Assistant Regional Director, NJSBDC

Job Summary:

The Assistant Regional Director for the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at FDU ( NJSBDC at FDU ) provides high-level support to the Regional Director in the strategic and operational management of the Center. This includes overseeing daily operations, supervising key projects and initiatives, coordinating with stakeholders, managing data and performance metrics, supervising consultants and staff, and representing the Center in key internal and external engagements. The Assistant Regional Director ( ARD ) is a highly visible role responsible for community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and business advocacy throughout the Center’s service region, particularly in Bergen County.

In addition, this role will support campus initiatives to foster student entrepreneurship, connecting students with real-world business experiences and resources through programs such as Bring Your Own Business ( BYOB ), entrepreneurship speaker series, and student-led business showcases. The ARD will also lead youth entrepreneurship outreach initiatives across the region in partnership with local schools, nonprofit partners, and business organizations.

The Assistant Regional Director plays a pivotal role in delivering client services, developing programs, maintaining funding compliance, and ensuring smooth execution of business development initiatives. The role requires independent judgment, strong leadership, and a comprehensive understanding of small business development practices and public-private partnerships.

This position is expected to uphold the values and mission of the SBA , NJSBDC network and Fairleigh Dickinson and conduct all responsibilities with the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality.

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in a relevant Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field strongly preferred.

2. At least five (5) years of professional experience in business consulting, economic development, nonprofit administration, higher education, or small business management.

3. Capable of high-level decision-making, managing multiple projects and deadlines, and identifying and recommending opportunities for Center growth.

4. Demonstrated experience with program management, grant compliance, or public sector project implementation.

5. Proficient in project management, data analysis, and performance-based reporting.

6. Experience supervising teams, managing client services, and working in partnership with government or academic institutions.

7. Working knowledge of small business operations, financial management, marketing, and entrepreneurship practices.

8. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and data management systems; familiarity with CRM or grant reporting platforms (e.g., CenterIC) is preferred.

9. Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to produce reports, presentations, and outreach materials with minimal supervision. Skilled in stakeholder communication and public speaking; comfortable engaging with a variety of business and government audiences.

10. Ability to serve diverse populations of business owners with empathy, professionalism, and discretion and maintain a customer-focused attitude.

11. Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and community outreach.

12. Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check. Candidates for hire will be required to sign a waiver authorizing the background check and produce a Social Security Card.

Status: Full-Time