University of Missouri Extension
PTAC Business Specialist
Position Description

LOCATION

Located in Buchanan County in Northwest Region with additional responsibilities for all fifteen counties in the Northwest Region.

Office location:         Buchanan County MU Extension Center

                             4125 Mitchell Ave.

                             St. Joseph MO 64507

STARTING SALARY

$36,500 -$46,500 (based on applicable experience)

SUMMARY

The Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) assists businesses in obtaining and performing on government contracts.  MO PTAC Procurement Specialists help their clients identify opportunities and understand the government contracting process in order to take advantage of government sales dollars. 

This position counsels and advises businesses on how to seek, obtain and perform on government prime contracts and subcontracts.  This position develops, coordinates, instructs, and evaluates business entrepreneurial education offerings.  Areas of instruction, technical assistance, and consultation include strategic business planning, marketing, management, finance, capital formation, technology development, operations, human resources, government contracting, business start-up and business growth/sustainability, as well as other timely business related topics to assist existing and new entrepreneurs.

In addition, as a business faculty member with the University of Missouri Extension, this position is responsible for developing and fostering community and academic partnerships, develops revenue generation opportunities, and actively participates in activities that improve economic and societal outcomes throughout Missouri. Business development is an important component of the state’s economic development strategy and the University of Missouri’s economic development mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Program Development and Delivery

• Teach:  Plan and deliver adult educational programs on a variety of areas of procurement particularly focused on small businesses to include: small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), women owned small businesses (WOSB), HUBZone small businesses (HUBZone), and service disabled veteran owned small businesses (SDVOSB).  Topics taught will include federal, state and local government contracting laws, policies and procedures.  Emphasis should be placed on requirements and procedures used by DOD and other federal agencies in the acquisition of commercial products and services.  Other business topics on matters targeted to meet the local needs of business and prospective business people will be taught.  Procurement outreach conferences are expected to be included in the offerings.
• Business Technical Assistance: provide assistance to business clients on federal, state, and local government procurement assistance in the areas of registrations, certifications, bid matching, marketing, procurement histories, bid/quote preparation and other assistance through one-on-one counseling.  Some assistance in starting, growing, and operating businesses will be provided. 
• Marketing and PR: Market educational programs and promote the mission of University of Missouri to area leaders and capital resources, economic developers, chambers of commerce, County Extension Councils, and other partner organizations through memberships, speaking engagements or collaboration on shared projects. Maintain positive relations with partners and constituents of MU Extension.
• Research and Scholarship:  Remain current in their knowledge of government contracting laws, regulations, policies and procedures.  Keep up to date on business trends and research-based knowledge to create new and effective programs. Effectively translate job successes (results, outcomes, and impacts) into scholarly products (i.e. peer-reviewed journal articles, published work, new curricula, funded grant proposals, etc). Attend seminars, conferences and workshops to ensure professional development and program knowledge are kept up-to-date. 
• Resource Generation and Sustainability:  Seek out and develop external funding sources that are in alignment with organizational priorities, values, and mission including identifying fee’s, new opportunities, appropriate grant or contract opportunities, and partnerships that provide revenue growth opportunities for new and existing educational programs.

Program Goals and Evaluation

• Achieve goals in the areas of outcomes (impact), quantity (ie. #of clients, hours of counseling, etc.), quality, stakeholder relations and revenue generation.
• Develop and execute an annual plan of work aligned with local, regional and state objectives of the business development program, in cooperation with regional director, program director, and colleagues.
• Work with supervisor, business development state office, and assigned teams to establish individual and team goals, ensuring local needs, regional goals, grant requirements, and partnership/stakeholder goals are met. 
• Ensure compliance with grant/contract/other requirements and maintain fiscal accountability. 
• Document, analyze, and communicate program impact, including entering data into Softshare to record conferences, counseling sessions, and contract awards.
• Communicate and promote economic and societal impacts to key stakeholders, councils, administrators, and targeted decision makers.
• Receive programmatic leadership from the state business development office.

Relationships

• Develop coalitions and partnerships with colleagues, individuals, and organizations to enhance programming success.
• Work as a team member of the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Center network, offices of the Missouri Business Network and regional Extension faculty team located in county offices to carry out the mission of the University of Missouri Extension.

Professional Expectations

• Regular travel in-state using own vehicle and occasional out of state travel is required. Work evenings and weekends as needed to meet the needs of clients, programming goals, and partnership expectations.
• Actively foster inclusion of diverse clients by delivering educational program that represent the population diversity in the assigned counties.  Diverse audiences include racial, ethnic, underserved, women, veteran, and people with disabilities.
• Regularly demonstrate effective written and oral communication, public speaking, teaching, organizational, interpersonal, public relations, group facilitation, and technology skills to ensure high audience satisfaction and learning, as well as effective colleague relations.   
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities to continuously improve skills and research-based knowledge in business subject matters and personal skills development. 
• Participate in interdisciplinary teams, committees and task forces. May serve on committees and teams outside program area to meet organizational needs.
• Assume programmatic and administrative responsibilities as assigned, which may include serving as subject matter expert; performing other campus-based and/or general extension duties, or other roles to support the mission of MU Extension.
• Conduct all activities in accordance with the Civil Rights Acts, Title IX, Rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act and local, state and region affirmative action plans.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED 

General supervision is received from Northwest Regional Director.  Specialists are directly accountable to their Regional Director. 

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP RECEIVED 

Programmatic leadership is received from the Program Director, Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Center.  Specialists are to work with their Program Directors to deliver high priority programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

An earned master's degree in business or related area with appropriate coursework exhibited is required.  Two or more years experience in procurement is required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Strategic Direction: http://extension.missouri.edu/about/21stcentury/index.html

Business Development/MO PTAC website: www.missouribusiness.net

County/Regional Profile: http://www.oseda.missouri.edu/countypage/

Northwest Region web page: http://extension.missouri.edu/nwregion/

[ Position Announcements| University of Missouri Extension| University of Missouri System ]

		Human Resource Development hrdext@missouri.edu Last modified: 08/20/08
Equal opportunity is and shall be provided to all participants in Extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or military organizations associated with the armed forces of the United States of America. To request ADA accommodations, please contact HR at (573) 882-4721.