Small Business Consultant – Operations and… at Cal State… · Irvine

TITLE: SMALL BUSINESS CONSULTANT – OPERATIONS AND GROWTH

DEPARTMENT: SBDC

REPORTS TO: SBDC CENTER DIRECTOR

EE CLASSIFICATION: PART-TIME

FLSA STATUS: NON-EXEMPT

SALARY RANGE: $50.00 - $55.00/hour

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Orange County / Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network is a federal program partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration & the California Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development. The SBDC is hosted by CSU, Fullerton. The purpose of this grant is to provide no-cost technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Orange County. The CSUF SBDC is seeking a Consultant who specializes in operations and growth to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of owning, operating, managing, or advising businesses, with a strong understanding of the operational, financial, and strategic challenges facing entrepreneurs and small business owners. Experience in executive leadership, business ownership, management consulting, or organizational development is highly desirable. The consultant will provide practical, results-driven guidance to help pre-venture entrepreneurs, startups, and established small businesses assess their current operations, identify performance gaps, improve operational efficiency, strengthen financial performance, and develop actionable strategies for sustainable growth. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in business assessments, operational process improvement, financial analysis, cash flow management, strategic planning, organizational structure, performance measurement, and business development. Experience implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs), key performance indicators (KPIs), management systems, technology solutions, and business growth strategies is highly desirable. The successful candidate must be able to evaluate a business holistically, identify underlying operational and financial challenges, and translate complex business issues into practical recommendations and measurable improvement plans. The consultant should be comfortable working directly with business owners and leadership teams to strengthen accountability, improve decision-making, increase profitability, and build scalable business operations. The position requires a collaborative, solutions-oriented professional who can provide both strategic guidance and hands-on implementation support while helping businesses achieve measurable economic outcomes.

*Please be aware that funding for this position is awarded through a Grant/Contract over a specified period. Employment for this position beyond current Grant/Contract funding is contingent upon continued funding or new Grant/Contract.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

● Provide consulting, training, and information services in the region to pre-venture, start-up, and small size businesses.

● Maintain client database by preparing detailed written assessment and make recommendations for improvements.

● Keep abreast of business trends, techniques, and processes.

● Work collaboratively with peers and the business community to expand expertise.

● Community outreach responsibilities will include public presentations to key stakeholders and service on appropriate boards and committees related to economic development.

● Travel as required to perform cross county-wide job functions.

● Complete all forms and maintain client files as required by the SBA.

● Document information, assistance, and outcomes of sessions with clients related to consulting and training activities performed by the consultant.

● Provide Center with timely reports related to milestones and success stories of client’s economic outcomes.

● Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

● Must be a previous or current small business owner.

● Key understanding of small business issues related to operations.

● Conduct comprehensive business assessments to evaluate operational processes, organizational structure, financial performance, management practices, and opportunities for improvement.

● Identify operational inefficiencies, productivity challenges, process bottlenecks, and organizational weaknesses, and develop actionable recommendations to address them.

● Assist businesses in developing and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs), workflow improvements, internal controls, and effective management systems.

● Advise clients on resource allocation, cost management, productivity improvement, vendor management, and operational best practices.

● Help business owners establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), performance dashboards, and accountability systems to support informed decision-making.

● Provide guidance on organizational structure, delegation, leadership development, workforce planning, and management effectiveness.

● Evaluate opportunities to leverage technology, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations, improve productivity, and strengthen business performance.

● Analyze financial statements, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to identify financial risks, performance gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

● Assist businesses in developing budgets, cash flow forecasts, financial projections, and financial performance improvement plans.

● Advise clients on pricing strategies, cost structures, gross profit margins, operating expenses, and profitability optimization.

● Help business owners understand financial metrics, break-even analysis, working capital requirements, and the financial implications of business decisions.

● Support clients in identifying financing needs, evaluating funding options, and preparing financial information required for capital access.

● Guide businesses in developing financial controls, reporting practices, and management tools that support long-term financial sustainability.

● Assist clients in developing business strategies, growth plans, and measurable objectives aligned with their long-term vision and operational capabilities.

● Evaluate business models, competitive positioning, market opportunities, and revenue streams to identify opportunities for expansion and diversification.

● Help businesses develop actionable 30-, 60-, and 90-day improvement plans with clearly defined priorities, milestones, and performance measures.

● Advise business owners on sales growth strategies, customer retention, market expansion, and operational readiness to support increased demand.

● Support clients in evaluating business expansion opportunities, including additional locations, new products or services, strategic partnerships, and market diversification.

● Assist businesses in assessing growth readiness, scaling challenges, leadership capacity, and the systems required to support sustainable expansion.

● Provide guidance on business continuity, succession considerations, and risk management to strengthen organizational resilience.

● Extensive knowledge in the ins and outs of day-to-day business operations, employee management, staff operations, budget analysis, pricing models, inventory control, and lease negotiations.

● Proven experience in designing and implementing growth strategies tailored to small businesses.

● Expertise in scaling operations, expanding market reach and increasing revenue streams.

● Broader experience with industries beyond retail, such as manufacturing, tech, or services, to appeal to a wide client base.

● Experience in advising small businesses.

● Experience delivering business presentations on a variety of topics in a public setting to diverse audiences.

● Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.

● Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious work relations with staff, clients, government agency(s), business resources, and the general public.

● Computer skills with working knowledge of various software packages are necessary

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

● Bilingual – Spanish or Vietnamese, preferred.

● Strong interpersonal and communication skills and proficiency with computers and web-based research

EDUCATION:

● Minimum Bachelor's degree in a business-related field or equivalent experience in business management or financial analysis (minimum four years), or bachelor’s degree in any field with two years of business management or business ownership.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Lifting of up to 25lbs.; periodic bending; long-term periods of sitting; long term periods operating a computer

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

CSU Fullerton, Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at (657) 278-4117.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the ASC. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current ASC employees who apply for the position.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $50.00 - $55.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Ability to Relocate:

• Irvine, CA 92618: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Irvine, CA 92618