Strategic Business Advisor (SBA) - Mercer Region

Strategic Business Advisor (SBA) – Mercer Region

Who We Are

NWIRC is a not-for-profit manufacturing extension partnership dedicated to strengthening and

advancing manufacturing in Northwest Pennsylvania. We work directly with manufacturers to

improve their competitiveness through consulting, training, technology adoption, and strategic

growth initiatives.

Position Overview

The Strategic Business Advisor (SBA) serves as a trusted partner to manufacturers within a

defined territory. This highly autonomous, field-based role blends business development, client

engagement, and project oversight, supporting manufacturers from initial discovery through

project completion. NWIRC is currently seeking a Strategic Business Advisor to serve

manufacturers located in Mercer, Crawford, and Venango counties in Pennsylvania.

Who You Are

You are a highly motivated, relationship-driven professional with exceptional communication

and business development skills. You thrive in a self-directed environment and enjoy

collaborating with executive-level manufacturing leaders to understand their needs, clarify

business goals, and identify practical solutions. You are comfortable establishing and developing

relationships with key regional partners, including workforce development organizations,

economic development agencies, and other manufacturing ecosystem stakeholders, to expand

opportunities for manufacturers. You take ownership of engagements from discovery through

project completion, ensuring successful outcomes for our manufacturing clients while advancing

NWIRC’s mission, objectives, and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

 Identify and engage manufacturing companies through outreach, referrals, networking, and

events

 Conduct discovery conversations to understand business challenges and opportunities

 Build long-term, trust-based client relationships

 Manage engagements from needs assessment through project completion

 Maintain accurate Salesforce CRM records and outreach plans to support pipeline

management, reporting, and team coordination.

 Establish, maintain, and grow strategic relationships with workforce development partners,

economic development organizations, educational institutions, and other regional

stakeholders to support client success, referral generation, and collaborative initiatives.

Qualifications & Skills

 Highly motivated self-starter with a strong internal drive to exceed goals

 Proven ability to work independently and self-direct in a field-based role

 Results-oriented mindset with persistence, accountability, and follow-through

 Excellent communication, organization, and relationship-building skills

 Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM systems; Salesforce preferred

 Experience in manufacturing, industrial services, or B2B consulting desired

 Business development or account management experience is a plus

 Comfort engaging owners, executives, or plant leadership

Travel & Requirements

Valid driver’s license required. Ability to travel daily within Mercer, Crawford, and Venango

counties in Pennsylvania is required, and at times within NWIRC’s 13-county service region, with

minimal out-of-state travel.

Why Work With Us

You’ll be working within a dynamic team that is mission driven and passionate about

providing high-value impact results for a diverse manufacturing client base representing

medical device, plastics, automotive, industrial machining, food & beverage, electronics &

computer components, and consumer goods industries. Additionally, we offer:

 Comprehensive benefits package including 403(b) retirement plan.

 Participation in a performance-based incentive plan.

 Opportunity for professional growth.

Contact

Qualified candidates are to send their resume and an introductory email highlighting relevant

experience for the position by April 24, 2026 to: Mike Griffith, Chief Growth & Technology

Officer at [email protected]. Please direct all inquiries about this opportunity, including

requesting further detailed description of essential job function, to the same.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NWIRC is committed to and affirms a policy of equal employment opportunity to all applicants,

employees, and students without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age,

national or ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, and gender identification.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person