POSITION DESCRIPTION:
SBDC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Navigator
Effective: July 2026
Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Southwest Indiana SBDC Regional Director
Role Overview
The SBDC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Navigator serves as a relationship builder and connector within the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. This position partners with entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), and community stakeholders to ensure entrepreneurs receive timely access to the resources, expertise, and connections they need to grow and succeed. The Navigator also facilitates peer learning opportunities, promotes collaboration across the ecosystem, and represents the SBDC through outreach and speaking engagements. Success in this role will be measured by the number of entrepreneurs served, speaking engagements conducted, peer group meetings facilitated, and Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) engaged.
Scope of Work
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Entrepreneur Support
- Meet one-on-one with entrepreneurs to guide them to the right resource or mentor at the right time in their journey.
- Serve as a boundary-spanning connector in and between various groups of entrepreneur-serving organizations and local entrepreneurs.
- Organize and facilitate founder peer groups.
- Work from workspaces throughout the region to meet entrepreneurs where they are, hold walk-in office hours, and host group coffee hours. Examples include Cowork Evansville, Cowork Posey in Mt. Vernon, the Elmer Buchta Technology Center in Petersburg, and The Hub 127 in Princeton.
- Be the regional point of contact for the statewide entrepreneurship resource portal, ConnectIND (https://connectind.com).
Community Collaboration
- Regularly collaborate with local partners to support and grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including but not limited to coworking centers, incubators, accelerators, universities, local economic development organizations, etc.
- Develop and manage relationships with cities and counties within the region as an active partner in developing the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- Represent the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), E-REP and the Indiana SBDC at regional events promoting entrepreneurship.
- Identify gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide recommendations to fill them.
- Support local ecosystem initiatives like the Supplier Development Program focused on connecting small-to-medium-sized businesses with contract opportunities from large organizations in the Southwest Indiana region.
Operations
- Identify and amplify success stories: work with clients to document their stories and obtain media releases, then assist in marketing and social media efforts to share these successes.
- Administrative and data related tasks to measure impact.
- Develop progress reports for the SBDC Regional Director, E-REP leadership, IEDC, and regional stakeholders.
- Regularly meet with SBDC Regional Director, E-REP leadership IEDC, and other Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Navigators.
Key Qualifications and Personal Attributes:
Education:
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Bachelor's degree in business, entrepreneurship, economic development, communications, education, public administration, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent combinations of education, training, and relevant professional experience will be considered.
Experience and Skills:
- Three or more years of professional experience with demonstrated experience in entrepreneurship, small business support, community engagement, or facilitation preferred.
- Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage entrepreneurs, community leaders, and partner organizations.
- Experience facilitating meetings, workshops, training sessions, or peer learning groups.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentation experience.
- Active listening skills with the ability to ask thoughtful questions, assess needs, and connect entrepreneurs with appropriate resources.
- Strong planning, organization, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
- Self-motivated with the ability to thrive in a dynamic, evolving environment with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizations and build trust with diverse stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other business technology platforms.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required. Frequent regional travel is expected; mileage is reimbursed at the current GSA mileage rate.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience teaching, coaching, mentoring, or advising entrepreneurs or small businesses.
- Experience working with Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), economic development organizations, higher education, or community-based organizations.
- Established professional relationships within the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Familiarity with entrepreneurial support resources, business development programs, and startup ecosystems.
- Residence within, or willingness to reside within, the region served.
- Flexibility to work occasional evenings and attend events throughout the region to support entrepreneurs and community partners.
What Success Looks Like:
- Entrepreneurs are successfully connected with the right resources at the right stage of their business journey.
- Strong relationships are established and maintained with Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) and community partners.
- Peer learning groups and networking opportunities are consistently facilitated and well attended.
- The SBDC is recognized as a trusted connector within the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Annual goals for entrepreneurs served, speaking engagements, peer group meetings facilitated, and ESO engagement are achieved or exceeded.
- The regional entrepreneurial ecosystem demonstrates increased collaboration, coordination, and awareness of available resources.
E-REP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer focused on fostering an inclusive workplace and committed to hiring a workforce comprised of diverse backgrounds, cultures and thinking styles.
About the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership:
The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) leads economic development for the Evansville, Indiana region, enhancing quality of life through transformational projects, strategic planning, advocacy, and business engagement. E-REP supports business attraction, startup, and growth, operating with a commitment to:
- Regional collaboration
- Equitable prosperity
- Small business empowerment
- Public-private partnership
- Advancing global relevance
Learn more at https://evansvilleregion.com
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: Up to $28.11 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- In lieu of submitting a cover letter, please respond to the following prompt. We’re more interested in your thinking than polished prose. Write naturally. Specific details and honest reflection are more valuable than a perfectly written response.
Prompt: Tell us about a time when you helped someone make progress despite not having a clear roadmap. How did you approach the situation? How did you determine what they actually needed? What questions did you ask? What actions did you take? What was the outcome? Looking back, what would you do differently?
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Work Location: In person
