The Small Business Center at Central Piedmont provides the local business community tuition-based courses, a non-degree certificate program, networking events, free seminars, no-cost counseling, and a business resource library. We proudly assist some 2,500 start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners each year.

The Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund has provided a technical support grant that will be used by the Small Business Center to connect ethnically diverse small businesses with mentoring and back-office support in the area of government contracting.

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General Function

The Project Manager position will manage, plan and coordinate client engagement and activities to ensure that program goals, objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are accomplished within prescribed time frame and funding parameters.

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Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Confers with the Director, Small Business Center and program staff to establish action plans, procedures, funding limitations, timelines and milestones for the execution of grant objectives.

2. Confers with director and program staff to assign duties and responsibilities.

3. Assists in recruitment of program participants – client businesses, counselors/mentors, and professional service providers.

4. Prepares hiring, compliance and procurement paperwork, as needed for business counselors/mentors and professional service providers.

5. Conducts training and oversees business counselors and instructional staff associated with the program.

6. Enrolls client businesses and mentors into the program.

7. Manages day-to-day operations to meet or exceed program goals.

8. Confers with program staff to provide technical advice and to resolve problems.

9. Confers with vendor(s) on the virtual mentoring platform in meeting program outcomes and deliverables.

10. Effectively communicates program-related information, including making public presentations.

11. Monitors project budget and ensures expenditures are appropriate and in compliance with audit guidelines.

12. Assists in developing and implementing a marketing plan for the program.

13. Coordinates networking, conducts webinars and learning activities that increase knowledge of government contracting.

14. Reviews status reports prepared by program staff, modifies schedules or plans as required.

15. Prepares program reports for funding agency and college leadership.

16. Develops and maintains relationships with business resource providers throughout the region.

17. Attends outreach events to ensure awareness of the program.

18. Performs other duties as assigned.

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Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Characteristics

*  Self-starter and learner

*  Understanding of grant administration and compliance methods and practices

*  Excellent communication skills, verbal and written

*  Excellent client service skills and attitude

*  Proficiency in using virtual communication tools

*  Excellent organization and prioritization skills – able to prioritize/re-prioritize tasks as needed with client timelines in mind

*  Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret varied information and data, statistical or narrative form,
business computer application skills, including word processing and spreadsheets

*  Proactive thinker: intuitive and responsive in anticipating client needs

*  Ability to manage and coordinate simultaneous activities and services to clients and to
counselors/mentors and meet critical deadlines

*  Some project management experience

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