Posting DetailsPosting Details
Job Title Business Development Center Director
Requisition Number RE56098
Working Title State Director
Department Name 81045:Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Work Location Lexington, KY
Grade Level 00
Salary RangeType of Position Staff
Position Time Status Full-Time
Required Education See position qualifications/posting details
Click here for more information about equivalencies: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience See position qualifications/posting details
Required License/Registration/Certification None
Physical Requirements Sitting for long periods of time. Travel.
Shift Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM: and some evenings/weekends occasionally.
Job Summary The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC) State Director is a dynamic statewide leadership role focused on advancing entrepreneurship, strengthening small businesses, and driving economic opportunity across the Commonwealth. The State Director provides executive leadership for the Kentucky SBDC network and translates its mission, vision, and strategy into impactful programs, services, and annual priorities. This position oversees network operations, program performance, and financial affairs; ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, federal grant requirements, national accreditation standards, and cooperative agreement terms; and serves as the U.S. Small Business Administration's principal point of contact for the network. The State Director sets a clear vision for excellence, leads and develops a talented statewide team, stewards personnel and financial resources, expands and strengthens strategic partnerships and funding opportunities, and continually enhances the delivery of high-quality services to Kentucky's entrepreneurs and small businesses. The successful candidate will foster a culture of integrity, accountability, collaboration, transparency, and high performance while positioning the Kentucky SBDC as a trusted and innovative resource for businesses throughout the Commonwealth.
About the RoleProvides executive leadership, oversight, and operational direction for the statewide Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in accordance with federal SBDC requirements and the cooperative agreement. The State Director dedicates not less than 75 percent of their time to the supervision and control of SBDC operations and is vested with the authority necessary to direct personnel, budgets, and expenditures. Leads the strategic and operational administration of the SBDC, working collaboratively with the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Cooperative Extension, other University units, public and private-sector partners, and the statewide SBDC service network to strengthen small-business development, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity throughout Kentucky.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities - Demonstrated experience managing complex programs, multiple work units or a statewide network, including personnel, budgets, performance, and compliance responsibilities.
- Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships, negotiate agreements, secure resources, communicate with varied stakeholders, and exercise executive-level independent judgment.
- Proficiency with common productivity, financial, reporting, and management information systems.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? Yes
Preferred Education/Experience - Knowledge of the SBDC program, SBA cooperative agreements, federal grant administration, 2 CFR part 200, and SBDC accreditation standards.
- Experience leading a statewide, multi-site, university-hosted, public-service, economic-development, or entrepreneurship-support organization.
- Demonstrated success in fundraising, grant writing, financial stewardship, organizational improvement, and measurable economic-impact performance.
- Experience collaborating with universities, Cooperative Extension, government agencies, chambers of commerce, regional economic-development organizations, and private-sector partners.
- Nine years of relevant management, administrative, operational, grant-funded program, economic-development, or small-business development experience
Deadline to Apply 11/12/2026
