Area Director-DeKalb

Area Director – DeKalb

Position within the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Tucker, GA.

Position Summary

Lead a dynamic, collaborative environment focused on business development and operational leadership to help Georgia businesses grow and prosper. Manage the DeKalb SBDC territory, office personnel, and daily operations while delivering high‑impact consulting, training, and strategic guidance.

Responsibilities

• Apply broad business knowledge to deliver high‑impact consulting, training, and strategic guidance to small businesses across the assigned territory.
• Manage the DeKalb SBDC territory and office personnel.
• Lead the daily operations of the Tucker office and supervise staff.
• Ensure program excellence within the DeKalb County SBDC service area.
• Operate with strong analytical capabilities, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Travel across multiple counties as required.

Duties

• Provide high‑quality individual instruction to entrepreneurs, business owners, and business managers.
• Analyze situations, make recommendations, and educate clients on business plans, market feasibility, financial viability, operations management, and legal structures.
• Develop and deliver high‑quality business training programs that respond to the needs of the local business community.
• Generate curricula for business programs, seminars, and conferences.
• Determine topics, agendas, instructors, instructional materials, locations, and times required.
• Engage in public‑relations activities such as speeches, presentations, committee participation, and direct discussions with banks, chambers of commerce, economic‑development authorities, and local media.
• Document activities via the Client Information System (CIS) in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintain adequate client files per SBA and SBDC guidelines.
• Maintain efficient and effective operation of the assigned area office, including personnel, budget, and resources.
• Ensure administrative policies are followed and programs remain innovative and responsive.
• Utilize client and management feedback for continuous improvement.
• Uphold contractual obligations with other institutions.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a business‑related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in position‑related responsibilities.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong business education and background in team management, financial analysis, business strategy, or entrepreneurship.
• Ability to consult with and train small‑business owners and entrepreneurs.

EEO Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ( ).

Additional Information

Salary: $95,000 per year with a comprehensive benefits package, including a defined benefits retirement plan. Position is open until filled .

The Department of Entertainment and Media Studies (EMST) together with the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, and the Department of Journalism constitutes the units of the Grady College. EMST is home to media scholars of varied theoretical and methodological traditions. It administers the major in Entertainment & Media Studies, which teaches students visual storytelling focused on entertainment. It also houses the New Media Institute, which explores the critical, commercial and creative dimensions of emerging technologies. Find out more at https://grady.uga.edu/academics/emst/and http://mynmi.net/about/.

Augmenting the department programs is the presence of the Peabody Awards, the oldest and most prestigious awards program that recognizes excellence in broadcast and electronic media, now entering its 80^th year. Our MFA FTVDM program positions students for jobs in the entertainment media industry across film, television, gaming and other new media. Learn more about the MFA FTVDM program, our current faculty, mission, and curricula at: mfafilm.uga.edu.

Georgia is well known for its quality of life, and for outdoor, urban, cultural and arts activities (http://www.exploregeorgia.org/).

The University of Georgia (UGA), a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (http://www.uga.edu/).UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA was founded in 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly as the first state-chartered University in the country. UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,600 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 36,000 students, including over 27,500 undergraduates and over 8,500 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 17 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens. Athens is a vibrant, diverse community that is consistently rated as one of the nation’s best college towns.