Program Coordinator, Small Business Services

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.

ABOUT THE ROLE:
Small businesses are the backbone of Arizona's economy—driving job creation, innovation, and community vitality. The Small Business Program Coordinator plays a pivotal role in delivering high-touch, concierge-style support to entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state. This position is central to ACA's mission to make Arizona the most dynamic and supportive environment for small business growth.

This individual will lead and execute programs that empower small businesses to launch, scale, and thrive. This role also supports the Governor's goals through the Small Business Growth Coalition, a strategic initiative designed to accelerate entrepreneurship and align with statewide economic development goals.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES:

• Serve as a trusted concierge for Arizona's small business community—responding to inquiries via phone, email, digital inquiries, and in-person with tailored guidance and resources.
• Provide support, e.g., where to start/get help for business needs, to aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, and established small businesses navigating startup, compliance, and growth challenges.
• Represent the ACA at expos, tradeshows, workshops, and community events—both independently and alongside ACA leadership; this will include table representation at the event, along with miscellaneous administrative responsibilities.
• Maintain and enhance digital tools, our website page, and content that provide 24/7 access to essential start-up and operations information.
• Research and interpret local, state, and federal regulations to help businesses stay compliant and competitive.
• Recommend and implement process improvements to streamline service delivery and enhance the stakeholder experience; conduct and analyze stakeholder and partner surveys to inform program development.
• Constantly explore and propose new systems, tools, or automation strategies to serve small business owners more quickly, efficiently, and at scale.
• Act as a liaison with key government and community partners, e.g., state corporate commission, licensing partners, to ensure seamless service coordination.
• Build and maintain a robust network of small business support providers across industries and regions, ensuring continuity of communication, networking efforts, and ensuring information on our website is current and relevant.
• Stay attuned to the evolving needs, motivations, and barriers facing Arizona's small business ecosystem.
• Able to work outside of regular business hours, including some evenings and weekends.

COMPETENCY, EDUCATIONAL & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate degree in business, communications, or a related field of study; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience in customer service, administration, and/or responsibility for engaging client service processes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and deliver information clearly across multiple formats.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms such as Salesforce.
• Self-starter with excellent organizational skills, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Base compensation for this position is between 50k – 60k, depending on experience.

HIGHLY PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience supporting small business development, entrepreneurship, or economic development—ideally in a client-facing or advisory capacity.
• Familiarity of the small business lifecycle, from startup to scale.
• Spanish fluency and familiarity with AI tools or process automation are a plus.