WISCONSIN SBDC STATE DIRECTOR

The Universities of Wisconsin are a premier system of public higher education serving more than 164,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the universities are Wisconsin's talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Through a constellation of 13 universities statewide, the Universities of Wisconsin are a tremendous academic, cultural, and economic resource for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.

The Universities of Wisconsin Administration assists in establishing policies, planning the programmatic financial and physical development of the Universities. UWSA supports the Universities in delivering transformative educational outcomes and research that expands the boundaries of knowledge. We work to extend the value of our universities beyond the boundaries of the campuses, seeking to enhance the quality of life for all in Wisconsin and beyond, in fulfillment of the Wisconsin Idea.

The Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE) helps entrepreneurs, businesses, and economic development professionals across the state to achieve their goals through expert consulting, educational resources and training, technical assistance, economic reports, and a dynamic statewide network.

Through our four distinct program units, OBE helps Wisconsin businesses perform at their highest levels. We help ideas and innovators succeed. We're Wisconsin's hub for specialized resources - many at no cost - to help business owners grow.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) State Director is responsible for directing the implementation and execution of the SBDC program's network vision and strategy. The State Director provides statewide vision, directs, and monitors the programmatic activities and manages the budget of the SBDC network. This position is responsible for all state and federal funding and programmatic compliance and communicates on a regular basis with the SBA Program Manager, District Director, and Project Officer. The State Director must provide innovative leadership, creative strategies, and oversight at the highest levels of integrity and excellence, within a university-based system. This position is also responsible for raising and sustaining monetary and non-monetary resources in support of the program.

This position reports to the Universities of Wisconsin's Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE) Executive Director. The SBDC State Director is a contact for the Universities of Wisconsin campuses interested in implementing strategies that provide expertise, research, and other resources to support small businesses, entrepreneurship, and economic development across the state.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Vision and Strategy (20%)

• Lead and direct the Wisconsin SBDC Network across the state overseeing consulting, education, training and referrals for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• Create and update the Wisconsin SBDC network strategic plan that is aligned with UWs, OBE, and SBA strategies, program priorities, and ASBDC accreditation standards.
• Plan the objectives and direct the activities of the Wisconsin SBDC network, ensuring that the plans are tied to the execution and implementation of the SBDC's mission, values, and vision.
• Champion the promotion of the SBDC brand in cooperation with UW and OBE to best support and leverage strategic initiatives.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources throughout the network. Manage the SBA and other funding source proposal processes and allocation decisions, in concert with the OBE executive director.

Administration & Accountability (30%)

• Oversee and manage a multi-million-dollar SBDC annual budget and host center annual budgets and plans.
• Supervise SBDC staff, collaborate closely with the SBDC Associate Director, SBDC Center Directors and campus supervisors, Consultants, and staff to perform the duties required by the program.
• Serve as the chief spokesperson for SBDC network initiatives.
• Negotiate and implement the annual Cooperative Agreement with the SBA, ensuring that national, state, and local needs are addressed.
• Assure SBDC compliance with applicable program requirements, laws, regulations, OMB circulars and UW policies.
• Assure the SBDC meets required metrics as set through the annual negotiation of goals with the SBA.
• Serve as state-level liaison with the national Association of SBDCs, and SBA national, regional and district offices, assuring program accountability measures are in place to achieve ASBDC program accreditation.

Partnerships/Network Development (40%)

• Develop and maintain active relationships with funding partners including the SBA, the State, local governmental entities, campus and regional hosts, and private sector supporters to advocate program priorities, and development.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with the SBDC host campuses, Center Directors, and other OBE units to achieve the goals of the SBDC and OBE.
• Assess statewide staffing resources and plan the changes necessary to carry out the SBDC mission.
• Develop, execute, and maintain a professional development plan and recognition program for network staff.
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with statewide small business and professional organizations, universities, incubators and tech parks, and other organizations serving small businesses.

Other Duties (10%)

• Perform other duties as assigned by OBE's Executive Director.
• Serve as a member of the OBE executive team and participate in key management decision and strategy discussions related to overall OBE management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor¿s Degree required.
• Experience in business administration, finance, and organizational leadership which demonstrates the knowledge and abilities to fulfill the required duties.
• Ability and willingness to travel both within Wisconsin and nationally.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of business ownership or senior management.
• Senior leadership experience in higher education administration, government, or other public sector organization.
• Experience with federally funded economic development programs.
• Experience identifying business and economic development needs on a state, regional, and community level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to direct, coordinate and manage a multi-faceted, multi-location, complex, and collaborative program.
• Able to direct, coordinate and manage human and administrative resource partners.
• Able to design, develop and implement organizational strategic plans.
• Able to build a consensus-based, multifaceted team to execute the program with top-quality results. Candidate must have a successful history of engaging stakeholders and building collaborative, effective partnerships that result in economic impact.
• Prior administration experience managing public funding with a complex budget, including items such as cooperative agreements and sponsored projects.
• Proven experience in creating organizational visibility and reach through effective branding.
• Demonstrated record of obtaining monetary and non-monetary resources, including identifying prospects, building cases for support, and developing proposals.
• Proven communication skills, including the ability to effectively articulate ideas in written communications and oral presentations.
• Candidate must have strong interpersonal skills to maintain trust and credibility.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE
Inclusive Excellence is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for Universities of Wisconsin. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the Universities of Wisconsin community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, creative activity, community service, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

Universities of Wisconsin fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who serve the State of Wisconsin and the public good.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.

The Universities of Wisconsin will not sponsor a work visa for this position at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9 upon hire.

WORK LOCATION
Telecommuting or hybrid work options may be available, with a minimum in-office expectation of 3 to 5 days a week. The office is located at 780 Regent St., Madison, WI. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time.

An estimated 30-40% of time for travel is required, both in-state and out-of-state. Early morning and evening meetings may be required. This is a salaried position and work requirements may exceed forty (40) hours per week.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The Wisconsin SBDC State Director is a full-time, salaried (exempt), limited appointee position. Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $120,000 - $150,000 commensurate with the candidate¿s education, related experience, and qualifications.

The Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Universities of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Quick Guide (FA/AS/LI). Use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to calculate the estimated value of your compensation and benefits.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, March 31, 2025. However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.
1. Go to the UWSA Applicant Portal to submit your materials online and select the appropriate applicant portal, either External Applicants or Internal Applicants and click on the position title that you want to apply for.
2. To receive full consideration, interested applicants are required to apply online and provide:

• Resume (PDF Format)
• Cover letter addressing your experience and education as it applies to all minimum and preferred qualifications (PDF Format)

Failing to submit the required application documents may disqualify your application.

3. Submit your application.

SPECIAL NOTES:
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting Sarah Haen, HR Business Partner, at sarah.haen@uwss.wisconsin.edu.

The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran, and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellent through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Questions may be addressed to: Sarah Haen, HR Business Partner, at sarah.haen@uwss.wisconsin.edu