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Overview

Job Summary

Serving as the cornerstone of the NJEDA’s outreach, reporting, and analysis functions, the Managing Director – Policy, Research, and Government Affairs leads the Authority’s strategic efforts in shaping policies and fostering partnerships that promote New Jersey’s long term economic growth. Reporting directly to the NJEDA’s Chief of Staff, this role will oversee a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team responsible for economics and data analytics, government affairs, and policy analysis. Primary responsibilities include spearheading data initiatives, from program evaluation to tracking macroeconomic trends, fostering enduring relationships with government stakeholders to advance NJEDA's mission, and taking the lead on priority policy projects for the Governor's Office. We are seeking a visionary leader passionate about catalyzing positive change through effective government engagement, high-quality reporting, and comprehensive policy research. As part of our fast-paced, high-achieving team, the Managing Director – Policy, Research, and Government Affairs will drive priority initiatives that advance NJEDA’s mission and amplify the impact of our work, cementing the Authority’s position as a national leader in economic development.

$129,744 - $162,180

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.

About the NJEDA

If you are interested in working at the forefront of economic development, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is on a mission to make the Garden State a national model for sustainable and equitable economic growth. As a pivotal component of Governor Philip D. Murphy’s administration, NJEDA manages a multi-billion-dollar portfolio dedicated to investing in communities, nurturing innovation, and cultivating industries that offer high-quality jobs right here in New Jersey. As part of our dynamic and fast-paced team, you will have the opportunity to support groundbreaking initiatives across a diverse range of sectors, including venture capital, innovation, film and digital media, clean energy, offshore wind, real estate development, small business support, community development, childcare, food security, maternal and infant health, and economic equity, among others. This is more than just a job; it's a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of millions of New Jersey residents, driving progress and building a stronger, fairer economy for all. If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and be a catalyst for change, join us at NJEDA and help shape the future of our great state.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Team Development/Leadership

• Oversees, directs, and organizes the work of the Authority’s Economics & Data Analytics, Government Affairs, and Policy teams, specifically by leading the development of strategic programming and planning for each department, and ensuring the completion of priority projects.

• Develops and implements the Authority’s engagement strategy with state, local, and federal government officials, state agencies, and key stakeholders. Develops an annual strategic plan for engagement, as well as a strategic document on outreach impact and past performance.

• Oversees and provides support to the Economics and Data Analytics Department, facilitating reporting endeavors, pinpointing opportunities for external reporting with a focus on NJEDA programs, aiding in program evaluation initiatives, and synthesizing findings into policy papers.

• Leads the Authority's policy team, steering its direction and vision while spearheading internal policy projects and supporting products from the CEO, Executive Committee, Governor's Office, and external stakeholders.

• Builds, develops, mentors and coaches direct reports to develop skills and behaviors to enhance performance. Sets staff goals and objectives, reviews staff semi-annually and annually against individual plans.

• Delegates tasks to staff for consistent and timely reporting, memorandums, reports, and other ad hoc requests.

• Establishes and monitors staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and administer salary adjustments.

• Tracks, monitors, and analyzes programs and recommend changes to senior leadership to ensure programs are effective.

• Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer focused work environment among department, EDA staff and external customers and partners including federal, state, and local agencies, with a focus on furthering the EDA mission.

• Participates in company attraction, expansion, and retention efforts

• Ensures department practices and processes are in compliance with EDA policies and guidelines and are consistently applied.

• Contributes to the development of the EDA’s strategic goals and objectives, as well as the overall management of the organization

• Builds, develops, mentors and coaches’ direct reports to develop skills and behaviors to enhance performance. Sets staff goals and objectives, reviews staff semi-annually and annually against individual plans. Develops and implements training and succession plans for the team

  Serve as the EDA expert on Economics, Policy, Outreach, and Engagement Opportunities

• Steers the vision of the Economics and Data Analytics department, fostering strategic engagement and research initiatives that not only enhance the NJEDA's standing but also propel its mission forward externally. Additionally, this role will offer invaluable insights to reporting efforts and play a pivotal role in establishing and enhancing the program evaluation process.

• Drives priority policy initiatives, encompassing crucial tasks such as providing support for CHIPS and IRA grant applications pertinent to the Authority, navigating the realm of Artificial Intelligence, and fostering collaboration with New Jersey's defense sector, among others.

• Serves as an expert resource within the Authority on the state policy-making process, and strategic engagement opportunities among New Jersey’s local, state, and federal elected officials.

• Leads the development and maintenance of highly productive and strategic external relationships and partnerships for the benefit of the organization.

• Advises the Chief Executive Officer, Chief of Staff, and Senior Management Team on opportunities for engagement with governmental stakeholders, priority policy initiatives, and reporting.

• Identifies new opportunities for government partnerships that support NJEDA’s policy and business objectives. Builds, maintains, and strengthens relationships with New Jersey organizations, including those focused on economic development.

• Facilitates an inclusive, ongoing process to gather in-depth feedback from New Jersey organizations on NJEDA programs and products and gathers feedback on how the Authority can further support New Jersey communities.

• Educates and markets the EDA’s products and services to organizations across the state through meet and greets, public speaking events and presentations.

• Acts as a senior government representative for the State and the Authority, at industry meetings, and to the public (e.g., community engagement for NJEDA-led projects), as necessary. Understand and communicate the Authority’s position on various initiatives and conveys this message to the industry.

• Provides industry-related policy inputs and guidance to the leadership teams of EDA and the Administration, serving as the “go to” resource for the Authority’s CEO and Executive Committee and the EDA Board on program execution, high-profile product opportunities, and challenges.

• Identifies key issues, frame problems, and develop solutions.

• Provides regular industry updates to internal and external stakeholders.

• Assists with the implementation of budget and legislative advocacy for EDA programs.

• Completes annual and semiannual self-assessment as required.

• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned

  Foster partnerships

• Cultivate, maintain, and strengthen relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials, community leaders, advocacy groups, industry experts, policy groups, and think tanks.

• Work collaboratively with Public Affairs/Marketing, Communications, Governor’s policy office, counsel, and stakeholders to communicate new initiatives and the introduction of new products and to ensure effective messaging to key policy makers and communities.

• Identify partners to ensure programs and products are marketed properly to ensure success of each product.

• Represent the EDA externally, particularly through external engagements, related to the EDA’s and the state’s strategic economic goals and plan.

• Champion, support, and participate in strategic collaborations with partners to develop and implement programmatic initiatives.

Qualifications

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge and understanding of EDA programs and services, finance and economics, economic development, public policy, outreach, and governance.

• Knowledge of state and federal government entities and requirements.

• Actively supports and aligns work with EDA’s current strategic imperatives.

• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive.

• Extensive experience in New Jersey legislative/government affairs.

• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.

• Entrepreneurial team player who can multitask.

• Passion for EDA’s mission.

• Strong and consistent customer focus.

• Responsive to changing policy and economic trends.

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with a broad range of audiences including senior management, EDA Board of Directors, staff, government officials, business, and industry partners, as well as individual customers and prospects.

• Adapts to changes in the work environment and manages competing demands.

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and EDA staff.

• 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.

• NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.

• Must complete annual and semiannual self-assessment as required.

• 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 prioritize workload, must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constraints with little or no supervision.

• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

  EDA Leadership Profile

• Acquires and Develops Talent - Acquires and develops talent to meet current and future organizational goals

• Builds and Manages the Team - Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills with the ability to build, coach and lead a team with diverse levels of experience

• Collaborates/Partners Effectively Across Boundaries/Functions - Encourages and facilitates cooperation and collaboration within teams and across organizational boundaries to achieve strategies and objectives

• Champions a Vision - Inspires a sense of shared purpose; drives a vision

• Drives for Results - Demonstrates a commitment to achieving goals; drives for results

• Encourages New Ideas and Opportunities for Change - Encourages new ideas and initiatives; creates opportunities for change

• Motivates and Energizes Others - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; encourages contributions

• Thinks Strategically - Makes sound, well-informed, and strategic decisions; understands the impact and implications of decisions

  Preferred Qualifications

  Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and/or equivalent experience.

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience; proven and progressive leadership experience is required (preferably within the public sector).

• 5 years management/supervisory experience

• Experience in public sector outreach, legislative process, public policy development and basic financial principles is preferred.

• 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 to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a 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.

  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, pleaseClick Here (https://www.nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml) . 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.

  Equal Opportunity Employer

  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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LocationUS-NJ-Newark

Job ID 2024-2116

Category/Department Chief of Staff