Community Engagement Specialist - SBDC and VBOC

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization seeks a Community Engagement Specialist to support the shared client service coordination and outreach efforts of the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC).

This position will focus on strengthening relationships with clients, community partners, and ecosystem stakeholders, while also supporting the day-to-day administrative and operational needs of both programs. The specialist will serve as a liaison to external partners, help coordinate events and workshops, and support internal processes that ensure effective community-facing service delivery.

This is a term position, funded for one year with excellent possibility for renewal based on funding and performance.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Serve as a liaison to the community, including local governments, veteran-serving organizations, nonprofit entities, business networks, and educational institutions to increase visibility and engagement for both the SBDC and VBOC programs.
• Coordinate client services, assist with intake and communication processes, and support consultants with scheduling, client follow-ups, and general case management activities.
• Plan and support outreach events and training programs, including in-person and virtual formats such as Boots to Business Reboot, SBDC workshops, and ecosystem partner events.
• Maintain contact databases, assist with communications and promotional efforts, and ensure consistent client and partner follow-up.
• Assist with preparation and delivery of marketing materials, informational packets, and outreach collateral for engagement activities.
• Represent the SBDC and VBOC at community events, expos, and meetings to build relationships and promote services.
• Collaborate with program leadership to identify new partnership opportunities, outreach strategies, and avenues for impact-driven programming.
• Provide administrative support for team meetings, consultant travel, and event logistics.
• May serve as timekeeper, process travel requests, and maintain accurate documentation of service activities and outcomes.
• Support and report on University engagement goals, community outreach metrics, and program visibility efforts.

Minimum Education and Experience: This position will be filled at the Intermediate Professional, or the Advanced Professional level.

• A Bachelor's degree is required.
• At least 1 year of relevant experience in community engagement, program coordination, outreach, or administrative support for the Intermediate Professional level and 3+ years for the Advanced Professional level is required.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Trustworthiness is a paramount character trait of this role and maintaining the confidentiality of client critical business issues is a key responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement, outreach, or program coordination in nonprofit, academic, or economic development settings.
• Ability to interact professionally with a wide variety of stakeholders, including veterans, entrepreneurs, small business owners, faculty, and economic development leaders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and problem-solve independently.
• Comfort working in collaborative environments and interacting with culturally and professionally diverse populations.
• Familiarity with event planning and communication tools such as Outlook, Teams, Zoom, Canva, Constant Contact, and CRM or intake platforms (e.g., Neoserra, Salesforce).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Interest in entrepreneurship, small business development, or community economic development.

Other Requirements:

• Occasional travel for local events, training sessions, or conferences.
• Ability to occasionally lift 20-25 pounds for event or outreach setup.
• May supervise part-time workers, student interns, or volunteers as needed.

We seek candidates who are able to demonstrate experience and ability to advance Invent Penn State, SBDC and VBOC initiatives, a proven team facilitator with a commitment to engage and embrace diversity across all levels of entrepreneurial development stages, student interaction, professional partners and the communities served by the SBDC and VBOC. Previous experience in a university setting is not required.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: