrangements and SBDC, ITC, and APEX staff and work with them to complete travel reimbursement requests,
- Manage office and program supplies,
- Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree,
One year customer service experience with at least 6 months experience in a high-volume office setting,
Valid driver's license.

Preferred experience with small business ownership and/or management. Preferred degree in business, accounting, marketing, management, workforce, or related degree.

Supplemental Information

Illinois Residency Requirement: Pursuant to the State Universities Civil Service System, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of the start date for this position.

Tips for Completing a Civil Service Application:
1. To be eligible for the role, ensure that your application includes a complete and detailed employment history that highlights your relevant full-time and part-time work experience, including start and end dates of employment.
2. Relevant part-time work experience will count towards the qualifications for this position and will be converted to full-time equivalence to calculate the total length of experience.
3. Upload all official transcripts to meet the educational requirements. If the job description specifies a minimum number of college hours, transcripts are mandatory for the successful processing of your application.
4. Veterans who qualify for preference must provide proof of eligibility within ten (10) working days of submitting an application, unless the same proof has already been submitted in a previous application. The required proof of eligibility includes, at a minimum, a copy of the veteran's DD214/DD215 form (Department of Defense), NGB22 form (National Guard), or Discharge Orders or DD256 Discharge Certificate (Reserves).
5. After the position has closed, your application and supporting materials will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, including any specialty factors associated with this position. Those who qualify will move forward for Civil Service Examination/Testing.
6. Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at

About Civil Service Examination/Testing: The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of application materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, your application will move forward for examination/testing in which you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. This score will be emailed to the email address noted on your application. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview.

Sponsorship for Work Authorization is not available. For more information visit

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master’s degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about , , and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit: .

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran. The university will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.