ECI Small Business Ecosystem Navigator

The Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC), housed within the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, helps small businesses start, grow, finance, innovate, and transition through no-cost, confidential business advising and training. The Indiana SBDC was established in 1985 with funding support from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the State of Indiana and has worked with over 50,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses. With a network of 10 regional offices throughout the state, the Indiana SBDC helps Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses start stronger, grow faster, and work smarter. https://isbdc.org/

Ball State University hosts the East Central Indiana SBDC. The region comprises 11 counties, including Blackford, Delaware, Jay, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union, and Wayne. This position requires off-campus travel throughout the region and, at times, Indiana. This position will also require flexible hours, including some early mornings, evenings, and weekends, and flexible work locations.

The position is grant-funded for one year through December 2025. The individual hired will have an At-Will assignment.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness is one of the enduring values and informs all of our work. We define 'inclusiveness' as a commitment 'to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.' As such, this value incorporates a commitment to inclusive excellence and freedom of expression.

Ball State University offers an excellent benefits package for eligible positions. Click here to explore options.

Curious about benefits calculations? Please visit the following link to explore: https://www.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/humanresources/jobs

This is a strategic role bridging the interests of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation's ( IEDC) Entrepreneurship Team, ConnectIND portal, stakeholders, peer groups and SBDC Team. The Navigator will work with SBDC Business Advisors, stakeholders, and partners to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to help entrepreneurs connect to the right resources at the right time in their entrepreneurial journey. This position will foster a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth and sustainability of small businesses in Indiana.

This position is grant funded and the individual hired will have an At Will assignment. Funding for this position will run through December 31, 2025.

Ball State University hosts the East Central Indiana SBDC. The region comprises 11 counties, including Blackford, Delaware, Jay, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union, and Wayne. This position requires off-campus travel throughout the region and, at times, Indiana. This position will also require flexible hours, including some early mornings, evenings, and weekends, and flexible work locations.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in business, public education, communication, program development, public relations, or other relevant fields.

Demonstrated experience working with leaders in the private and public sectors.

Experience in assisting small businesses with an assessment of needs and connections to resources.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build working relationships with partners and stakeholders.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentation skills.

Experience with computer hardware and software, including Microsoft Office Suites.

Must be able to work independently, be self-motivated, goal-oriented, meet deadlines, and work as a team member on projects.

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License and be insurable under the university's auto fleet policy.

Must have reliable transportation for work-related travel throughout the region.

Master's degree in business, public education, communication, program development, public relations, or other relevant fields.

Small business ownership or business management experience; demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with co-workers and supervisors; ability to work effectively with leaders in the private and public sectors.

Demonstrated experience working harmoniously with co-workers and supervisor.

None

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 20,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 270+ undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of our master's, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees rank among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

The minimum salary for this position is $51,000.

Serve as the regional point of contact for the statewide resource portal (ConnectIND), which includes assessing individual entrepreneurs' current needs and skills, advising entrepreneurs and small businesses about the programs and partners that can best assist them in their development process, and creating an action plan of assistance steps for leads and SBDC clients.

Provide entrepreneur support, which includes serving as a boundary-spanning connector in and between various groups of entrepreneur-serving organizations and local entrepreneurs at the right time in their journey, meeting one-on-one with entrepreneurs to guide them to the right resource or mentor at the right time in their journey, organize and facilitate founder peer groups, being the regional point of contact for the statewide resource portal (ConnectIND), and working from workspaces in the region to meet entrepreneurs where they are, holding walk-in office hours, and hosting group coffee hours.

Facilitate community collaboration by identifying and executing community partnerships to support local entrepreneurial ecosystem initiatives, regularly collaborating with local partners to support and grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including but not limited to coworking centers, incubators, accelerators, universities, local economic development organizations, and regional bodies, developing and managing relationships with cities and counties within the region as an active partner in developing the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, representing the Indiana Economic Development Corporation ( IEDC) and Indiana SBDC at regional events promoting entrepreneurship, and identifying gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and providing recommendations to fill them.

Perform operations duties that include identifying and amplifying success stories, developing and providing progress reports for the SBDC Regional Director, IEDC, and regional stakeholders, administrative and data-related tasks to measure impact, and regularly meeting with the SBDC Regional Director, IEDC, and other Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Navigators.

Support IEDC planning, marketing, and executing regional ecosystem events which includes organizing and facilitate at least one founder peer group that meets at least once a month on average, represent IEDC and Indiana SBDC at regional events promoting entrepreneurship, support regional Global Entrepreneurship week planning efforts and attend events where IEDC cannot be present, and support IEDC Global Entrepreneurship Congress ( GEC) panning efforts as requested.

Advocate for small business interests by developing and promoting public awareness of SBDC programs and services.

Enter and keep up-to-date client information, program details, professional development, outreach, and training in the State database.

Work within the regional host institution, a contractual center of the Indiana SBDC, to meet organizational goals and objectives and to serve students, faculty, and staff.

Travel throughout the geographic area served, with occasional travel throughout Indiana. Early morning and evening hours may be required.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

For nominations and questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Tiffany Turner, Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition, at tiffany.turner@bsu.edu.

In support of your application for this position, please prepare and submit a cover letter that describes how your qualifications and experience align with the elements of the position description (or leadership profile). In your cover letter, please select one of our enduring values and describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to that value in your professional endeavors.