LOCATION:  Lamar, Missouri (Barton County), and serves the following counties in the Southwest Region: Barton, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence, Barry. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: The regional Business Development Specialist provides entrepreneurship and rural business development education with the following responsibilities:  

Program Development and Delivery 

·         Plan, deliver, coordinate and report adult educational programs in business subject-matter areas (finance, management, marketing, planning and other timely business related topics) to potential or existing entrepreneurs and business owners that result in economic and societal impacts. A majority of programs delivered will be from a branded program list. 

·         Possess group facilitation capabilities, public speaking abilities, knowledge of adult teaching/learning processes, distance learning techniques, internet use, and meeting coordination to ensure high audience satisfaction and learning. 

·         Provide information dissemination and individual business counseling to entrepreneurs and business owners in business subject-matter that result in economic and societal impact.  

·         Demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in the work environment and in educational programming to meet the needs of all potential stakeholders and clients, including racial/ethnic minorities, underserved audiences, women and people with disabilities. 

·         Receives programmatic leadership from the business development program director. 

Relationships and Communication 

·         Ability to develop coalitions and foster multi-disciplinary teamwork among colleagues, individuals, and organizations to enhance the learning environment within the community and state.  

·         Ability to work effectively within the higher education environment, with the general population, partner organizations, culturally diverse audiences and county extension councils. 

·         Able to communicate and promote the value and measurable impacts of extension education to key stakeholders, councils and targeted decision makers.  

·         Ability to develop and cultivate external funding sources to enhance local programs. 

·         Demonstrated ability in written and oral communication, organizational skills, interpersonal, and public relations. 

·         Work closely and cooperatively with the Small Business Development Centers in the Southwest Region which are located on the Missouri Southern State University campus (Joplin) and the Missouri State University campus (Springfield). 

·         Work with faculty and staff in the Barton County Extension Center in maintaining a vibrant county office.  This includes attending and reporting activities at county council meetings, working cooperatively in such county office functions as the county fair, and other activities as appropriate to maintain and enhance the composite efforts of the extension center. 

Professional Expectations 

·         Remain up to date professionally on finance, management, marketing, and /or planning research/techniques; engage in professional development; identify local program needs; and understand demographic trends. 

·         Develop and execute an annual work plan aligned with local, regional and state objectives of the business development program, in cooperation with regional director, program leader, and colleagues. 

·         Ability to travel and to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends, to fulfill assigned responsibilities. 

·         Attend and participate in Southwest Regional Faculty Conferences.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

·         An earned master's degree in business, engineering management, business education, or related area with appropriate coursework exhibited is required.  Related areas include marketing, finance, accounting, management, human resources, operations management, e-commerce or engineering. 

·         Professional experience in applying and transferring research-based knowledge in management, marketing, finance, accounting, planning, human resources, operations, e-commerce or engineering to entrepreneurs and business owners. Experience in operating, managing and owning a small business, training, and/or consulting is preferred.  

ACCOUNTABILITY 

The business development specialist is accountable to the regional director and receives programmatic leadership from the Business Development program director.