SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Responsibilities

The Small Business Development Specialist supports individuals with disabilities in launching and sustaining self-employment through individualized coaching and technical assistance. The role involves extensive community engagement, business planning, and the implementation of technology solutions to foster economic independence.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred, along with experience in small-business development or workforce development. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license, a reliable vehicle, and the ability to obtain ACRE certification within three months of hire.

Skills

• Small business development
• Entrepreneurial coaching
• Business planning
• Market research
• Financial forecasting
• Assistive technology
• Community engagement
• Customized employment
• Disability support
• Project management
• Digital marketing
• E-commerce
• Customer service
• Regulatory compliance
• Person-centered planning
• Sales

About this role

Below is a polished, modernized version that preserves the original requirements while improving organization, clarity, consistency, and readability. I also removed the HTML tags, corrected grammatical issues, consolidated duplicative vehicle requirements, and clarified the physical-demand language.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

POSITION SUMMARY

The Small Business Development Specialist supports individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other significant disabilities in exploring, developing, launching, and sustaining self-employment and small-business opportunities.

Working within RHD’s Technology-First Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO), the Specialist combines evidence-based employment practices with entrepreneurial development, business coaching, assistive technology, and community-based economic engagement. The goal is to help individuals become successful business owners and active economic contributors.

Unlike traditional vocational programs, this initiative approaches individuals with disabilities as prospective entrepreneurs, creators, and business owners. The Small Business Development Specialist helps translate each individual’s interests, talents, capabilities, and goals into commercially viable products, services, and business opportunities that promote economic participation and self-determination.

The Specialist provides individualized instruction, coaching, and hands-on technical assistance throughout the entrepreneurial lifecycle, including:

* Entrepreneurial discovery
* Feasibility assessment
* Business planning
* Product and service development
* Market validation
* Business launch
* Customer acquisition
* Ongoing business operations

This position requires extensive community engagement with local businesses, customers, entrepreneurs, vendors, economic-development organizations, and community partners. The Specialist must be comfortable working independently in diverse environments and supporting individuals in real-world business settings.

Daily access to a reliable vehicle and the ability to drive routinely are essential requirements of this community-based position.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. ENTREPRENEURIAL DISCOVERY AND INDIVIDUALIZED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

* Conduct person-centered entrepreneurial discovery to identify each individual’s interests, talents, strengths, support needs, resources, and business goals.
* Help individuals explore self-employment and small-business opportunities that align with their capabilities and informed choices.
* Translate individual interests and skills into viable products, services, or business concepts.
* Assess potential barriers and identify accommodations, assistive technology, natural supports, and other resources needed for success.
* Develop individualized entrepreneurial-development strategies and measurable goals.

2. SMALL-BUSINESS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

* Support individuals in evaluating business ideas and determining commercial feasibility.
* Assist with the development of business plans, operating strategies, budgets, and financial projections.
* Provide guidance regarding business structures, registration requirements, licenses, permits, insurance, and other applicable requirements.
* Help individuals establish pricing, identify startup expenses, project revenue, and understand basic cash-flow principles.
* Support the development of sustainable operational processes for each business.
* Connect individuals with appropriate business-development resources and professional services.

3. TECHNOLOGY-FIRST ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DIGITAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

* Identify and implement technology solutions that increase independence, accessibility, productivity, and business efficiency.
* Support the use of assistive technology and accessible business practices.
* Help individuals explore e-commerce, digital marketing, online sales, and other technology-enabled business models.
* Provide instruction on appropriate business software, online tools, digital platforms, and communication systems.
* Assist individuals in developing the skills necessary to operate technology-based or technology-supported businesses safely and effectively.

4. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, AND SALES

* Support the development, testing, refinement, and launch of products and services.
* Assist individuals with branding, merchandising, packaging, pricing, and promotional strategies.
* Conduct or support market research, customer discovery, competitive analysis, and market validation.
* Help individuals develop customer-service, sales, order-fulfillment, and inventory-management practices.
* Support participation in local markets, community events, vendor opportunities, online marketplaces, and other appropriate sales channels.
* Track business performance and help individuals adjust products, services, pricing, or marketing strategies as needed.

5. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS

* Build and maintain relationships with local businesses, entrepreneurs, vendors, customers, economic-development organizations, and community partners.
* Identify opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, business exposure, market access, and customer engagement.
* Represent the program professionally in community and business settings.
* Promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in local economic-development initiatives.
* Develop natural supports and community connections that strengthen long-term business sustainability.

6. SUPPORTED SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT FIRST PRACTICES

* Apply Employment First, customized employment, and supported self-employment principles.
* Provide individualized instruction and support based on each person’s learning style, communication needs, and business goals.
* Promote informed choice, self-determination, dignity, and independence.
* Coordinate with individuals, families, support teams, service provi...

About Apis Services Inc

Non-profit Organizations · 1,001-5,000 employees · headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania · founded 2017