Agency Description
The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is a vibrant, 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. SBS also works to make changes to the overall regulatory environment to help the small business community.

Division Description
The Division of Business Services (DBS) is dedicated to helping NYC businesses start, operate and expand in New York City while leading systemic change to improve the regulatory environment for businesses. The Division is guided by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Job Description:
NYC BEST (Business Express Service Team) as outlined in the Mayor's Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery, is a dedicated team serving as a single point of contact between City agencies and small businesses operating in the five boroughs.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Government Navigation, the Director will provide unit leadership support for the NYC BEST (Business Express Service Team) through client pipeline building and development, outreach planning, staff training, and government navigation for both the Compliance Advisors and Small Business Advocates units. Additionally, the Director will coordinate regulatory agencies training for the NYC BEST staff. She/he may work with SBS’s Community Outreach Unit to coordinate the NYC BEST events. She/he responds to business escalation reported by the NYC BEST, conducts research into City policies and regulations, and develops expertise in City regulations to inform SBS’ work toward a future, in which City regulations fairly balance public safety and the needs of small businesses.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Overseas day to day operation of all NYC BEST Programs
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies to facilitate staff training in City and State codes, zoning requirements, permits, and other rules and regulations.
- Promote the work of NYC BEST and develop new client pipelines for the service
- Identify specific issues or concerns and provide steps toward resolution. Specific tasks may include, but are not limited to:

o Conduct research into City codes, permits, and requirements
o Explain the sequence of activities businesses should follow to meet regulatory requirements
o Work with partner City agencies to coordinate City services necessary to meet requirements for opening a new business

- Present NYC BEST service, agency services, and relevant City, State, and Federal services on the phone, during one-on-one meetings, and at outreach events
- Collaborate with all City, State, and Federal agencies and their respective personnel to identify programs and solutions for NYC’s business community
- Coordinate outreach and engagement with other SBS divisions including, but not limited to, Neighborhood Development Division and their network of Business Improvement Districts and Merchant Associations
- Manage and develop NYC BEST Programs
- Consistently and accurately collect and maintain information on all services provided to new business owners, including cataloging policies relevant to each industry served
- Develop and maintain accurate and specific status reports of establishments participating in these services, including inspection activity, plan examinations, issues encountered, and opening dates
- Develop, update, and enhance training materials for NYC BEST
- Use data tracking systems, such as Dynamics 365 and Excel, to collect, report on, and analyze data regarding the team’s workload and performance
- Coordinate with the SBS’s Communication and Marketing Team to develop and maintain marketing materials, and ensure that SBS has an inventory of materials that meet the City’s language access standards
- Assist with overall management and administration including monitoring and enforcing timekeeping and personnel policies for the Small Business Advocates
- Hire and train new team members, as necessary

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and five years of full-time paid experience acquired within the last fifteen years, of supervisory or administrative experience including handling of business promotion or urban economic problems, at least 2 years of which must have been in a managerial or executive capacity with primary focus on business promotion or urban economic planning; or

2. A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. However all candidates must have 2 years of managerial or executive experience as described in "1" above.

Appropriate graduate study in an accredited college or university may be substituted for the general experience on a year-for-year basis. All candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization.

- Experience that demonstrates a proven record of helping individuals, clients and/or business owners. - Experience developing and adhering to established policies and procedures - Business development experience working with local communities. - The ability to synthesize and explain complex information clearly and comprehensively - Strong interpersonal skills: the ability to interact positively with business owners, ask questions to understand the core issues facing the business, identify key questions to be answered/researched, and build trust with clients - Knowledge of issues concerning the establishment and operation of a business in New York City - An understanding of New York City’s operational agencies, including the ability to identify which agencies are relevant to a business’s concern based on interactions with the business owner - Ability to research, understand, catalogue, and maintain information related to all City codes, permits, and requirements that impact new businesses in NYC - Demonstrated ability to lead in a team environment - Advanced knowledge of Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Office (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - Fluent or working language of Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Korean, Urdu, Bengali, French, Polish or Haitian Creole strongly preferred - Supervisory or management experience preferred

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.