University of Missouri Extension
Business Development Regional Specialist
Position Description

LOCATION

Located in Cass County, West Central Region with additional responsibilities for Bates, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, St. Clair and Vernon Counties.

Office location:    Courthouse Annex #3

                             302 S. Main Street

                             Harrisonville, MO 64701

STARTING SALARY

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

SUMMARY

This position develops, coordinates, instructs, and evaluates business entrepreneurial education offerings and provides business consultations.  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.

Small businesses are an essential element in the Missouri economy generating new jobs, increasing sales, attracting investments and contributing to the tax base.  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 in business subject matters targeted to meet the local needs of business and prospective business people.
• Business Technical Assistance: Provide business assistance through coaching entrepreneurs and companies in starting, growing, and operating businesses that result in economic and societal outcomes.
• 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. Maintain positive relations with partners and constituents of MU Extension.
• Research and Scholarship: 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).
• 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 impact of work with business clients and training attendees through data entry and client files to provide data for individual, regional and statewide evaluation and reports.
• 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 County Program Director and/or 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 West Central Regional Director.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Varies

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Professional experience in applying and transferring research-based knowledge in above subject matter areas is expected. Experience in operating, managing and owning a business, training, and/or consulting are preferred.   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

Business Development website: www.missouribusiness.net

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

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		Human Resource Development hrdext@missouri.edu Last modified: 08/20/08
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