Director of Economic Innovation - West Virginia University, Morgantown WV

As the Director of Economic Innovation, you will:

• provide guidance and leadership to support efforts for broader economic development initiatives in Morgantown, WV.
• provide expertise in policy analysis to advance WVU's outreach mission.
• bring in resources and opportunities for University personnel and students to engage in grants, economic development and related efforts.
• oversee the WV Grant Resource Center, including overseeing its day-to-day operations and activities.
• manage technical assistance requests and delegate and assign projects to grant writers and student workers.
• provide comprehensive technical assistance services to local, regional, and state government, not-for-profit-organizations, and other eligible applicants and guide them through the proposal development and grant submission processes.
• assist in launching and growing the Grant Resource Centers, including by hiring qualified staff and strategizing about the establishment of processes, systems, and the modus operandi in working with clients.
• keep abreast of the latest trends and best practices in economic development and provide expertise to clients to promote economic growth and job creation in West Virginia.
• attend workshops, seminars, and training sessions hosted by federal agencies and foundations to learn about new and existing funding programs.
• manage relationships with clients and ensure satisfaction with the Centers' services.
• lead the development of project narratives, budgets, and full applications for funding opportunities, on behalf of applicants, ensuring that all information is completed accurately and on time.
• conduct training and workshops on all aspects of grant proposal development, including through bi-monthly live grant assistance sessions to interested applicants.
• provide thorough technical reviews of proposals for adherence to the funder's application requirements and edit and proofread texts of project narratives.
• lead the creation of the original comprehensive, interactive clearinghouse of West Virginia-specific data and indicators to support the development of proposals, in collaboration with Data Driven WV. Will evaluate projects for readiness and assess applicant readiness for grant management and implementation.
• guide clients through the development of concepts and refinement of project ideas to address critical economic development challenges and opportunities.
• supervise one to five student employees and professional grant writers.

Telecommuting permitted. Travel within the state of West Virginia every other month.

Education: Master's degree in political science or business.

Skills/Requirements: Three years of experience in analyzing and interpreting data, including economic indicators, to inform research and grant proposals.

This experience must also include three years of experience in the following:

(1) conducting policy analysis on relevant issues in coordination with key experts and stakeholders and advance data-driven solutions;

(2) technical writing pertaining to grants and proposals and translating complex community issues to a wide variety of stakeholders, including election and industry officials;

(3) developing proposals to pursue funding opportunities for grants;

(4) synthesizing and presenting findings and educational materials to a wide range of audiences;

(5) connecting internal and external partners, fostering collaboration, creating cohesion among groups involved in the grant writing process and maintaining project timelines and expected outcomes;

(6) coordinating with academic institutions to identify subject matter experts to assist in grant development;

(7) drafting policy outcomes in the area of economic development;

(8) engaging in strategic conversations to assist local communities with technical grant assistance in the area of economic development; and

(9) coordinating with internal employees and vendors to assist local communities in developing grants

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley - the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU's academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.