The Regional Business Consultants will work as part of the Utah Farm and Food Business Program to provide business consulting and technical assistance to small to medium-sized food businesses and agricultural producers within their assigned region. The Regional Business Consultants will work directly with clients, or coordinate with other business service providers (e.g. Small Business Development Centers, Rural Online Initiative), to provide best practices for business growth, to help identify and evaluate opportunities for market expansion, and to provide information and access to grant opportunities available through the Southwest Regional Food Business Center (SWRFBC). The Utah Farm and Food Business Program operates as part of the SWRFBC, a regional hub which provides technical assistance and capacity building opportunities for farm and food businesses across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.

This position is grant-funded through June 30, 2028, contingent on employee performance and annual renewal of funding. Continuation of this position beyond this date is dependent on future funding opportunities.  Three Regional Business Consultants will be hired to serve Utah farm and food businesses within their assigned region (proposed county assignments, subject to modification):

1. Northern Utah (Box Elder, Cache, Rich, Weber, Morgan, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Juab)
2. Eastern Utah (Summit, Wasatch, Duchesne, Daggett, Uintah, Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan)
3. Southwestern Utah (Sanpete, Millard, Sevier, Bever, Piute, Wayne, Iron, Garfield, Washington, Kane)

• Provide one-on-one business consulting services to clients, and/or coordinate with other business service providers to provide supplemental information on farm and food business topics.
• Provide training and support to clients to identify new and optimize existing market opportunities.
• Develop and implement business and marketing strategies, policies, and procedures for clients that align with their goals and objectives.
• Assist with the development and/or delivery of trainings and workshops addressing identified farm and food business needs within the assigned region.
• Collect and securely maintain client data as required by the SWRFBC.
• Build and maintain relationships with the small business community, including business owners, agricultural producers, stakeholders, and industry to promote the Utah Farm and Food Business Program/SWRFBC.
• Assist Project Coordinator and Program leads with development of an annual plan of work for Utah partners, consistent with requirements from SWRFBC.
• Contribute to the Utah Farm and Food Business Program website, and provide content to the Project Coordinator for Program updates through social media channels.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a business-related field, OR a bachelor's degree in a business field plus two years of directly related experience, OR an equivalent combination of education or experience.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field plus two years of directly related experience.
• Experience working with food or agriculture-related businesses.
• Experience working in business consulting in a university or educational setting.
• Experience in community engagement, including working with underserved communities.
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Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile
3. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023