Salary Range: $79,259 – $94,357 per year
Application Deadline: June 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EST)
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm (Occasional evenings and weekends may be required)
Work Location: In-person at our office.
At the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP), we help the local economy grow by promoting the advantages that Sarnia-Lambton offers companies and residents. Our organization helps attract new investment, business, and jobs to the community, while assisting companies that are here to remain and grow in our region. We collaborate with local business leaders, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, industry, accelerators, and municipal governments.
Within our office, we operate a Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC), the Business Enterprise Centre of Sarnia-Lambton (BEC). The Business Enterprise Centre is a joint venture of SLEP, The County of Lambton, and the Province of Ontario. Our Business Enterprise Centre delivers two grant programs on behalf of the Province and provides access to learning resources and free, confidential business advisory services for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small businesses in the Sarnia-Lambton area.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) Manager leads day-to-day operations and performance on behalf of SLEP and its funding partners, delivering results in entrepreneurship support, program and grant administration, business advisory services, community engagement, and stakeholder partnerships across Sarnia-Lambton. The role oversees program planning, budgeting, reporting, service delivery, marketing alignment, and external relationships, while supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners through advisory services and targeted programs.
You will also benefit from many advantages, such as:
- Fulltime hours, with an optional regular day off compressed work week
- Vacation time and excellent benefits package
- OMERS(Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System) Pension plan
- Working with an established, knowledgeable team
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Small Business Enterprise Centre Coordination:
- Plan, lead and deliver on the annual business plan, budget, program priorities, performance metrics, and operational reporting for the SBEC.
- Support funding agreement development with agencies/ministries, including program targets, plans for the delivery of program services, review of accuracy of all documentation, and implementation of reporting and delivery systems and standards.
- Ensure SBEC compliance with all funding agreement requirements.
- Ensure in-house and external resource documents and systems are maintained, including CRM software, government or funding agency platforms, website content, and electronic document control.Provide leadership and oversight for SBEC staff, projects, and initiatives of the SBEC, including planning, execution, performance measurement, and evaluation.
- Plan and approve all marketing, advertising and promotional content, channels, and timing for the SBEC in collaboration with the SLEP Marketing and Communications Manager.
- Prepare regular performance reports to the SLEP CEO.
- Work to continuously improve SBEC systems and services.
Recognizing & Responding to Educational Needs:
- Research, develop, and deliver in-person, online, and on-demand education sessions related to entrepreneurship and small business.
- Foster relationships with local, provincial, and federal subject matter experts to build knowledge and develop partnerships for the delivery of specialized educational content for clients of the SBEC.
- Coordinate SBEC events including in-person and on-line information sessions and recognition occasions.
- Develop, organize, and lead entrepreneurship networking groups based upon target demographics or common client issues to build relationships between small businesses in the Sarnia-Lambton community.
Client Consultations:
- Provide virtual/in-person one-on-one advisory support to entrepreneurs and small business owners on business planning, start-up, growth, succession planning, general operational challenges, and access to relevant services.
- Develop and implement a list of service providers for the external referral of clients, including other agencies for business development and funding, contacts for municipal, provincial, or federal regulations or legislation questions or concerns, and a network of service providers for specialized and regulated business services.
- Provide information on Federal, Provincial and Municipal statues, by-laws and regulations governing business activities.
- Respond to entrepreneurship and business development enquiries from the public and provide research assistance for clients.
Entrepreneurship Programs:
- Oversee delivery of entrepreneurship programs (Starter Company Plus, Summer Company), including recruitment, screening, mentorship, administration, site visits, and follow-up to ensure compliance with program standards, funding agreements, and reporting requirementPromote programs through partnerships with schools, training centres, community organizations, and media via presentations, events, networking, and marketing initiatives.
- Provide one-on-one consultations and support to prospective and approved entrepreneurship program participants including preparation, follow-up research and connections, and notes.
- Maintain entrepreneurship applicant tracking systems, participant evaluations, and reporting as required by government agencies or funding agreements,
- Lead the preparation and execution of recognition events for entrepreneurship program participants, in coordination with the Marketing function of the organization.
- Recruit and coordinate members of the Sarnia-Lambton business community to participate as volunteers, guest mentors, speakers, and on advisory committees relating to SBEC programs.
- Oversee development and delivery of mentorship initiatives, matching experienced business leaders with entrepreneurs.
- Provide input and content to prepare documents, reports, spreadsheets, presentations and databases for paper and web-based publications.
Relationship Management:
- Participate in a variety of business and entrepreneurship focused organizations across Sarnia-Lambton to build awareness of the programs and activities of the SBEC and encourage entrepreneurship or support small business development.
- Build relationships with staff at business organizations, area municipalities, and government agencies, identifying opportunities to cross-promote specialized business education content, coordinate collaborative efforts and shared communications, obtain or provide referral and client assistance, and establish regular communications and outreach meetings.
- Attend appropriate business events to network and further develop the reach of clients accessing the small business programs and services.
General:
- Incumbents must be aware of and able to navigate current relevant legislation, collective bargaining agreements, SLEP and County Policies and Procedures, etc. ensuring these are implemented as prescribed
- Incumbents must possess the physical ability to meet the duties and responsibilities of the job description and/or the requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Formal Education
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance or Economics or a combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline
Required
- Six or more years of progressive experience in business advisory services, program leadership, economic development, relevant public service, municipal government, or a not-for-profit environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead programs, manage funding and reporting requirements, develop performance measures, and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong business acumen, including experience with business planning, market research, financial analysis, budget development, and client advisory support.
- Strong communication, presentation, relationship management, and organizational skills, supported by sound judgment and strategic thinking.
- Ability to credibly, competently, and effectively advise small business owners based on a combination of relevant business and communications knowledge, skills, experience.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, virtual delivery tools, CRM platforms, and digital communications systems.
- Strong working knowledge of federal, provincial, and municipal regulations, by-laws, and requirements affecting small business activity.
- A valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
Assets
- Experience leading and successfully delivering publicly funded programs and services.
- Experience owning, operating, or managing a small business.
- Experience supervising staff, contractors, consultants, or volunteers.
- GrowthWheel Business Advisor Certification or similar business advisory credentials.
- ICF Coaching Certification.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
- Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
- To apply e-mail your resume and cover letter to careers@sarnialambton.on.ca. A cover letter is required, concrete examples and experience must be included to display your qualifications for the position.
- Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages.
We thank all applicants for their interest and wish to advise that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
