AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.
Summary Statement
The AARP Innovation Labs Program Manager will manage all day-to-day aspects of internal and external accelerator programs, initiatives and relationships. The Innovation Labs Program Manager is comfortable working with all levels of the organization and is a high-energy, results-oriented program management professional. This individual is also an entrepreneurial-minded corporate innovator, accomplished communicator, strong vendor manager, and experienced planner who will support AARP’s external innovation vision in the development of meaningful solutions for the 50+, by engaging the startup ecosystem to manage the co-creation of products, services, events and relationships, accelerator events management, corporate development and relationships with external labs / accelerators. This position will report to the Innovation Labs Director.
Responsibilities
Planning & Program Support
- Create projects that are highly important to the success of AARP’s transformational innovation initiatives
- Develop tools and processes that work across all accelerator programs
- Evaluate the success of each programming opportunity, and overall accelerator model, using quantifiable metrics such as number of attendees, post-event surveys, NPS scores across communities
- Support the Innovation Labs Director with the implementation of actions prescribed by AARP
- Scope, plan and execute multiple, often quick-turnaround, projects with minimal outside assistance
- Effectively manage all aspects of accelerator relationships with corporate development, strategy, and innovation teams. This includes planning events like Demo Days, coordinating sponsor office hours, and integrating sponsors and partners into the startup community through key individual introductions and premium interactions with marquee community events.
Cycle Operations
- Develop a quarterly planning strategy for the Innovation Labs offerings to maximize value to startups
- Assist in the development of an annual program plan and budget for the accelerator programs
- Coordinate the accelerator goal setting process each year, manage milestones, and support communication across the company
- Proactively identify of Startups, Mentors, and Speakers that need to be addressed by the Innovation Labs Director in close collaboration with key stakeholders across the company
This position will require the ability to manage the day-to-day operations of Innovation Labs’ programs and initiatives. This individual must possess a great deal of autonomy in managing operational plans and executing on those plans. Individual must also be comfortable and have experience with customer service and vendor management.
This individual’s responsibilities include driving best practices on innovation to support innovation teams and startups participating in accelerator programs. This individual will need to operate with limited oversight to provide clear, support and management to internal and external stakeholders to reach accelerator goals and objectives. Strong leadership, decision-making, innovation knowledge, communication, and executional skills are required for this position.
This position involves engaging with stakeholders and business unit managers in a support capacity in identifying clear expectations of innovating inside various accelerator programs. This level of engagement will require strong coordination, communication and planning skills. This individual will regularly interact with the Innovation Labs Director and SVP of Innovation & Product Development. This individual will regularly communicate with external vendors, partners or suppliers that can help conduct meaningful research and experiments to propel new solutions forward.
This position will have a direct impact on AARP’s success in developing innovative solutions today and in the future. Responsible for managing the relationships that identify new solutions and co-creates with startups, they are responsible for supporting teams that are bringing breakthrough solutions to market. Additionally, this individual will serve as a key contact and “front door” to AARP’s externally facing innovation efforts. They will have direct interaction with consumers and key high-level executives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
- 8+ years of relevant work experience
- A minimum 2-or more years of account management experience in the field of entrepreneurship, technology, PR, or advertising
- Strong understanding of the startup ecosystem
- Exceptional interpersonal, written and oral communication, and customer relationship-building skills across multiple levels of management.
- Goal-oriented, ambitious, self-starter, detail oriented and passionate
- Comfortable working in a fast paced, deadline driven environment
- Working knowledge of Salesforce or a similar CRM platform
- Experience as a project manager, vendor manager and/or experienced planner
Benefits Offered
AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.