The Manager of Innovation is responsible for supporting and leading components of various innovation initiatives that have the potential of accelerating Feeding America’s progress toward the vision of a hunger-free America. These initiatives will range in structure from collaborations within the Feeding America National Office, alongside the Feeding America Network and in direct collaborations with external partners.
This position will work closely with and will report to the VP of Innovation and will help to shape a newly-formed Innovation team that engages functions across the enterprise to incubate strategic innovation initiatives and helps to foster a culture of innovation for Feeding America.
- In partnership with senior leaders, the Manager of Innovation supports the identification, planning, design/development and implementation of key initiatives in collaboration with national office departments and network leaders.
- Works closely with other members of the innovation team and departments to test feasibility of new solutions quickly and smoothly hand-off proven offerings to departments.
- Provides user-experience design expertise.
- Drives project design process from planning through implementation of prototype experiments and pilot tests and ensures that all activities result in value deliverables.
- Communicates frequently with senior management and cross functional management teams to drive business goals and to make innovation process, language and activities accessible, inclusive and readily used to help foster a culture of innovation.
- Proactively anticipates project risks and issues, and ensures adequate mitigation plans are put in place to ensure delivery is not compromised.
- Cover letter with resume is required.
- High level of analytical skills with a propensity to make concepts tangible through prototyping.
- Ability to provide direction, solve a diverse range of issues and problems and meet real deadlines.
- Experience in managing multiple projects and project managers.
- Ability see the big picture and understand the perspectives and orthodoxies of multiple functions.
- Ability to negotiate and persuade other leaders to adopt ideas.
- Ability to manage up and down within the organization.
- Professionalism, emotional maturity and the ability to use diplomacy in working relationships to deal with conflict and to arbitrate solutions successfully.
- Demonstrated proficiency in facilitating teams and diverse groups.
- Ability to prioritize and manage work against critical project timelines in a fast-paced environment Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing across all levels of the organization.
- Committed to organizational mission to create a hunger-free America and interest in building a career at one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations.
Feeding America embraces a philosophy that recognizes and values diversity. Our goal is to attract, develop, retain and promote a talented diverse workforce in a culture where all employees will contribute to their fullest potential.