Product Innovation Officer - Military veterans preferred

Product Innovation Officer

US-NJ-Trenton

Job ID: 2025-2169
Type: Regular Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Product Innovation
NJEDA

Overview

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

• A Product Innovation Officer actively seeks out and evaluates emerging technologies and innovative solutions that can be integrated into the NJEDA’s product lifecycle to enhance functionality, efficiency, and market appeal of NJEDA products.
• The role will lead multiple initiatives to streamline and optimize product development processes, ensuring that innovation is not only about new products but also about improving existing systems and practices to increase overall productivity and efficiencies.
• The officer leverages robust product management skills to oversee multiple projects, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer needs.

$65,484 - $81,855

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 manager's 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:

• Conduct research and analysis to identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the Director of Product Innovation and cross-functional teams to conduct user testing, provide feedback, and refine product design and functionality processes.
• Co-facilitate brainstorming sessions and workshops to generate new product ideas, and evaluate these ideas based on feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with NJEDA’s broader strategic goals.

Projects:

• Work across the organization to ensure alignment on innovation goals.
• Track progress towards strategic objectives and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Support with the development of more efficient processes by leveraging technology to meet internal and external needs.

Goals and Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding and inventory of new technologies and their potential applications to meet product needs.
• Foster feedback cycles through the use of workshops and brainstorming sessions to generate new product ideas and continuously improve on existing processes.
  • Reduce business units and product owners’ pain points around frequently recurring issues.

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

• This role will collaborate with the parties listed below in product discussions to solicit guidance and ensure the delivery of effective technology solutions:
  • Director of Product Innovation
  • Chief Operating Officer, and other NJEDA Executives as needed
  • NJEDA's Information Technology and Systems team, product leads, and business units
  • State of New Jersey’s Office of Innovation

Reporting Structure:

• This role will report directly to the Direct of Product Innovation.
• This role will independently address product and operational inefficiencies with minimal supervision.
• Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned

Skills and Qualifications

Technical Skills:

• Design Thinking
• Excel and Data Analysis Skills
• Strong preference for experience with software development, Microsoft portals, PowerBI and powerapps, and Dynamics CRM.

Soft Skills:

• Strong Project Management Skills:Ability to define project scopes, set clear objectives, create detailed project plans and clearly convey project status, progress, and results to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:Effectively working with various departments, including ITS, product development, and Business Units.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills:Ability to analyze complex problems, evaluation options, and resolve technical issues and stakeholder concerns throughout the project lifecycle.

Experience:

• Minimum of Five years of experience in the following:
  • Innovation Management: Proven experience leading and managing innovation initiatives, from ideation to concept development and technology-driven solution implementation. Strong preference for software development expertise.
  • Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex projects, including planning, execution, and delivery.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working with diverse teams, including IT departments.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree. Preference for Bachelor’s degree in the following fields: Business Management, Policy, Systems Development, Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant job experience will be considered equally.
• 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 required.
  

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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