Innovation Intern

Job Summary

Collaborate with a team of highly motivated financial professionals, who are passionate about supporting and advancing New Jersey’s innovation economy via a suite of Innovation Programs. The successful candidate will assist the design, development, implementation, and administration of Innovation Programs. Additionally, a successful candidate will interact directly with stakeholders to gather intelligence and build relationships in support of sustainable economic development policy. The applicant should have a first-hand insight of program management, business development, relationship management, government operations as well as corporate financial and investment knowledge.

An Intern will receive exposure to New Jersey’s Innovation Economy which would include the emerging technology and biotechnology community. This internship is designed to prepare students for a fast-paced business environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Innovation Programs Director and Staff with their efforts to launch and administer department’s suite of Innovation Programs.
• Participate in the development of program structure, policies, and procedures based from approved legislation and other sources with an acute attention to detail leading to practical long-term implementation.
• Develop methods and tools to evaluate program processes, eligibility, execution and compliance monitoring.
• Performs periodical statistical analysis and activity memorandums regarding the status of Innovation Programs. This would include work within various computer systems to perform functions like report generation and data accuracy. Capable of updating and maintaining these systems and/or interact with relevant team members with this access and ability. If these do not currently existing, development of methods and tools to accomplish tasks would be excepted.
• Liaise across departments within EDA and external government stakeholders to maintain forward progress on mechanics associated with accounting, compliance, information technology, legal, marketing, policy, tax
• Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff, and external customers.
• Coordinate planning, development and pursue outreach to establish and maintain relationships with potential corporate partners, investors and early-stage businesses.
• Learn and utilize the EDA’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database per departmental standards including populating key application data in various CRM records
• Attends weekly team meetings. Provides relevant updates to report progress and achievements.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned

Required Skills and Abilities

• Advanced skills in research
• Ability to work with various excel spreadsheets and software applications
• Initiative and creativity
• Interest in policy and legal framework development / investment analysis and execution
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; proficient in grammar, spelling and editing; and foster communications with business professionals and EDA staff
• Ability to prioritize workload, be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously, and work independently within limited time constraints with little or no supervision
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and EDA staff
• Demonstrate respectful behavior and promote teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff and external customers
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new software packages

Required Qualifications

• Student in a graduate degree program in accounting, business administration, finance, economics, economic development, and/or related field; Minimum GPA 3.0 with some course work in capital formation/venture capital
• Preference for a student who attends a New Jersey domiciled College/University
• Must be available to work full time starting on October 1^st and with very limited time off through April 1^st.
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Ability to think and work independently
• Capable of handling a large workload
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency in Word and Excel for Windows as well as experience a variety of computer systems
• Must be detail oriented and a team player

Work Location:

• Remote

Physical Demands

• Minimal

Certificates and Licenses Required

• None

Travel

• Minimal

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job description. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope, general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job.  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Your employment at NJEDA is voluntary and subject to termination by you or NJEDA at will, with or without cause, or with or without notice, at any time.  Nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to conflict, eliminate or modify the employment-at-will status of NJEDA employees. 

NJEDA reserves the right to amend/revise this job description as necessary to meet current and changing business needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Requirements

• Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date. If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded.
• Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011 to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources.
• Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.