Center Director Jobs in Iowa
Center Director jobs in Iowa draw consistent demand across early childhood education, community health, workforce development, and nonprofit services, with openings at every level from first-time directors to senior regional administrators. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City generate the highest volume of postings, anchored by employers like United Way of Central Iowa, UnityPoint Health, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The most in-demand specialties are early childhood program leadership, community health center administration, and workforce training center management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Regional Director of the University of Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves as a strategic leader for small-business and entrepreneurship support across the region. This role is responsible for the administrative, fiscal, and operational success of the center, ensuring the delivery of high-impact business counseling and training. The Director requires a blend of financial, entrepreneurial, advisory, and leadership capability, with demonstrated understanding of the challenges facing business owners and growth-oriented ventures. By integrating SBDC services with university resources and regional stakeholders, the Director drives measurable economic growth, job creation, and capital infusion throughout the service area.
The position reports to the Director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and plays a key role in advancing the center’s mission of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic impact across Johnson, Cedar, Poweshiek, Iowa, and Washington counties.
The position combines direct client advising, center leadership, regional partnership development, program innovation, and administrative oversight. The successful candidate must effectively manage competing priorities while maintaining an active advisory presence, fostering strategic partnerships, ensuring compliance with SBDC and SBA requirements, and demonstrating measurable impact for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.
This position is eligible for hybrid work within Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually and must comply with the remote work program and related policies.
Key Areas of Responsibilities & Specific Job Tasks
- Lead the delivery of high-quality SBDC advising and support services for a varied portfolio of businesses, including startups, growth-stage firms, and community-based small businesses.
- Provide strategic business counseling related to business planning, growth strategies, commercialization, operations, and capital readiness.
- Serve as a senior advisor to entrepreneurs, business owners, faculty, researchers, and innovation-driven ventures.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with businesses, economic development organizations, financial institutions, educational partners, and government agencies.
- Establish and maintain referral networks to expand resources available to clients.
- Represent the SBDC through workshops, speaking engagements, advising sessions, and community events.
- Ensure visibility of SBDC programs through marketing, communications, and public outreach efforts.
- Promote SBDC services through presentations, events, and strategic partnerships.
- Provide confidential business consulting services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Assist clients with business planning, growth strategies, and operational development.
- Support clients in securing financing, investment capital, and business resources.
- Develop and manage budgets to support SBDC operations and programming.
- Prepare and administer grants, contracts, and funding agreements.
- Ensure compliance with SBA, university, state, and federal requirements.
- Provide leadership and direction for SBDC operations and staff. Recruit, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate staff and consultants.
To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact adrian-cunningham@uiowa.edu
Get to know the Tippie College of Business
Since 1847, the Tippie College of Business has cultivated a legacy of innovation, thought leadership, and excellence in business education. We have nearly 6,000 students within undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs spanning six academic departments—accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, marketing, and management and entrepreneurship. We are eight centers and institutes, and four student-managed endowment funds. We’re over 59,000 alumni—and growing. Tippie is regularly listed in top business school rankings. We also hold the gold standard of accreditations, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and have maintained the accreditation for over 95 years (since 1923).
But who we are is not just in the curriculum we curate—it’s also in the community we create. Our leadership embraces our responsibility to pursue academic excellence within a welcoming environment where every student can thrive. More than 150 years after our founding, we continue to be a place where students can grow and flourish in their professional or academic careers.
Education Requirement
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Qualifications
- A minimum of 5 - 8 years of progressive experience in business consulting, commercial lending, or corporate management, including at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
- Demonstrated experience owning, operating, managing, or advising small-to-medium-sized businesses, including responsibility for business operations, strategic planning, growth initiatives, or financial performance.
- Extensive experience in business consulting, economic development, commercial lending, entrepreneurship support, or business management.
- Demonstrated experience analyzing financial statements, developing budgets, evaluating business performance, and applying accounting and financial management principles.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to business owners and organizational leaders.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including experience conveying complex business, financial, or economic information to varied audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with businesses, community organizations, financial institutions, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to travel and must possess a valid driver’s license and meet and maintain standards of the UI Fleet Safety Program.
- Ability to foster a welcoming and respectful workplace environment while recognizing personal differences. Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner.
Desired Qualifications
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, or a related field.
- Professional certification such as CPA, CMA, CEcD, or similar credential.
- Experience working within or alongside a university, research institution, healthcare system, or similarly complex organization.
- Familiarity with innovation-driven or research-based companies, including exposure to commercialization, life sciences, healthcare, or regulated industries.
- Experience with SBDC, SBA, or other publicly funded business support or economic development programs.
- Prior experience supervising staff, advisors, or contractors.
- Comfort working in a data-driven environment that includes outcomes tracking and reporting.
Application Details
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. For questions, contact Adrian Cunningham at adrian-cunningham@uiowa.edu.
Benefits Highlights
Regular salaried position. Pay Level 6A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.
About Iowa
Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.
- Classification Title: Economic Dev Assoc Director
- Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
- Schedule: Full-time
- Work Modality Options: Hybrid within Iowa
- Pay Level: 6A
- Organization: College of Business
- Contact Name: Adrian Cunningham
- Contact Email: adrian-cunningham@uiowa.edu
The Regional Director of the University of Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves as a strategic leader for small-business and entrepreneurship support across the region. This role is responsible for the administrative, fiscal, and operational success of the center, ensuring the delivery of high-impact business counseling and training. The Director requires a blend of financial, entrepreneurial, advisory, and leadership capability, with demonstrated understanding of the challenges facing business owners and growth-oriented ventures. By integrating SBDC services with university resources and regional stakeholders, the Director drives measurable economic growth, job creation, and capital infusion throughout the service area.
The position reports to the Director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and plays a key role in advancing the center’s mission of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic impact across Johnson, Cedar, Poweshiek, Iowa, and Washington counties.
The position combines direct client advising, center leadership, regional partnership development, program innovation, and administrative oversight. The successful candidate must effectively manage competing priorities while maintaining an active advisory presence, fostering strategic partnerships, ensuring compliance with SBDC and SBA requirements, and demonstrating measurable impact for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.
This position is eligible for hybrid work within Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually and must comply with the remote work program and related policies.
Key Areas of Responsibilities & Specific Job Tasks
- Lead the delivery of high-quality SBDC advising and support services for a varied portfolio of businesses, including startups, growth-stage firms, and community-based small businesses.
- Provide strategic business counseling related to business planning, growth strategies, commercialization, operations, and capital readiness.
- Serve as a senior advisor to entrepreneurs, business owners, faculty, researchers, and innovation-driven ventures.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with businesses, economic development organizations, financial institutions, educational partners, and government agencies.
- Establish and maintain referral networks to expand resources available to clients.
- Represent the SBDC through workshops, speaking engagements, advising sessions, and community events.
- Ensure visibility of SBDC programs through marketing, communications, and public outreach efforts.
- Promote SBDC services through presentations, events, and strategic partnerships.
- Provide confidential business consulting services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Assist clients with business planning, growth strategies, and operational development.
- Support clients in securing financing, investment capital, and business resources.
- Develop and manage budgets to support SBDC operations and programming.
- Prepare and administer grants, contracts, and funding agreements.
- Ensure compliance with SBA, university, state, and federal requirements.
- Provide leadership and direction for SBDC operations and staff. Recruit, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate staff and consultants.
To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact adrian-cunningham@uiowa.edu
Get to know the Tippie College of Business
Since 1847, the Tippie College of Business has cultivated a legacy of innovation, thought leadership, and excellence in business education. We have nearly 6,000 students within undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs spanning six academic departments—accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, marketing, and management and entrepreneurship. We are eight centers and institutes, and four student-managed endowment funds. We’re over 59,000 alumni—and growing. Tippie is regularly listed in top business school rankings. We also hold the gold standard of accreditations, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and have maintained the accreditation for over 95 years (since 1923).
But who we are is not just in the curriculum we curate—it’s also in the community we create. Our leadership embraces our responsibility to pursue academic excellence within a welcoming environment where every student can thrive. More than 150 years after our founding, we continue to be a place where students can grow and flourish in their professional or academic careers.
Education Requirement
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Qualifications
- A minimum of 5 - 8 years of progressive experience in business consulting, commercial lending, or corporate management, including at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
- Demonstrated experience owning, operating, managing, or advising small-to-medium-sized businesses, including responsibility for business operations, strategic planning, growth initiatives, or financial performance.
- Extensive experience in business consulting, economic development, commercial lending, entrepreneurship support, or business management.
- Demonstrated experience analyzing financial statements, developing budgets, evaluating business performance, and applying accounting and financial management principles.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to business owners and organizational leaders.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including experience conveying complex business, financial, or economic information to varied audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with businesses, community organizations, financial institutions, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to travel and must possess a valid driver’s license and meet and maintain standards of the UI Fleet Safety Program.
- Ability to foster a welcoming and respectful workplace environment while recognizing personal differences. Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner.
Desired Qualifications
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, or a related field.
- Professional certification such as CPA, CMA, CEcD, or similar credential.
- Experience working within or alongside a university, research institution, healthcare system, or similarly complex organization.
- Familiarity with innovation-driven or research-based companies, including exposure to commercialization, life sciences, healthcare, or regulated industries.
- Experience with SBDC, SBA, or other publicly funded business support or economic development programs.
- Prior experience supervising staff, advisors, or contractors.
- Comfort working in a data-driven environment that includes outcomes tracking and reporting.
Application Details
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. For questions, contact Adrian Cunningham at adrian-cunningham@uiowa.edu.
Benefits Highlights
Regular salaried position. Pay Level 6A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.
About Iowa
Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success. Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation. Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.
- Classification Title: Economic Dev Assoc Director
- Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
- Schedule: Full-time
- Work Modality Options: Hybrid within Iowa
- Pay Level: 6A
- Organization: College of Business
- Contact Name: Adrian Cunningham
- Contact Email: adrian-cunningham@uiowa.edu
See All 10 Center Director Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Center Director JobsCenter Director Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Center Director Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in center director jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa child care program director credential or equivalent state-recognized qualification
- Bachelor's or master's degree in education, public health, social work, or related field
- Minimum of three to five years of program management or supervisory experience
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, grants, and compliance reporting
- Experience with licensing requirements set by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
- Strong communication and community partnership skills relevant to Iowa service populations
Center Director Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a center director in Iowa?
Most center director roles in Iowa require at minimum a bachelor's degree in education, public health, social work, or a closely related field, combined with several years of supervisory experience. For early childhood centers, Iowa requires directors to meet credentialing standards set by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, including the Iowa Child Care Director Credential. Healthcare and workforce center directors typically need field-specific licensure or certification recognized by the relevant Iowa regulatory body.
Which companies hire center directors in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring center directors in Iowa include The University of Iowa, Solventum, and Loras College, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's mix of nonprofit organizations, university extension programs, and regional health systems means center director openings appear across a wide range of sectors statewide.
Which Iowa cities have the most center director jobs?
Iowa City, Dubuque, and Ames account for the greatest concentration of center director openings in Iowa. Des Moines leads as the state's largest metro with a dense cluster of nonprofit headquarters, health systems, and government agencies, while Cedar Rapids and Iowa City support strong demand through manufacturing-linked workforce programs, university institutions, and regional health networks.
Are there remote center director jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Center director roles are largely on-site by nature, requiring day-to-day oversight of staff, facilities, and in-person programming. About 40% of center director openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most common in statewide workforce development, grant administration, or policy-focused director positions that do not require a physical facility.
How can I get hired as a center director in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a center director role from a lead teacher, program coordinator, or case manager position within the same organization. Large Iowa employers like United Way affiliates, Area Education Agencies, and Iowa's Community Action agencies regularly promote from within and sometimes run formal leadership development programs. Earning the Iowa Child Care Director Credential ahead of applying signals readiness for early childhood roles, even without prior director-level experience.
Where can I find and apply to center director jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to center director jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across early childhood education, community health, nonprofit services, and workforce development. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 10 Center Director Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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