Senior Project Officer – Strategic Innovation Centers

Job Summary

EDA Overview

Join the NJEDA and help lead New Jersey to sustainable economic growth, fostering equitable opportunities and vibrant communities. We offer hybrid work, a supportive culture, and robust benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and extensive wellness programs. Make a tangible impact and shape New Jersey's future with innovative economic development at NJEDA.

Strategic Innovation Centers (SICs) Overview

• Strategic Innovation Centers (SICs) are facilities that either directly support research and development (R&D), innovation, or entrepreneurship or are aimed at solving specific problems in new and innovative ways through a combination of services such as mentorship, networking opportunities, hands-on training, business support services, education opportunities, and/or access to testing, fabrication, or manufacturing facilities and equipment. Several of these SICs have an associated fund to invest in select number of participating companies.

Job Overview

• As a member of the SIC Deal Team, responsible for supporting the Authority’s efforts to ensure the State’s long-term economic competitiveness through place-based innovation centers.
• Tasked with assisting the startup of projects, budgeting, planning, stakeholder management, and private sector engagement.
• Leads ongoing relationship management with SIC partners and works to enhance outcomes through pro-active collaboration leveraging internal and external resources

$85,680 - $107,100

Note: The NJEDA currently offers a hybrid work schedule for up to 2 days of telecommute work from home. To participate, you will be required to have high speed home internet access and a managers approval. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJEDA employees to establish and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey.

Duties  

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Serves as an expert resource within EDA on the innovation economy place-based economic strategy.
• Coordinates with NJEDA colleagues and external collaborators in sourcing, researching, analyzing investment opportunities for Strategic Innovation Centers.
• Maintain rigorous oversight of the SIC portfolio and drive active relationship management, to capture compelling insights, success factors and opportunities to enhancement.

Projects:

• Helps to negotiate investment deal terms and milestone agreements including helping to create Key Performance Indexes to measure success for each SIC investment.
• Works on the portfolio of investments to ensure success, alignment with innovation policy goals and create jobs in the state.
• Maintains a strong partnership with Investors, Universities and Companies around the focus areas for the Strategic Innovation Centers.
• Collaborates across departments and with external advisors to advance investment opportunities.

Goals and Objectives:

• Bring to fruition the SIC proposals in the active pipeline across targeted innovation sectors.
• Maximize the influence and output of active SICs to grow the innovation ecosystem

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

• Works closely with colleagues across the NJEDA to help ensure strategic and programmatic engagement to generate visibility and access to NJEDA resources.
• Forward-facing to the public and will foster strong working relationships with key industry stakeholders, including regular engagement with private sector leaders, senior government stakeholders, and strategic partners.

Reporting Structure:

• Reports directly to the EVP – Innovation Impact.
• Demonstrates strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively. Manages multiple responsibilities simultaneously and works independently to meet tight deadlines and schedules with minimal supervision.
• Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

Technical Skills:

• Knowledge and experience of investment transaction diligence.
• Experience in portfolio development and management and intermediate financial principles.

Soft Skills:

• High degree of ingenuity, flexibility, team orientation, creativity, innovation and managing schedules and deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with NJEDA senior staff, team members, and external stakeholders.

Experience:

• Seven years of industry-facing experience in a government agency or related field (or) three to five years of experience in a fast-paced, project-based professional services environment that emphasizes team work, problem solving, and communication (e.g., management consulting, investment banking, legal field, large-scale project management, etc.)
• Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in a relevant field such as business, finance, policy, planning, energy, engineering, environmental studies or equivalent experience.

Software/Tools Proficiency:

• Knowledge of virtual platforms including Zoom, MS Teams, CRM, Triplog, and Adobe.
• NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.

Additional Information

• Minimal physical demands and ability to work out normal business hours
• Travel expected when necessary for business operations

Certificates and Licenses Required

• Staff are required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essentials duties of the position.

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. 

This position is considered exempt and is excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers under the FLSA.

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

NJ SAME Program

 In accordance with P.L. 2021, c. 465 and P.L. 2021, 466, the SAME program was established to enable New Jersey State agencies to hire, promote, retain, and advance qualified individuals whose physical or mental impairments impact their abilities to participate in the hiring and promotion process for non-competitive and unclassified titles within the State workforce.

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. This program uses a fast-track process that permits people who are eligible for the program to request that the State appointing authority schedule with them a good faith interview. For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please Click Here.  If you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

This posting open to eligible applicants regardless of SAME eligibility.

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.
• Must review the required NJ State Ethics Guidelines found on the state website.
• Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. Note: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.

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