Small Business Development Manager

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Advance and promote established small business strategies by engaging internal teams and external partners to drive project-specific goals and long-term partnerships.
• Serve as Absher's primary representative at outreach events — including small business fairs, educational forums, community gatherings, and industry advisory board meetings — in a consistently public-facing role that requires strong public speaking and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Build strong working relationships with small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned firms to increase subcontractor participation.
• Act as a liaison between small business partners and project teams, identifying barriers to entry and working collaboratively to find practical solutions.
• Report and track small business participation requirements across multiple public and private projects, including data entry, analysis, and timely documentation.
• Be familiar with compliance tracking and documentation requirements on publicly funded projects, including use of tools such as B2GNow, LCPTracker, and ESRS.
• Document and communicate program performance using clear metrics, project summaries, and impact reports.
• Collaborate with marketing and community engagement teams to share outreach efforts and highlight small business success stories.

Requirements

• 5+ years of relevant experience in construction, public works, or supplier-focused roles.
• Working knowledge of local, state, and federal certification programs (e.g., OMWBE, King County SCS).
• Direct experience with subcontracting processes on publicly funded construction projects.
• Strong data management and reporting skills — experience with B2GNow, LCPTracker, or ESRS preferred.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across all levels — from field crews to community stakeholders.
• Self-starter comfortable managing competing priorities and independently moving work forward.

Nice to Have

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Communications, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Familiarity with local, state, and federal small business compliance programs.
• Experience navigating PLA, CWA, TERO, or HUD Section 3 requirements.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with local, state, and federal certification programs (e.g., OMWBE, King County SCS).
• Experience with subcontracting processes on publicly funded construction projects.
• Strong data management and reporting skills.

Benefits & Perks

• Company Benefits including employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), performance-based bonus, 401(k) profit-sharing match, and paid vacation and holidays.
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance and AD&D, Long-Term Disability, Tuition Reimbursement, FSA & HSA Options.
• Paid sick time, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and voluntary benefits such as critical illness and accident coverage.
• Philanthropy & community service opportunities.
• Absher pays 100% of your monthly medical insurance premiums and a large portion of dependent coverage.