Senior Manager, Innovation Programs

Senior Manager, Innovation Programs

Location: New York City – On-Site

The Partnership for New York City (https://pfnyc.org/) mobilizes private sector resources and expertise to advance New York City’s standing as a global center of economic opportunity, upward mobility, and innovation.

The Partnership runs three public sector Innovation Labs in partnership with New York City and State agencies. These Innovation Labs are an essential element of the Partnership Fund’s “Technology in the Public Interest” strategy, which aims to invest in companies and programs that advance the application of new technologies to address urban challenges, including helping government agencies deliver services more effectively. These three public sector Innovation Labs include: the Transit Tech Lab (TTL), established in 2018 in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and expanded in 2019 to the NYC Department of Transportation and the Port Authority of NY and NJ; the Environmental Tech Lab (ETL), established in 2023 in partnership with New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); and the Buildings Tech Lab (BTL), launched in 2024 in partnership with the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB).

The Partnership is looking for a Senior Manager to help run the day-to-day function of the labs, especially, the Transit Tech Lab. Since the Transit Tech Lab’s inception in 2018, over 900 companies have applied to participate in the program, 69 companies have tested their technologies, and 30 solutions have commercially scaled or informed commercial procurements. For more information about the lab visit: transitinnovation.org.

Summary of Position: Under the direction of the Partnership’s SVP of Innovation, the Senior Manager is responsible for managing and executing activities related to the Transit Tech Lab and other innovation priorities. The person will ensure program goals and objectives are achieved and meetings and events are planned and executed according to the program schedule and structure. The Senior Manager will conduct outreach to the entrepreneurial community to ensure there are a sufficient number of high-quality applicants.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day activities of the Transit Tech Lab including:
  • Support recruitment of applicants, selection process, proof-of-concept and pilot support, information sessions and more. Includes:
    • Recruitment: Conduct outreach to the relevant tech communities to recruit candidates to apply for the programs, including meeting investors, entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders in the transit and mobility tech spaces. Participate in events to raise the visibility of the program within the transit and mobility tech communities.
    • Screening: Manage the initial review of the applicants, coordinate the review of relevant candidates with evaluators. Organize and manage the in-person presentations of companies selected by evaluators.
    • Information Sessions: Conduct information sessions for program tech companies as well as orientation sessions with other program participants.
    • During program: Schedule and attend early meetings between program tech companies and mentors and prepare the program tech companies for those meetings; schedule project kickoffs and facilitate setting strong goals and KPIs during these kickoffs; Manage the schedule of project check-ins, presentations, mid-point check-ins, office hours, workshops, and other content sessions with stakeholders; Convene periodic meetings and calls for the representatives of the participants to assess progress on an interim basis; Convene periodic meetings for program tech companies including with Executives in Residence.
    • Post Program: Schedule and manage feedback sessions for the program tech companies and calls with stakeholders. Prepare a final report. Create succinct executive summaries to document key accomplishments after projects conclude. Proactively develop ways to support graduates post program, including relevant introduction and visibility within the Partnership network.
    • Other: Plan and execute events that support past graduates of the program. Update and maintain salesforce contacts.
  • Communications:
    • Work with the SVP of Innovation to manage communications to ensure smooth, timely and efficient operations of the program.
    • Work with SVP of Innovation and the Senior Manager of Communications to identify opportunities for positive positioning of the program and deploy a public relations and traditional and social media strategy; maintain and update the program websites.
  • Other:
    • Proactively remain informed and current on the competitive landscape and key trends in public transit, mobility, transit tech, and civic tech.
    • Increase outreach to ensure the Lab opportunity is presented to diverse founders.

Qualifications

• • 3-4 years of experience in program management, consulting, startups, government, technology, or another relevant field preferred.
  • Some transportation or government experience preferred.
  • Experience and passion for the NYC startup ecosystem is a plus.
  • Familiarity with the startup ecosystem and current trends in emerging technologies
  • Excellent project management, writing, communication, marketing, and organizational skills
  • Excellent attention to detail with ability to quickly execute administrative tasks
  • Build trusted relationships with agency partners, senior agency staff, entrepreneurs, and partnership staff to drive outcomes
  • Business knowledge: able to understand business issues and incorporate appropriately.
  • Able to work in a small staff environment. Willing to perform, and where needed assume responsibility for, organizational tasks.
  • Able to take initiative and work independently.
  • Thrive in a fast-paced environment
  • Facilitate meetings with many stakeholders and skillfully work to distill goals/KPIs/actionable next steps to ensure projects move forward
  • Ability to adjust work hours to include evening events.

Interested candidates should apply through this link:

https://form.typeform.com/to/gPNbFXLJ

The Partnership for New York City is deeply committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender or intersex status, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, caregiver status, domestic violence victim status and intern status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.