Small Business Navigator

The small business navigator position provides dedicated support for Tampa’s small business community. The employee serves as the central point of contact for small businesses navigating City government, connects entrepreneurs to available business support and technical assistance services, leads outreach and engagement to small business stakeholders and business groups, and coordinates efforts to strengthen Tampa’s small business climate including supporting policy change and new program development. Tasks are of more than average difficulty, performed under general supervision and require significant tact, diplomacy when dealing with the public. The exercise of reasonable initiative and independent judgment is required in ensuring that data compilation is accomplished in a thorough and accurate manner. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports submitted, and results obtained.  Appointed position; employee serves at the pleasure of the Mayor.

Program Development: Support the development of the small business navigator program including key services, processes, metrics, and other deliverables related to program launch and implementation.

Outreach, Engagement and Marketing: Lead on small business outreach and engagement with small business stakeholders and business groups. Market and promote relevant programs, offers and business support to Tampa’s small business community with a focus on reaching disadvantaged and underrepresented groups who do not typically access business assistance. Speak at public meetings, business group meetings and other public forums. 

Service Delivery: Serve as a central point of contact for small business owners, providing direct service to understand and assess the needs of the business.  For issues relating to the City (i.e. permits, fees, zoning, Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) certification, incentives, etc.), the Navigator would work with the relevant City Departments to address the business question / concern and facilitate their interactions with the department. For needs related to external business support (i.e. business planning, accessing capital, e-commerce, etc.), the Navigator would connect businesses to external business support / technical assistance partners. These services could be delivered in person, by phone, by video call, by email/chats, or some other format.  

Internal and External Partner Engagement: Develop internal and external partners to support the small business navigator program. Internal partners would include city departments and other governmental agencies. External partners would include business support providers (i.e. SBDC, SCORE, CareerSource, etc.), universities, banks, corporations and other institutions. 

Small Business Climate: Coordinate efforts to strengthen Tampa’s small business climate by assessing the impact of proposed policies on local small businesses and making recommendations in alignment with small business needs and goals. Make recommendations on changes and improvements to existing City policies and processes. Advise on new programs or policies which would better support small businesses. 

Data Tracking: Input interactions and client information in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database.  Design and oversee program outcome tracking including through regular surveys to assess small business needs and track the City’s progress in addressing them.  

Knowledge of: project management practices and procedures specifically concerning economic development, small business support, or related field; developing and maintaining relationships with business owners and account managing their experience through a business support process; coordinating service delivery at a local level for small businesses; inputting data in and producing reports from a customer relationship management (CRM) database; techniques of marketing, communications, and community engagement.

Ability to: empathize with the challenges that small business owners face and be an advocate for them; plan, manage, and implement economic development projects; think strategically and participate as part of a team; write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and prepare analytical and technical reports; engage diverse stakeholders in a culturally competent way; establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, officials of other governmental organizations, representatives of public and private organizations, community stakeholders and the general public; speak Spanish a plus.   

Graduation from and accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in communications, business administration, public administration, public policy, economics, urban planning, or a closely related field and three (3) years of small business work experience; OR

An equivalent combination of education (not less than possession of a high school diploma/GED), training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

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