• Job Description

  Req#: 484584

  Title: Senior Business Services Advisor

  Reports To: Director of Economic Development

  Department: Economic Development

  Location: Oakland, CA

  Schedule: Varies based on needs

  Travel: Local travel required

  Salary: $50-56.25

  Employee Status: 20-24hrs/wk, Part-time, Non-exempt, 1 year fixed term based on funding

  Union: N/A

  Supervises: N/A

  Agency Summary

  The Unity Council is a non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation with a 60-year history in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. Our mission is to promote social equity and improve quality of life by building vibrant communities where everyone can work, learn, and thrive.

  Our programs aim to provide the community with the tools, knowledge, and resources to transform their lives and ultimately achieve their long-term educational, career, and financial goals. These holistic programs and services reach more than 11,000 individuals and families annually in five languages. Programs include: early childhood education, youth mentorship and leadership development, employment services, career readiness training, housing and financial stability, senior citizen services, affordable housing and neighborhood development, and arts and cultural events. Our work expands beyond the Fruitvale district and reaches across Oakland and into Concord. The Unity Council employs a diverse workforce of more than 340 people who reflect the linguistic, cultural, and ethnic identity of the communities we serve.

  Department Summary

  The Economic Development Department aims to revitalize disinvested communities and ensure that all residents and businesses in our programs can shape urban development and benefit from economic growth in an equitable fashion. Services include: 1) workforce development programs and human services referrals at our Career & Resource Centers 2) small-business development and access to capital at our Business Assistance Center; 4) and a variety of neighborhood services that include seasonal special events, civic and community engagement, arts and culture, and urban planning. Services are multi-lingual, culturally-rooted and available for all Oakland or East Bay residents (based on funding).

  Position Summary

  Under the direction of the Director of Economic Development, the Senior Business Advisor will provide technical assistance, coaching and community mobilization services for the Vietnamese immigrant community in Oakland. They will provide technical assistance and coaching in small business financing, management and operations and provide referrals to a cadre of business service providers in business taxation, accounting, human resources, insurance etc. The Senior Business Advisor will also assist in the outreach, recruitment and retention of participants in the program and will be required to build their own business development capacities and keep up with trending topics and emerging knowledge important to the economic recovery of East Oakland Small Business communities. The successful candidate will be able to train participants on a variety of small business topics and participate in coalition building activities throughout the City of Oakland. The successful candidate will also need be familiar with social equity/justice frameworks, as this position will seek to enhance economic recovery for underserved immigrant entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout East Oakland.

  Responsibilities

  • Participate on the Local Immigrant Integration & Inclusion (LIIG) collaborative and other business education/business services collaboratives as assigned.
  • Work closely and collaboratively with the collaborative LIIG team, consultants and other external partners to achieve integration of small business technical assistance and economic recovery services that will lead to improved economic outcomes for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Oakland.
  • Develop and conduct training programs for small businesses in 1:1 and/or group settings.
  • Direct small business clients to appropriate business resources for their needs.
  • Develop individual service plans and scope of work for clients.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with businesses who seek business technical assistance services.
  • Track and report on economic impact of the work being provided.
  • Assist in developing marketing and recruitment tools and program implementation tools- business intake forms, loan/grant readiness checklists, service plan and monitoring docs, pre-screener coaching scripts, service evaluation forms etc.
  • Along with the fellow Business Assistance Center (BAC) team members and other subject matter experts, provide business management/operations coaching for economic recovery.
  • Collaborate with team on either teaching or arranging instructors for business trainings for on topics such as business models and lifecycles, operations, assessing business loan/investment readiness, financial management and forecasting etc.
  • Establish and maintain communication channels list to assigned linguistic community.
  • Provide monthly translation of the Business Assistance Center newsletters and other communication channels.
  • Participate in capacity building training and conferences.
  • Participate in coalition building with other commercial corridors throughout Oakland.
  • Participate in planning and staff meetings as needed.
  • Participate in organizational – wide events.
  • Other related duties as assigned.

  Skills and Qualifications

  • Bi-lingual in Vietnamese required.
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

  • Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in marketing, small business development and business administration.
  • Outstanding organizational and analytical skills, with excellent attention to problem solving.
  • Ability to represent the organization and exercise professional judgement.
  • Interpersonal, business skills necessary to interact effectively with diverse business owners.

  • Multicultural competency in working with immigrant, low income and diverse communities.

  • Ability to be a self-starter, assume responsibility for achieving outcomes, balance competing priorities, and demonstrate a collaborative, team-building approach.

  • Strong alignment and consistency with The Unity Council’s social equity values, mission and vision.

  Essential Functions

  • Advanced computer skills with strong MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and social media skills.
  • Regularly required to operate standard office equipment (personal computer, photocopier, fax, etc.)
  • Regularly required to sit for long periods of time, and occasionally stand and walk.
  • Regularly required to use hands to operate computer and other office equipment.

  Pre-Employment Requirement

  • Background Check

  This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities or requirements for the position. This position may change or assume additional duties at any time.

  ***Please submit your resume and cover letter***

  The Unity Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

  Women, underrepresented communities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

• About the company

  The Unity Council was established in 1964, during the civil rights movement, by a group of community members who wanted to ensure the political representation of the Latino community. Officially named The Spanish-Speaking Unity Council of Alameda Count...

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