Innovation Pilots Director (Nonprofit Cleantech Incubator)

Director of Innovation Pilots

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is a nonprofit organization creating an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation, transforming markets, and enhancing communities. Learn more at laci.org.

LACI launched our Innovation Pilots program in 2019 to test market-ready technology, business model, and policy model innovations at the community level to surface learnings that can help scale those solutions more widely in the LA region and beyond.

Position Summary :

The Director of Innovation Pilots is a critical member of LACI's Market Transformation team, responsible for fundraising and guiding the development, implementation, and evaluation of Innovation Pilots to scale the utilization and deployment of cutting-edge clean technology solutions.

What You'll Do :

• Staff and Consultant Management : Manage staff to ensure they are actively engaged in and supporting the Innovation Pilots as appropriate with their job descriptions, and to actively cultivate growth and career pathing opportunities. Additionally, hire and manage interns and consultants, as needed.
• Oversee LACI-led Innovation Pilots : Lead the LACI Pilots Coordinating Team, a cross-departmental team of LACI staff, to vet, monitor, and oversee pilot selection, design, delivery, and decommissioning. Present updated information on the Innovation Pilots to the PCT to solicit feedback and recommendations. Standardize the resources in LACI's Pilots Toolkit, ensuring clear processes from pilot conceptualization to wrap-up. Assess pilot risk and develop strategies for de-risking deployment, working closely with the PCT, EVP of Market Transformation, and the CEO.
• Manage full-cycle pilot process including :
• Pilot Conceptualization : Collaborate with LACI subject matter experts to develop innovative pilot concepts. Identify community partners. Establish impact goals and success metrics for Innovation Pilots. Create comprehensive budgets.
• Pre-Pilot Preparation : Oversee the selection of technology partners. Lead the purchase of selected technologies, including preparing draft contracts and purchase orders in collaboration with Legal Counsel. Work with LACI subject matter experts to identify opportunities to engage LACI partners in the implementation of pilots. Oversee the creation of an Implementation Plan for each pilot and execute pilot launch events.
• Pilot Implementation : Oversee the execution of the Implementation Plan for each pilot including problem-solving throughout the process. Identify strategic opportunities to increase utilization of technologies. Report on progress and budget to key stakeholders, partners, and funders. Provide timely insights on pilots for LACI website and social media.
• Post Pilot Wrap-Up : Lead pilot transition planning to promote scalability and technology adoption. Oversee final reporting of pilot learnings and dissemination of learnings. Spearhead the development and implementation of strategies to take pilot learnings to drive scalable solutions through policy, funding, and partnerships.
• Budgeting and Grant Writing / Management : Create the annual budget for pilots. Identify and assess prospective funding opportunities (government, corporate and foundation), and lead relevant grant writing opportunities (with Development Team). Oversee the management of multiple grants secured for pilot deployment. Oversee fulfillment of reporting requirements for each grant funded pilot.
• Startup Engagement : Support LACI startups and the Unlocking Innovation team by facilitating connections and opportunities for pilot deployments and partnerships, where appropriate.

Why You're Right for the Job :

Requirements :

Basically, we want to know you can get the job done. This means you have :

Preferred Qualifications :

Work Requirements :

Position Details :

This is a full-time position, starting immediately. LACI operates out of the La Kretz Innovation Campus, in the bustling Downtown LA Arts District. Since we are rapidly growing, you will be getting in on the ground floor at LACI, with the opportunity to evolve with us and shape your future here. Some travel may be required.

Salary Range : Director Range $98-108k commensurate with experience, education, skills, etc and total compensation package including health benefits, 401k match, professional development, commuter benefits, and more.

In addition to working on a campus with other innovators, we offer industry competitive benefits including : paid holidays, vacation / sick time, health benefits, 401(k) plan with match, and paid parking (with EV charge stations). We also support alternative transportation with a metro pass and bikeshare for every employee.