Innovation Initiatives Manager

Description

The Innovation Initiatives Manager plays an integral role in supporting the innovation capacity within Rhode Island by managing the State’s economic development programs for research and development in key innovation sectors. The incumbent supports RI Commerce’s Innovation Department in working with Rhode Island small businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers and technology leaders to identify opportunities to advance growth, while administering RI Commerce’s Innovation Programs.

This position reports to the Vice President of Innovation Initiatives under the Strategic Initiatives portfolio. The Strategic Initiatives team is a dynamic group that directs the Corporation’s planning efforts, non-dilutive innovation investments, federal grant‑funded programs, and strategic planning. The team works to ensure alignment of Corporation efforts with the state’s overarching economic development priorities as well as efforts from other agencies.

It builds a portfolio of non‑state revenue sources to support this work; and it drives innovation and special projects for the Corporation.

• Support businesses and the innovation ecosystem with navigation of innovation program resources and programmatic needs.
• Work closely with RI Commerce’s business development, client services, venture relations and other internal teams to ensure cohesive business support and clear direction for innovation projects.
• Cultivate relationships with Rhode Island’s research institutions and the research and development ecosystem to continuously leverage the assets and resources that can further benefit innovation in the state.

• Manage innovation programs including application development, facilitating application reviews, communicating with applicants, maintaining program evaluation, operations, systems and reporting.
• Continuously track the innovation program portfolio, reporting on impact and ways to further leverage innovation investments.
• Work across Innovation Team to collect both qualitative and quantitative data related to grant project performance for contributing to agency and other periodic reports.
• Prepare board materials for presentation of funding approvals.

• Liaison with RI Commerce’s Marketing department to develop timely communication and outreach materials related to innovation programming at RI Commerce, including email newsletters, marketing collateral, social media and success stories.
• Work with program grantees to prepare and provide testimonials for the General Assembly and others as needed.

• Maintain a working knowledge of national trends in innovation policy and Technology Based Economic Development (TBED) strategies; attend professional development opportunities, such as conferences, when applicable.
• Represent RI Commerce at community events as needed.

• Program and project management:
  Juggles strategic administration concurrently with operational tasks and relationship management.
• Initiative:
  Willing to take on responsibilities and challenges. Finds new ways over, around, and through barriers to succeed. A results‑oriented doer.
• Relationship oriented:
  Works well with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic skills:
  Determines opportunities and threats through comprehensive analysis of current and future trends. Comprehends and can execute against the big picture.
• Servant leadership:
  Leads through empowerment; can easily make decisions and point toward a strategic direction to accomplish goals and functions.
• Team oriented:
  Manages people with a commitment to harnessing their strengths to the benefit of the team.

None specified.

• 6‑8 years of professional or demonstrated experience in managing programs or business/entrepreneurial development initiatives—or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent verbal communication skills as well as an ability to prepare clear, informative and concise written materials. Must be able to communicate effectively across multiple stakeholder and partner groups such as universities, foundations,…