Director, Strategic Innovation

CLASS SUMMARY:

Responsible for identifying and leveraging internal and external talent from the startup, university, industry/non-industry, and governmental communities to source innovative processes and technologies to advance the Airport in support of the Authority’s Strategic Plan.   Directs daily and forward-looking activities as the Airport’s project manager to bring pilot concepts to strategic deployment for the benefit of the Airport community-at-large as well as cultivating industry advancements on a global scale. Under the guidance of the Chief Innovation Officer or his/her designee, the Director will serve as an innovation facilitator between the Airport’s staff and stakeholders and the innovation providers of interest.   They will have significant interaction and liaise among subject matter experts from all levels of decision-makers to enable the Airport in achieving its strategic goals as well as being an outstanding community accelerator and venture customer.  Due to the nature of innovation deployments, work outside of normal business hours may be necessary to include nights and weekends.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

This class specification represents only the core areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the department.

• Researches, educates, and builds upon the Airport’s knowledge on emerging developments/trends, assesses the impact, and collaborates with management to incorporate new trends and developments in current and future solutions
  • Primary focus is placed on form factors of complex Advanced Mobility products, processes, and/or systems that support the Airport’s multi-modal transportation and distribution hub; this includes solutions related to air, land (road and rail), and water transportation
    • Subset solutions that involve or are intended to evolve into autonomous capabilities.  Regulatory development, guidance, or similar and the implications to the Airport with regards trialing and deploying solutions, policy development or alignment requirements, and/or supporting agencies in developing the same.
  • Supporting emphasis is to be placed on sustainable measures that accompany or may be realized through the adoption of Advanced Mobility (e.g., Airport’s and campus adoption of electric fleet/alternative fuels, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), interdependencies on the traditional grid, etc.)
  • Supporting emphasis is to be placed on how the innovation providers of interest might play a larger role in the economic development of the surrounding Region
    • Collaboration and facilitation between various local, state, and federal agencies to transition successful deployments at the Airport into a broader schema where the innovation provider establishes, relocates or expands their operation in the local Region subsequently adding positive job, economic, and industry vertical growth
• Collaborate effectively with Airport’s business units and or campus tenants to identify opportunities for innovative solutions as a form of change management in support of:
  • Implementing cost-effective improvements that lower the Airport’s maintenance and operating and or capital costs
  • Creating a customer-centric, results-oriented culture that builds upon on our strategic vision
  • Growing opportunities to increase revenue and enhance profitability
  • Providing a path to economic development opportunities for involved interests
• Develops and maintains the core tenants of the Airport’s Innovation program; which includes, but is not limited to:
  • Establish and grow new streams of non-aeronautical revenue
  • Establish and grow opportunities to advance talent and technology beyond aviation
  • Strengthen and grow economic development beyond the Airport campus
  • Strengthen and grow CVG’s brand identity by leading technology advancements

• Translate industry and company challenges into innovation opportunities in alignment with business objectives
  • Translate innovation opportunities for non-industry growth opportunities (e.g., healthcare, professional sports, etc.) for the purposes of innovation portfolio diversification and revenue growth
• Provide business and industry perspective to company’s innovation process and goals
• Develop and refine the Airport’s innovation framework, tools, and methodology
  • Leads through project management best practices the concept/product life-cycle oversight from identification, research and development, measurement, and refinement phases
  • Establish, refine, and follow means of procurement, deal-flows, and legal implications for the same that enable the Airport to remain agile in its piloting and deployment of technologies
  • Understand business and industry needs, trends, opportunities, and correlation to other industries
  • Liaise with startup, university, bigCo, and governmental partners as subject matter experts to validate the talent and technical advancements
  • Capture best practices through written or another form which may include but are not limited to guides, policies, or supporting case studies which might also include collaboration with other partners
  • Identify traditional and non-traditional grant and/or funding opportunities to reduce, mitigate, or enhance the Airport and involved collaborators’ (start-ups, universities, corporations, etc.) financial position related to expenses.

• Performs routine administrative responsibilities to include but not limited to
  • Procuring of goods and services through Airport’s solicitation protocols and subsequent contract management responsibilities as documented in policy, “Contract Management”
  • Budgeting, planning, and auditing
  • Ensuring accuracy and timeliness of invoicing, payments, and collection of revenues
  • Aligning IT-related systems to the Airport’s network architecture without compromise to system up times and cyber security control measures
  • Identifying practices that can be streamlined without compromising safety, security, or financial stability
  • Guiding, mentoring, and advocating on behalf of personnel or partners involved
• Acts as a brand ambassador beyond daily liaison responsibilities
  • Will be expected to attend, participate, and present at public functions on behalf of the Airport and be consistent with brand messaging, written presentation form, and vision

• Responsible for all contract management activities for assigned grants and assigned contracts as documented in KCAB Policy 1014, Contract Management.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 10 years of innovation and startup ecosystem or economic development within local, state, or federal agencies experience preferred; or, equivalent education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Maintain Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) clearance.
• Obtain and maintain position appropriate NIMS & emergency training.
• Ability to obtain or maintain an active U.S. Passport or equivalent.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Management techniques;
• Financial management;
• Network protocols and technologies;
• Project management;
• Airport operations, policies and procedures preferred.

SKILL IN:

• Demonstrated success in driving innovation and change
• Expertise in scaling a new product or technology
• Strategic thought leadership including developing strategies from scratch
• Comfort with financial analysis and business case development
• Comfort with contract management
• Ability to identify, evaluate and communicate value propositions
• Ability to explore and work with third parties to identify partnership opportunities to drive innovation
• Clearly and effectively communicating, negotiating, and advocating, both orally and in writing;
• Use of a variety of computer-based technologies including word processing, presentation programs, spreadsheets, and social media;
• Ability to manage complex projects from initiation to completion, demonstrating strong project management skills including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, risk mitigation, and effective communication to ensure timely delivery and successful outcomes.
• Establishing and maintaining effective, fair, cooperative, collaborative and respectful relationships with diverse internal and external colleagues, peers, work teams, and workgroups;
• Demonstrated skill in presentation development and presenting the same or speaking directly on topics of knowledge in public forums;
• Demonstrated skill in the use of independent judgment and self-starting actions;
• Demonstrated skill in team leadership; including directing and managing staff or indirect staff efficiently and effectively (e.g., other departments non-reports, contractors, and those related subject matter expert assignments under project management expectations)

Don’t meet every requirement?

If you are excited to make a positive impact for our region, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for CVG Airport Authority, whether it be this role or another.

Salary : $2,500