The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is a dynamic, client-centered agency whose mission is to serve New York’s small businesses, jobseekers and commercial districts. SBS makes it easier for companies in New York City to start, operate, and expand by providing direct assistance to business owners, supporting commercial districts, promoting financial and economic opportunity among minority- and women-owned businesses, preparing New Yorkers for jobs, and linking employers with a skilled and qualified workforce. SBS continues to reach for higher professional standards through innovative systems, new approaches to government, and a strong focus on its employees.

Access to capital is one of the top issues for small businesses starting and growing in New York City. SBS works with more than 40 local lenders and hundreds of businesses per year to help companies connect with the funds they need.

The Capital Access team is responsible for creating and implementing programs that create a more inclusive financing space. The team works with the private and public sectors to understand the needs of small businesses and lenders in order to develop products & programs that enhance access to capital. The team manages the performance of Finance Account Managers located in field offices throughout the City and multiple new funds targeted at assisting Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses and emerging companies. The Director will lead the Capital Access team to oversee the financing service and to develop innovative financial products to address market gaps for small businesses.

The Director of Capital Access will be part of the Business Operations Team within the Division of Business Services (DBS). The Director will report to the Executive Director of Capital Access & Center Operations and oversee at least 2 SBS staff and 30+ vendor staff. She/He will be responsible for ensuring the financing team is helping connect businesses with capital and meeting established financing goals. In parallel, the Director will guide the team to ensure the correct data is collected and analyzed in order to understand the main barriers businesses are facing when trying to access capital. In partnership with the Executive Director, the Director will help propose innovative ways to fill market gaps through new product creation.

Roles and Responsibilities:

-Manage team of SBS Program Managers to provide access to capital for NYC business owners

-Oversee the financing services provided across all Business Solutions Centers (BSCs) and Industrial Business Services Providers (IBSPs)

-Oversee products that have been developed by SBS (e.g., Contract Financing Loan Fund, Opportunity Fund, Cannabis NYC Loan Fund, NYC Funds Finder) including reporting, stakeholder management, budgets, and compliance

-Monitor and manage vendor performance towards goals (including proposing annual goals and ensuring timely submissions of data/reports and accurate data inputs)

-Review and provide feedback on business development plans

-Guide the team to uncover current challenges that businesses are facing when trying to access capital and develop innovative solutions/products

-Ensure Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is set up to collect appropriate data from clients and train team and vendors to ensure accurate and timely data collection

-Conduct data analyses to uncover market gaps and propose policy changes

-Ensure team is aligned with Agency vision and strategic priorities

-Develop relationships with local financial institutions to understand current product offerings and common challenges in serving small businesses

-In partnership with the Executive Director and agency leadership, innovate ways to better help NYC businesses access capital (e.g., develop new loan products)

-Work with Executive Director and agency leadership to secure funding for new products

-Work with the Director of Center Operations to support contract renewals and other procurement requirements

-Work with Communications and Outreach teams to promote Funds and Financing Services

-Use quantitative, qualitative, and best practice research to inform the creation of new policies and practices

-Analyze and document current policies and processes, and develop necessary revisions

-Synthesize complex information into presentations and reports for various audiences

-Respond to time-sensitive requests from City Hall, SBS Executive Staff, elected officials, press, and the public

-Other projects, responsibilities, and tasks as assigned

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of full-time satisfactory professional, technical or administrative experience in one or more of the following fields: program evaluation, contract negotiations/management, fiscal/financial management, or project management; or
2. A four year high school diploma, or its educational equivalent, and six years of full-time, satisfactory professional, technical or administrative work experience in one or more of the fields cited above; or
3. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. College credits obtained from an accredited college may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 college semester credits for one year of experience as described in "1" above.
However, all candidate must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and at least two years of full-time experience as described in "1" above.

- At least 5 years of professional experience: including project management, program development, and experience managing a team - Knowledge and experience with small business lending and small business development - Experience working for or with Community Development Financial Institutions - A master’s degree and/or a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with a major in business administration, public administration, urban planning, economics, urban affairs, marketing research, finance, data science, computer and information sciences, mathematics and statistics, or political science - Proven track record of delivering results in a fast-paced, demanding work environment - Ability to work within cross-organizational multi-disciplinary teams - Excellent written and oral communications skills - Experience using customer relationship management tools or other database systems in order to track and manage services and outcomes desired - Excellent interpersonal, organizational, strategic thinking and quantitative/qualitative skills

NYC residency is required within 90 days of appointment

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.