Senior Project Officer - Technology Innovation

Overview

Job Summary

The Senior Project Officer - Technology Innovation Partnerships works directly with Technology Innovation Partnerships and Technology Innovation Products colleagues on projects that accelerate New Jersey's technology innovation growth.

$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.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops, pilots, and scales initiatives and programs that strengthen the state's innovation ecosystem and increase competitiveness in focus industries; these efforts may include: contributing to the development of industry and issue-focused strategies and programs, identifying and engaging key companies and broader stakeholders, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, defining program implementation plans, impact metrics, budgets, etc.

• Develops and 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.

• Manages relationships with key industry stakeholders and acts as an industry-development advocate.

• Represents the Authority at industry events or meetings - demonstrating knowledge of the Authority's products and industry needs.

• Leads independent work and small project teams to execute department strategies.

• Advises Authority leadership, Governor's Office members, and other sister agency members on policy and technical matters related to Technology Innovation topics and initiatives.

• Mentors new project officers including reviewing their work and providing subject matter expertise on their efforts.

Qualifications

Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a leadership and ownership mindset within the team and department including suggesting new ideas for how to improve the division.

• Supports the development and achievement of department goals; reviews and evaluates own performance against key metrics.

• Helps to institutionalize best practices; defines and implements needed systems and policies;

• Supports on other department 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, EDA staff, and external customers.

• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

• Must complete annual and semiannual self-assessment as required.

Skills and Abilities

Problem solving and communication

• Strong creative and analytical problem solving, including structuring issues, framing solutions, and executing complex analyses with limited errors and oversight

• Strong 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

• Ability to engage credibly and thoughtfully in conversations with industry and government leaders

• Ability to engage in the technical detail of Technology Innovation industries and related supply chain development

• Ability to identify programs and initiatives via conversations with key stakeholders and monitor successful programs from other states and countries

• Knowledge and understanding of economic development, industry development approaches, innovation-focused development, and public policy and governance

• 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, policy, planning, energy, engineering, environmental studies or equivalent experience

• Minimum 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.)

• Experience in program development, public policy development and basic financial principles

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NJ SAME Program

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.

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