Vice President of Entrepreneurship - Wisconsin, United States - Blue Lake Consulting Group

Description

On behalf of our client, a widely known and respected mission based developer of Wisconsin centric economic opportunities, we are seeking a Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

to provide leadership, strategy and vision in the direction of state wide efforts that support:

• advance startups and emerging growth companies
• R&D support to commercialize activities
• grow early stage and venture investment in Wisconsin start-up businesses
• expand entrepreneurship opportunity for underserved individuals and communities.

As a member of the senior leadership team, this creative and results oriented individual will combine their entrepreneurial spirit and financial acumen with an ability to manage and cultivate relationships across a diverse business landscape. Characterized as a problem solver, our candidate of choice will possess robust leadership experience and exceptional interpersonal communication skills.

Role has remote flexibility for individuals residing within the state of Wisconsin.

Key priorities:

The VP will align activities to support the following primary roles:

• Provide a vision, strategy and management of programs and initiatives to support startups, emerging growth companies, and other entrepreneurs in the State of Wisconsin.
• Develop and implement innovative programs to increase R&D to commercialization, startup activity, enhanced business modeling for startup success, investor incentive programs and investment seed capital.
• Develop and direct an annual E&I operating and budget plan, timelines, program revisions or implementations, marketing vision and alignment and management of key partners.
• Develop and direct a plan promoting Wisconsin's entrepreneurial ecosystem and the State's and organizational supporting investments.
• Build strong relationships with state-wide organizations, the business and entrepreneurial community and collaborate with university and technical college entities.
• Lead, coach and support the Entrepreneurship & Innovations Team and oversee the Division's operations plan and budget.

The VP will spend a majority of their time in these activities:

• Evaluate and implement innovative entrepreneurial programs to best serve Wisconsin entrepreneurs.
• Monitor and report on existing E&I programs and refine programs to most effectively serve Wisconsin's entrepreneurs, would-be-entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Provide entrepreneurial and investment guidance to startups and emerging growth companies.
• Manage a pipeline and portfolio of companies utilizing organizations entrepreneurial programs and investment.
• Lead and manage a team of entrepreneurship and investment professionals.
• Collaborate with the university system, technical colleges, accelerators, incubators and other entrepreneurial support organizations to stimulate startup, emerging growth activity, and more inclusive access to entrepreneurship opportunity.
• Serve as the organization spokesperson for entrepreneurship and innovation; represent the organization in entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and innovation events.
• Maintain working knowledge of industry trends, targeted business assistance opportunities, and financing/incentive programs appropriate for business sectors served.
• Develop and implement yearly E&I operations plan, goals, and budget.
• Participate as a member of the Strategic Investment Steering Committee strategic planning, evaluation and implementation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Competencies:

• Degree in business or related field (post graduate degree preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship, early-stage capital development, or innovation program management; minimum of five years in a supervisory or management role.
• Relevant work experience in business development with the ability to draw upon experience in advising and mentoring early-stage companies.
• Experience as an entrepreneur in one or more startup companies or senior executive in one or more high growth corporations is helpful.

Skills & talents:

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of state of Wisconsin or federal resources to support entrepreneurship and innovation, or similar entrepreneurial and innovation initiatives.
• Ability to develop and lead enterprise-wide strategic and operational plans.
• Strong operational and project management focus.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to mobilize and motivate a team of resources to solve problems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of early-stage development and funding of technology companies.
• Broad understanding of entrepreneurship and startup financing.
• Ability to develop cooperative, productive relationships with partner organizations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and groups.
• Ability to develop and manage an operating plan, budget, and performance metrics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Salesforce.

International, national, and state-wide travel will occur. Travel is anticipated to include day and overnight travel.