The purpose of this position is to assist with innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives to foster and develop a culture thriving on investment in the local and regional economy. The position will assist in marketing Bluffton as the leader and preferred destination for innovation, entrepreneurship and related growth. A primary function of the position will be to coach and mentor entrepreneurs while working with key community partners to help develop entrepreneurial culture in the region. Ensures the success of the Don Ryan Center’s commitment to supporting economic development by facilitating entrepreneurship development. This position will report directly to the Don Ryan Center for Innovation (DRCI) CEO. Additionally, they will collaborate with DRCI Board of Directors, mentors, organizational partners, businesses, and the Town of Bluffton in executing the DRCI strategic plan. Other duties will include evaluating local resources, needs, goals, and opportunities to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the Bluffton region. This position will require hands-on involvement with the HUB and Don Ryan Center Membership.

Manages and leads innovators and mentors enrolled in the STARTUP and GROWTH programs. Includes marketing, recruiting and screening potential innovators.Acts as a catalyst to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial support network by coordinating the delivery of selected services to the Don Ryan Center STARTUP and GROWTH customers.
Assists entrepreneurs with strategy development including hiring, organizational processes, financial management, growth, and investment strategy.
Coaches and advises on business development, marketing, fundraising, and team composition; rotating among multiple startup organizations in varying stages of development.
Supports the management of customer-driven new product development from prototype design to launch.
Serves as a liaison to ecosystem partners and investors to ensure that expectations are exceeded and schedules and budgets are met.
Supports vetting of proposals of business strategies, value proposition, customer traction, technology viability, market size, and competitive positioning.
Works with key public and private organizations at the national, regional, and local level for the purposes of assisting in the growth of the startups’ strategy.
Maintains a pre-existing CRM, prepares periodical reports, and maintains record of projects, progress and status of innovators.
File reports as requested and required in a comprehensive and timely fashion.
Assists in coordinating operations of the Hub (physical space) with CEO and Operations Manager.
Attends and participates in the DRCI monthly Board Meetings and other Town of Bluffton meetings as required.
Serves as an example and advocate for the Town’s Mission and Core Beliefs.
Performs emergency or disaster-related duties as assigned.
Assumes specified duties and responsibilities of the CEO as directed and performs other duties as apparent or assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree preferred; and a minimum of five (5) years of work experience in the private sector with a start-up or small business organization with experience in supporting and growing organizations to meet market needs. An equivalent combination of education, experience, and appropriate training may be considered.

Licenses or Certifications:
Possession of an appropriate driver’s license valid in the State of South Carolina.

Special Requirements:
None.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of marketing principles.
Knowledge of mentorship and volunteer programs.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office and social media channels.
Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.
Skill in delivering impeccable customer service.
Skill in solving problems.
Skill in preparing and analyzing written or computer data.
Skill in making presentations to companies, board members, funding sources and others.
Skill in community relations and marketing for successful recruitment of potential innovators to the Don Ryan Center.
Ability to mentor entrepreneurs in key start up activities related to team formation, strategic marketing, human resource issues, financial management, business development, strategic partnering, and fundraising.
Ability to evaluate business operations, technologies, and entrepreneurs with regard to the likelihood of business success, management strengths and deficiencies, and market opportunity.
Ability to understand customer expectations, strategic direction, and applying this information to strategic and tactical decisions.
Ability to engender and exhibit a positive and collaborative attitude.
Ability to manage and coordinate multiple disparate projects, clients, timelines, and goals in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to deliver a high level of customer service and professionalism to all stakeholders.
Ability to organize electronic files.
Ability to implement organizational protocol within the organization.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public.
Ability to implement organizational protocols within the organization.

The work is light work. The employee is frequently required to apply 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The employee is occasionally required to exert up to 20 pounds of force to move objects. In addition, positions in this classification typically require balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, discriminating among sounds, kneeling, lifting, manual dexterity, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, expressing ideas by the spoken word, shouting to be heard above ambient noise, visual acuity to analyze data/work with color or depth perception/determine accuracy or observe facilities/operate motor vehicles or equipment/inspect defects or fabricate parts, and walking.

Duties are performed primarily in a moderately noisy business office with copy machines, phones, and printers along with some light foot traffic. There is some exposure to outdoor weather conditions and various work environments when in the field including moving machinery when at various community worksites.

Town of Bluffton (SC) jobs

Part-Time Innovation Manager