ABOLISHED 06/04/2015 PER PAY LETTER 15-17 - Small Business Assistant Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established October 1, 1975

Scope

This series specification describes the two paraprofessional Small Business Assistant classes used in the Department of General Services' Small Business Procurement and Contracts Office.

Definition of Series

The Small Business Assistant series describes the work involving the encouragement of business activities between small businesses and the State of California. Employees in the Small Business Procurement and Contracts Office are responsible for aiding, counseling, assisting, and protecting, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns in order to preserve free competitive enterprise and to ensure that a fair proportion of the total purchases and contracts or subcontracts for property and services for the State be placed with small business enterprises. Work assignments include: identifying small businesses, and disseminating these small business resources to the State Office of Procurement; promoting State procurement and contract activities with small business and trade associations; instructing and assisting small businesses to comply with State bid and contract procedures; interacting with other State agencies and the Small Business Administration to gain their participation in the State's Small Business Program; and compiling and analyzing statistical information.

Definition of Levels

Small Business Assistant I

This is the recruiting, training and first working level of the Small Business Assistant series. Incumbents, under close supervision, learn the various departmental and State policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to State Procurement and construction contract awards; and assist in the gathering of information for use in analyzing bids and awarding contracts for services, products, or construction; and preparation of correspondence and reports.

Small Business Assistant II

This is the second working level of the Small Business Assistant series. Persons at this level work under general supervision in providing assistance to small businesspersons in State bidding and prequalification procedures; making presentations and conducting training sessions to develop and maintain an awareness of the Small Business Procurement Program among business and community organizations; collecting information for use in resolving client problems; developing and maintaining lists of small businesses for distribution to local, Federal, and other State agencies preparing correspondence and reports; and acting as a liaison between the Business Development Organizations and the State.

Minimum Qualifications

Small Business Assistant I

Either I

Successful completion of a formal work experience training program which involved the promotion of procurement and contract activities with small business and trade associations, such as, under the State Office Economic Opportunity or similar programs administered by State, Federal, or private agencies.

Or II

Six months of experience, either paid or unpaid, in an organized program for economic or manpower development which has provided personal and firsthand knowledge of problems encountered by small businesspersons.

Small Business Assistant II

Either I

One year of experience in the Department of General Services performing the duties of a Small Business Assistant I. (Candidates who are within six months of completing the required experience will be admitted to the examination, but they must complete the required experience before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Two years of experience within the last ten years, either paid or unpaid, in an organized program which has provided personal and firsthand knowledge of problems encountered by small businesspersons. or

Education: Completion of two years (60 units) of college.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Arithmetic, spelling and grammar.

Ability to: Understand and relate effectively to persons of varied ethnic backgrounds; learn rapidly; follow directions, communicate effectively with other staff and those contacted in the work; acquire work habits, such as, punctuality, skill, neatness, and dependability.

Small Business Assistant II

Knowledge of: In addition to the above, procedures, policies and regulations pertaining to State procurement and construction contract awards; prequalifications procedures; 5% small business preference; and type of commodities purchased and construction contracts awarded by the State; small business loans; construction practices; procedures and terminology; architectural layouts; and cost estimating.

Ability to: In addition to the above, interpret and apply rules and instructions; speak and write effectively; establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the work; and progressively perform more difficult tasks.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

All Levels:

Neatness, tact, willingness and ability to accept increasing responsibility, both interest in and aptitude for work in the Small Business Procurement and Contracts Office, and the capacity for professional development. Knowledge of problems facing small businesspersons of varied ethnic backgrounds.

Small Business Assistant II

Completion of six or more units in a prescribed core curriculum of college level work.

Class History