Innovation Product Analyst

Job Summary

The Economic Transformation Division’s mission is to accelerate the growth of New Jersey’s economy by implementing initiatives that enhance the State’s long-term economic competitiveness and establish New Jersey as an innovation leader within high job growth strategic sectors, including life sciences and technology, transportation and logistics, clean energy, film, digital media, offshore wind, financial services, and advanced manufacturing. The Technology Innovation Products department delivers unique programs to create and sustain job growth in businesses within each of these key sectors.  The team that delivers these products are focused on effective execution combined with a positive market impact.

The successful candidate will participate in the design, development, implementation, and administration of Innovation Programs. Additionally, the Analyst 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. This person also maintains a general working knowledge of other NJEDA Programs and Departments in order to support, promote, and manage NJEDA’s offerings effectively to manage external and internal relationships.

This job’s responsibilities include but not limited to, the NJEDA’s Angel Investor Tax Credit, NOL, NJ Ignite, NJ Accelerate and other programs. This would include being responsible for relationship management, business process, application coordination, program development, and data entry. The Analyst will coordinate and collaborate their efforts within the Technology Innovation Products  team and larger NJEDA organization.

$71,600 - $80,550

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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports Product Officer and other departmental Staff with their efforts to launch and administer department’s suite of Innovation Programs.
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to present the values and requirements of the Angel Investor Tax Credit, NOL, NJ Ignite, NJ Accelerate and other programs.
• Reviews program applications for program adherence and advances various applications through the approval process.
• Participates in the development and modifications of program structures, policies, and procedures based from approved legislation and other sources with an acute attention to detail leading to practical long-term implementation.
• Develops methods and tools to evaluate program processes, eligibility, execution and compliance monitoring.
• Performs periodical statistical analysis and activity memorandums on the various 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 exist, development of methods and tools to accomplish tasks would be excepted.
• Liaises 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.
• Coordinates planning, development and pursues outreach to establish and maintain relationships with potential corporate partners, investors and early-stage businesses.
• Learns and utilizes the EDA’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database per departmental standards including populating key application data in various CRM records.
• Maintains deep industry expertise for EDA through project-based research and analysis; these efforts may include tracking industry trends at the state, regional, and national level, identifying which key industry issues state government could help to resolve, providing industry and policy updates to internal government stakeholders.
• Works with the NJEDA colleagues to manage relationships with key industry stakeholders and acts as an industry-development advocate; these efforts may include representing the Authority at industry events, conducting company research, and acting as a company liaison within EDA.
• Collaborates with NJEDA’s marketing and communications teams to assure website is accurate, programs are accurately marketed, success stories are shared, and program outcomes are reported to Executive Committee, board and program enhancements/efficiencies and improvements are recommended.
• Facilitates the policy and product development for programs associated with financing innovation companies within the EDA and as the voice of the EDA for state projects within the niche market. Works with external stakeholders as technical and financial advisors to create and implement balanced solutions.
• Represents the Authority at industry and governmental events and meetings, including presenting the various programs and services.
• Collaborates in the development and achievement of the Technology Innovation Products  department and Economic Transformation division goals; reviews and evaluates own performance against key metrics.
• Participates in the development and then advocates for other the Innovation Programs department and Economic Transformation division strategic initiatives as necessary.
• Performs duties to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
• Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer- focused work environment among division, NJEDA staff, and external customers.
• Must complete annual and semi-annual self-assessment as required.
• Attends team meetings. Provides relevant updates to report progress and achievements.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as may be assigned.

Skills and Abilities

Problem solving and communication

• Strong creative and analytical problem-solving ability, including structuring issues, framing solutions, and executing complex analyses with limited errors and oversight.
• Ability to synthesize findings and propose actionable solutions.
• Strong written (presentation, memos, and emails) and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to work on small project teams tackling complex and challenging work.
• 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 build industry expertise

• Best-in-Authority ability to engage in the technical details of the various products within the Innovation Programs department.
• Ability to identify programs and initiatives via conversations with key stakeholders and monitor successful programs from other states and countries.
• Ability to engage credibly and thoughtfully in broader economic development conversations with industry and government leaders.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of economic development, sector development approaches, community development, and public policy and governance related to the Officer’s specific Program responsibility.
• Deep understanding of EDA’s existing programs and services.

Entrepreneurial leadership

• Demonstrated ability to self-motivate and self-lead own work planning and execution with a strong results orientation.
• Ability to prioritize workload, must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constraints with little supervision.
• Exceptional history of strong performance and consistent high-quality delivery on commitments
• Ability to adapt to changes in work environment and manage competing demands.

Customer orientation

• Ability to build strong relationships and contacts within the industry.
• Track record of consistently meeting private sector customer service-level expectations.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and EDA staff.

Management mindset

• History of sound decision making and ability to understand implications of decisions.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including ability to influence and engage team leaders and peers.
• Demonstrates respectful behavior and promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff and external customers. 
• Strong ethical orientation, including exercising sound financial stewardship.
• Commitment to and passion for EDA’s mission and inspires a sense of shared purpose.
• NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred

Preferred Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in a relevant field such as business, finance, or policy or equivalent experince.
• Minimum of five years of industry-facing experience in a government agency or finaincal field (e.g., management consulting, banking, legal field, large-scale project management, etc.).
• Experience in a fast-paced, project-based professional services environment that emphasizes teamwork, problem solving, and communication.
• Preference for individuals with background in project managment, program development, public policy development, corporate finance, and/or financial analysis.

Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience.

Physical Demands

• Minimal
• Ability to work outside normal business hours, as needed

Travel

• As necessary to events, meetings, businesses, etc.

Certificates and Licenses Required

• License: 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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