Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

The WWU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides tools, training, and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Our team of certified business advisors brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to bolster a supportive economic environment through no-cost, fully confidential, one-on-one advising, training, and market research. As regional subject matter experts, our team serves the Whatcom and Kitsap business communities in a strategic advisory and educational role. In Kitsap County, the SBDC is hosted by WWU, in conjunction with its headquarters SBDC in Bellingham. The Kitsap SBDC works collaboratively as part of the Washington SBDC network. Learn more on our website.

The SBDC and University Advancement Department supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

The SBDC Kitsap Center Director collaborates in fostering partnerships with corporate and community partners that align with Western’s core values of excellence, engagement, diversity, community service, integrity and innovation. Assisting the SBDC Executive Director, this position provides leadership for developing, sustaining and coordinating strong and effective relationships with the local city and county communities, as well as with relevant partners across the state and the region.

• Strives to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity, and management improvement in small businesses, prospective small businesses and within WWU and community partners

• Leads engagement with existing business and industry to identify and support opportunities resulting in diversification and growth of opportunities for WWU faculty, staff and students

• Effectively communicate WWU’s suite of assets to the business community

This is a full-time position based out of the Kitsap SBDC in Poulsbo, WA.

This is a hybrid (partially remote) position with critical in-person responsibilities throughout Kitsap County.

Duties/ Responsibilities

Community Economic Development (10%)

- Represent WWU & the SBDC to community partners, businesses, funding agencies, policymakers and the media

- Manages communications with local stakeholders, regularly present information to local stakeholders

- Serve as an advocate for small businesses

-Maintain a working/referral relationship with representatives of other federal, tribal and state agencies providing development assistance to small businesses

Partnership Prospecting and Development and Solution Development (10%)

- Apply business and regional expertise to propose customized solutions

- Assist Executive Director in fundraising for the center with local stakeholders to maintain center sustainability

- Leads effective meetings with key stakeholders and business executives to fully comprehend business functions and identify opportunities that both match business growth strategies and WWU mission

- Leverage strong listening and problem-solving skills to meet the needs of current and prospective clients

- Maintain detailed, accurate understanding of business ecosystem and all players including for-profit, non-profit, federal, tribal, state and local government resources

Leadership - Strategy and Planning (15%)

- Assists with strategy of the organization by using performance measurements and data to guide strategic decision-making

- Keeps the SBDC Executive Director informed on regional economic influencing factors: policy, trends, issues and activities that warrant executive level oversight

- Develops regional partnerships for strategic fundraising and to increase visibility and support for the Small Business Development Centers and Western Washington University

Organizational Management (15%)

- Lead, motivates and develops Kitsap Center staff so that they are passionate about the SBDC mission and are committed to working effectively toward continual improvement

- Ensures that the organization has the appropriate systems, physical space, and technology to operate efficiently and effectively

- Develop goals and objectives for the Center, in coordination with WWU and the Washington State SBDC, and participate in long-range planning efforts and program development for all aspects of the SBDC program

- Work in partnership with the other Washington State Small Business Development Centers (WSBDC) for the purposes of program development and management, training, mentoring, networking, etc.

- Achieve economic impact goals as established by the Small Business Administration and the Washington State Small Business Development Centers related to job creation and retention

Business Advising (50%)

- Provide technical assistance to clients in areas of business that include but are not limited to the development of business plans, management issues, marketing, organizational structure, and financial analyses.

- Manage and submit client activity reports in specified formats and timelines.

- Monitor and measure key performance indicators and meet deliverables.

- Attend weekly one-on-one meetings with director, as well as participate in monthly WSBDC network regional and state conference calls and meetings.

- Maintain CBA certification, or equivalent, as specified by the SBDC Director

- Identify research or educational opportunities based on client

- Conduct, review and disseminate research.

- Represent the SBDC at events, meetings and functions on a local, state and national level.

- Develop, coordinate and conduct seminars and training programs to support specialized program needs.

- Support the development and implementation of annual strategic plan for the SBDC.

- Aptitude for problem solving and ability to teach, manage and work with clients and staff with motivation and enthusiasm.

- Communicate professionally and effectively at all levels of the organization, with other agencies and the general public, including culturally diverse populations, with the use of tact, discretion and courtesy.

- Develop, implement, and maintain referral capability with professionals, local representatives from the cities in the region, Kitsap County, Chambers of Commerce, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, local trade associations, the local SCORE chapter, and local professional service providers, such as bankers, attorneys, accountants and consultants

• Bachelor’s degree in business or in a related or technical field
• Washington Small Business Development Center Certified Business Advisor designation, or similar SBA certification from another state
• Three or more years of experience related to economic or entrepreneurial development
• Proficiency with standard software programs, including business accounting and spreadsheet applications
• Business acumen and leadership experience to function at an executive level
• High-level expertise in the strengths, assets, programs and connections within the regional business ecosystem
• Possess comprehensive understanding of business principles with an entrepreneurial mindset, including finance, supply chain, sales, marketing, workforce/human development, strategic business planning, statistics
• Staff development and leadership skills
• External and government relations effectiveness
• Demonstrated experience developing internal and external collaborations and partnerships
• Demonstrated commitment to higher education policies, practices, cultures and priorities
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Experience advising small businesses
• At least five years of small business ownership and/or management
• Product development experience
• Master’s Degree in business or in a related field
• Fund development experience including grant writing and budget forecasting
• Grant and contract management including compliance with federal and state policies

CBA Certification must be obtained within 6 months of start date and maintained thereafter.

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Three professional references

A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Please include the names and contact information of three professional references.

Application review begins July 25, 2025; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.