Innovation Product Officer

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.

Job Overview

• An Innovation Product Officer leads and manages specific financial programs within the Technology Innovation Products department to support early-stage businesses.
• The ideal candidate possesses industry knowledge around startup businesses and entrepreneurship along with introductory experience with related financing from private investors and venture capital firms, demonstrates strategic thinking capabilities for these environments, and has experience in managing high-impact projects and financial programs.
• This person is responsible for program development, management, and administration as well as partnering in business development and relationship management.

$76,184 - $85,707

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:

• Manage the day-to-day administrative functions for assigned products.
• Participate in relationship management with external partners and potential company applicants as well as with internal NJEDA staff.
• Generate pipeline of potential program applicants.
• Support application review process from submission through review and approval until final closing.

Programs and Projects:

• Serve as the subject matter and industry expert for program/s to support economic growth for innovative businesses in the state of New Jersey.

Goals and Objectives:

• Achieve specific KPIs related to program success and market impact.
• Maintain high-level of accuracy and compliance to auditable standards for tasks and deliverables.

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

• Work collaboratively within the department as well as in cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and achieve broader organizational goals.
• Engage with external stakeholders to promote and integrate innovative solutions within the industry.

Reporting Structure:

• Report directly to the Manager, Technology Innovation Products
• Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

Technical Skills:

• General knowledge of accounting and financial standards for businesses, like GAAP and GASB. Basic excel, data analysis, and auditing skills. Understanding of the various business financing forms like debt and equity from private markets like angel investors, private equity and venture capital as well as public markets.

Soft Skills:

• Communication Skills: Ability to participate in discussions and convey introductory financial, business, and program information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences as well as to internal NJEDA and external public groups, through written reports and verbal presentations.
• Time Management: Skill in managing multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently, prioritizing workload to meet project timelines, and adapting to a fast-paced environment where tasks and priorities can shift rapidly.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in team settings, collaborating with colleagues across different departments to achieve common goals.
• Ethical Judgment: Upholding high ethical and compliance standards when handling sensitive information, managing financial programs, and making business decisions.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of industry-facing experience in finance, banking, government, or related relevant field.
• Experience in a fast-paced, project-based professional services environment that emphasizes teamwork, problem solving, and communication (e.g., management consulting, banking, legal field, large-scale project management, etc.)
• Experience in program development, public policy development, corporate finance, and financial analysis related to equity investing and/or lending.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in a relevant field such as business, finance, or policy, or equivalent experience.
• Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience

Software/Tools Proficiency:

• 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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