Rhode Island Commerce
Operations Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Marketing)
The Operations Manager for the Strategic Initiatives team will act as the internal program and operations control nexus for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporations strategic and innovative initiatives. The incumbent will ensure program and team efforts enhance the competitiveness of the Rhode Island economy by creating dependable and aligned internal systems as well as a structure for smart investments and funding requests that foster market-based innovation.
The Strategic Initiatives team is a dynamic group that directs the Corporations planning efforts, innovation initiatives, and federal grant-funded programs. The team works to ensure alignment of Corporation efforts with the states overarching economic development priorities as well as efforts from other agencies. It builds the portfolio of non-state revenue sources to support this work. And it drives innovation and special projects for the Corporation.
Essential Functions
Policy and Program Research and Compliance
Develop and maintain updated program Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) documents, reflecting research of statute, regulations, and other program guidance documents and ensuring accurate decisioning for program implementation.
Support program directors in executing SOPs that enhance the programmatic delivery and drives towards excellence.
Maintain internal systems for program compliance and ensure buy-in and understanding of those systems internally; support team members to collectively utilize them.
Prepare reports, presentations, and issue briefs for internal and external audiences.
Strategic Sourcing of Funding
Identify viable, relevant, aligned funding opportunities for key short- and long-term economic development efforts through federal and other sources.
Maintain a pipeline and calendar of open grant opportunities, leveraging internal assets and external partnerships to prioritize opportunities based on State priorities, immediate needs, partner alignment, and capacity.
With guidance from senior leadership, program manage targeted grant applications from start to completion, including drafting content and developing budgets.
General
Develop a tracking system for science and technology research and federal, state and other investments; support ongoing tracking of the innovation ecosystem from research to commercialization.
Conduct research on policies, programs, and approaches within economic development.
Work closely with Strategic Initiatives team as well as the Executive Office of Commerce to ensure accurate and holistic metrics, reporting, and program representation to external stakeholders.
Ensure projects with multiple stakeholders accomplish success through strong teamwork in service of overall goals.
Other duties as assigned.
Key Competencies
Project management, organizational skill, and attention to detail: Strong attention to detail, follow-up and organizational skills. The ability to manage multiple competing priorities is a fast-paced work environment.
Research: Keen ability to investigate opportunities and quickly decipher and classify information relative to overarching goals and strategies. Understands basic principles of desktop research and policy; enjoys organizing information for clear deliverables.
Communication: Writes clearly, precisely, and concisely. Demonstrates strong oral and collaboration skills, with the ability both to speak convincingly and listen openly.
Ambition: Desires to grow in responsibility and authority, in a team-based, collaborative environment.