Senior Product Officer - NJEDA

Job Summary 

The Senior Product Officer – Product Development contributes to the advancement of EDA’s product development initiatives, including the coordination, development and implementation of new and modified productswhile ensuring the products are consistent with NJEDA policies and business practices, and fully integrated in NJEDA technology platforms. 

$76,184 - $95,230

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.

Core 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 includecontributing to the development of sector and issue-focused strategies and programs, and provides support for small businesses, and drives redevelopment and investment in communities. 
• Interfaces with various Economic Growth and Community Development product owners with respect to development and promotion of Authority programs. This includes working directly with department leads to help bring programs from concept to launch, ensuring product information is accurate and up to date, development of applications and materials that are accessible and clear, and leading the positioning of products within the Authority’s overall product mix so that t products are categorized, positioned and marketed appropriately to the marketplace. Works in collaboration with the Managing Director – Product Development and Product Development Manager to coordinate the product development process, working cross-organizationally to achieve alignment, integration and successful implementation. This includes the creation a uniform and detailed product development process to be used cross organizationally for the development of new concepts and ideas into the launch of comprehensive economic development tools and products.  
• Interfaces between Product Development and Information and Technology Services and cloud support vendors to regarding the development and buildout of the Authority’s online application platforms. This includes working with Information and Technology Services and cross-organizational staff to identify appropriate platforms for the integration of new products into the online application systems.  
• Helps mentor new ProductOfficers within Product Development 
• Helps fostera leadership and ownership mindset amongProduct Owners and other Product Development Officers, including suggesting new ideas for how to improve the product development process. 
• Supports the development and achievement of Product Developmentgoals; reviews and evaluates own performance against key metrics 
• Helps to institutionalize best practices; defines and implements needed systems and policies 
• Supports on other 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. 
• Must complete annual and semiannual self-assessment as required. 
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned. 

Skills and Abilities 

Problem solving and communication 

• Demonstrated proficiencyin creative and analytical problem solving, including structuring issues, framingsolutions, 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 internal business units and stakeholders. 
• Comfortable engaging inthe technical details of a product or statute. 
• Knowledge and understanding of economic development, sector development approaches, innovation-focused development, and public policy and governance 
• Ability to quickly master an understanding of EDA’s organizational structure, operations, and 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 provide exceptional service to business units within the Authority 
• Track record of consistently meeting internal service-level expectations 
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically EDA staff 

Management mindset 

• History of sound decision making andability 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, preferablyin a relevant field such as business, finance, policy, planning, energy, engineering, or environmental studies or equivalent experience 
• Seven years of industry-facing experience in a government agency or related field 
• 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 topossess a valid driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation ofa 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

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.

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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