Innovation Manager

The City of New Orleans seeks an Innovation Manager to support the Chief Administrative Officer in executing strategic initiatives. Responsibilities include conducting analysis, optimizing City operations, managing projects, and engaging with stakeholders. The role requires strong skills in analysis, project management, and communication. The Innovation Team works in an open office environment, emphasizing collaboration and high-quality deliverables. This position is not remote and is based in New Orleans, LA.
The Team: The Innovation Team supports the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in developing and executing transformational initiatives for the City of New Orleans. By using a collaborative approach, we aim to capture value by managing multi-departmental projects, implementing revenue-augmenting and cost-saving initiatives, and institutionalizing process improvements that improve how the City develops and delivers programs and services. Key daily tasks for members of the Innovation Team include:
• Conducting deep quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess the situation
• Developing creative approaches to optimize and transform City operations
• Managing project implementation by engaging with several internal and external stakeholders

The Work Environment: We are a small team known for delivering high-quality work products, often on accelerated timelines. Our open office environment facilitates communication among our team and encourages the exchange of ideas between team members. The Innovation Team is comprised of mid-career Innovation Managers with professional backgrounds in both business and government and is led by the Director of Innovation. As unclassified employees, members of the Innovation Team serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and CAO.

The Position: An Innovation Manager executes strategic initiatives and projects that help achieve the priorities of the CAO. An Innovation Manager must be able to generate new ideas for improving City operations, translate these ideas into actionable project plans, and manage these projects to successful completion. This often requires thorough research and data analysis, as well as engagement with both internal and external stakeholders for approval or buy-in. Innovation Managers also represent the CAO before boards, outside commissions, and other stakeholders, and must be able to clearly communicate the CAO’s goals at a high-level and in-depth to different audiences. Past projects managed by the Innovation Team include:
• Evaluating business processes at City departments and recommending changes that increase efficiency or efficacy
• Developing strategic frameworks and project plans to roll out new City services
• Serving as a liaison between City departments, outside commissions, and the CAO to restructure City management and organization structures
• Leading or assisting with oversight of specific contracts and vendor management

The Ideal Candidate: To properly meet the expectations of the team, our ideal candidate must excel in both quantitative and qualitative analysis, finance and business management, relationship management, project management, strategic thinking, and exercising initiative while being a positive team player who is eager to support the efforts of others. An Innovation Manager is evaluated on his or her ability to:
• Create recommendations and strategic solutions based on deep analysis of an issue: collect and analyze large, and oftentimes incomplete, data sets; conduct operational assessments of various workflows and processes; and use gathered materials to make informed and practical recommendations for next steps or options moving forward
• Communicate effectively, expertly, and persuasively: properly distinguish appropriate messaging to a variety of audiences (high-level policymakers to frontline employees, large group to one-on-one conversations) and methods (in-person, email, phone, memo, presentation)
• Quickly and thoroughly learn and understand new concepts and subject areas: proactively research topics related to tasks; become “subject-matter expects” on an entirely new concepts quickly; multi-task by switching from one subject to an entirely unrelated subject; be resourceful and hardworking in a resource-constrained environment; and apply specific feedback and knowledge to future projects and tasks
• Succeed in a high-pressure and fast-paced environment: make logical decisions and work under pressure; effectively balance short-term tasks and long-term projects and goals; anticipate the needs of the project or team; care about high-quality work products from content to design; and be proactive and take initiative
• Use technology efficiency: analyze large data sets with formulas and functions in Excel; create professional and well-designed presentations in PowerPoint; write effective but concise memos in Word; and master a variety of new software applications quickly
• Manage and build relationships: appropriately handle sensitive issues and controversial or varying opinions; function effectively and efficiently as a manager, supervisor, team member, and project manager; and maintain a positive attitude, even during adversity

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree (Master’s Degree, MBA, or other professional degree from an accredited college or university is preferred)
• At least three (3) years of professional experience, ideally with increasing responsibility, in strategic consulting, analysis, business management, project management, government, or related industry

Compensation:
• Highly competitive salary for both the public and private sectors
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Wellness program
• Life insurance program
• Generous retirement plan

If interested, please email a cover letter and resume to Stephanie Hennings at smhennings@nola.gov. For priority consideration, please apply by June 7, 2019. Applications received after June 7, 2019, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.