Description of Position ***Please note: this is a grant-funded position and continuation is subject to grant funding***
The Supplier Readiness Coordinator manages day-to-day implementation of Yavapai College SBDC’s SCALE-funded Supplier Readiness Initiative and Supplier Readiness Academy, helping local manufacturers prepare for supply-chain and procurement opportunities. The Coordinator recruits and maintains a sufficient pipeline of qualified businesses to support at least 25 in completing the program and achieving buyer readiness, recruiting beyond that number as needed to account for attrition and differing readiness levels. The position coordinates business assessments, individualized improvement plans, training, and technical assistance addressing operational, certification, cybersecurity, workforce, and financing needs. Working with SBDC advisors, industry partners, and prospective buyers, the Coordinator develops relationships, facilitates buyer engagement, and tracks participant progress and grant outcomes. The position reports to the SBDC Director and works collaboratively with College staff and external partners. This full-time position is funded for the two-year SCALE project period and involves office work, visits to manufacturing facilities, and travel within Yavapai and Maricopa counties.
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate individualized Supplier Readiness Action Plans, translating assessment findings into prioritized improvements, estimated costs, milestones, and resource referrals; monitor progress and help participants address barriers to completion and buyer readiness.
- Recruit, screen, and enroll Yavapai County manufacturers and supplier candidates through outreach, business visits, and partner referrals; maintain a sufficient pipeline to support at least 25 businesses in completing the program and achieving buyer readiness.
- Coordinate business site visits and readiness assessments to identify each participant’s capabilities, operational needs, production capacity, business goals, and gaps relative to prospective buyer requirements.
- Arrange technical assistance with SBDC advisors and specialized partners to address certifications, quality systems, cybersecurity, production documentation, workforce needs, capital readiness, and procurement requirements.
- Develop relationships with prospective buyers and procurement representatives in Yavapai and Maricopa counties; facilitate introductions and help participating businesses prepare capability information and documentation for buyer engagement.
- Plan and deliver Supplier Readiness Academy workshops, webinars, buyer forums, and matchmaking activities, coordinating presenters, partners, logistics, and participant follow-up.
- Maintain accurate and confidential client records, action plans, service documentation, and outcome data; track performance measures and prepare information for grant reports and program evaluation.
- Coordinate program schedules and partner commitments with the SBDC Director, College programs, Arizona APEX Accelerator, Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and other partners to keep activities aligned with project goals and deadlines.
Minimum Expectations & Requirements
Education:
Associate's degree in business, economic development, manufacturing, supply-chain management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Experience:
Four years of experience in manufacturing, small-business consulting, economic development, workforce development, supply-chain operations, or a related field, including coordinating projects and working directly with business owners or organizational partners.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Project coordination skills, including organizing work, managing competing priorities, tracking milestones, and following through on commitments.
- Strong written and verbal communication, business outreach, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to identify business needs and coordinate appropriate technical assistance and referrals.
- Ability to work effectively with business owners, technical specialists, buyers, public agencies, and community partners.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and virtual meeting platforms.
- Ability to maintain accurate records and track activities and outcomes using CRM or comparable data systems.
- Ability to handle confidential business information with discretion.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Ability to travel within Yavapai and Maricopa counties for business site visits, partner meetings, training, and buyer engagement activities.
- Ability to conduct visits to manufacturing facilities and follow applicable site safety procedures.
- Regular attendance and dependable follow-through on scheduled activities.
- Demonstrates the ability to appropriately use artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to support job responsibilities, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of work. Uses AI tools responsibly and in accordance with College policies, data privacy, security, confidentiality, and applicable legal and ethical requirements. Exercises professional judgment when reviewing and using AI-generated information.
Preferred Skills & Abilities
Education:
- Bachelors Degree
- Additional coursework, training, or professional certification in supply-chain management, manufacturing operations, procurement, project management, or economic development.
Experience:
- Experience in supplier development, procurement, government contracting, manufacturing improvement, or connecting small businesses with larger buyers.
- Experience helping businesses implement improvement plans and coordinating business training or buyer-supplier events.
- Experience working with an SBDC, manufacturing assistance organization, economic development agency, workforce organization, community college, or comparable business-support program.
- Experience coordinating grant-funded initiatives involving multiple organizations and serving rural manufacturers or small businesses.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Familiarity with manufacturing operations, quality systems, certifications, continuous improvement, and supplier qualification processes.
- Familiarity with cybersecurity and documentation requirements affecting manufacturing suppliers.
- Knowledge of Arizona’s manufacturing sector, buyer networks, and business assistance resources.
- Understanding of small-business financial statements, capital readiness, and financing resources.
- Familiarity with Arizona APEX Accelerator and Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership services.
- Knowledge of grant reporting, performance measurement, and client management systems.
Essential Functions To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee must frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. In addition, the employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Benefits
Yavapai College offers its full-time employees a comprehensive benefit package:
HEALTH/LIFE BENEFITS
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance: College's partial payment of premiums toward medical with pharmacy and/or dental plan options picked by employees for themselves (and eligible dependents)
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax pay deductions to use for eligible medical or dependent daycare costs
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Counseling and referral services for employees and their immediate families for depression, stress, family/marital conflict, and alcohol/drug issues
- Vision: Provides an amount per plan year for eligible expenses such as vision exams, lenses, frames, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses
- Life Insurance: The College provides Basic Life Insurance coverage at twice of the employee's annual salary. Dependents have automatic coverage of $2,000/spouse and $1,000/per child if enrolled in medical plan.
- Voluntary Individual And Family Term Life Insurance: Additional term life insurance coverage available for employee, spouse and children.
- Other Insurance Coverage: Short Term and Long Term Disability (replacement income insurance), and Workers' Compensation (compensation, medical expenses and death benefits for on-the-job injuries or occupational diseases)
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
- Retirement Benefits: Arizona State Retirement System or Optional Retirement Plan, and Social Security (which provides a basic retirement annuity based on age and years of contribution)
- Tax Deferred Annuities: Employees' contributions to designated tax-deferred annuities
- Unemployment Compensation: Employees who are laid off or terminated may receive benefits in covered wages meet requirements
LEAVE BENEFITS
- Vacation : 15 days of Vacation leave annually. NOTE: For employees who work an amount of contractual days, there will be no earned vacation.
- Sick Leave: 12 days sick leave annually. NOTE: Employees working less than full time or an amount of contractual days will receive a proration of sick leave.
- Personal Leave: Use of up to three personal leave days per year which are charged against accumulated sick leave to take care of items of personal business
- Other Leave: Bereavement leave, Civic Duty Leave (Jury duty, active military duty, military training), and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Holidays: 29 days during the year as paid holidays for full-time employees which include Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, 3 days at Thanksgiving, 10 days at Winter/year-end break, Martin Luther King Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Fall Break.
OTHER BENEFITS
- Breaking Bread: 32 meal swipes for use at the Prescott Campus Eatery. All Other Campuses and Sites receive a $140 credit each semester (fall and spring) to be used at the Open Market on campus/center
- Spanish Interpreter Incentive Program: Employees interested in additional compensation for their Spanish speaking skills agree to assist YC by attending two recruiting events and being available for Spanish Interpretation needs as they arise. Compensation is added to the employee's regular pay at the rate of $175 per month. Employees that are interested in participating let your HR Business Partner know, so they can schedule you for the ACTFL language proficiency test at the YC testing center.
- Direct Deposit: Paychecks deposited directly into the employee's bank account(s)
- Tuition Waiver: Eligible Full-time Faculty and Staff, their legally married spouse, and eligible dependents may enroll in a partial or full program of coursework without payment of tuition, exceptions may be lab fees and market-based additional fees
- Sabbatical: Faculty, professional, and administrative staff may apply for compensated leave of up to a year after six years of continuous service
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Additional Benefits and Services: Local community discounts to faculty and staff, computer loan program, mail and notary service.
