Strategist, Innovation Lab

Think Together • Full-time • Santa Ana, California, United States • $85,000 - $95,000 / year • 4d ago

Overview

Strategist, Innovation Lab

Founded in 1997, Think Together partners with schools to change the odds for kids by providing award-winning programs during and outside the school day. We’re one of California’s largest nonprofits working in school districts from San Diego to San Francisco. Whether you’re interested in early learning, elementary, middle or high school, you can invest in your community by working at a local school or working within our home office providing support!

JOB SUMMARY: The Innovations Lab Strategist is responsible for shaping and executing strategic initiatives aimed at driving innovation and growth within Think Together. This role focuses on leveraging a design thinking model to develop and deploy innovative solutions that are informed by market insights and emerging trends. The Innovations Lab Strategist will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate strategic goals into tangible outcomes, ensuring that innovative solutions are effectively integrated and scaled across the organization. By fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration, The Innovations Lab Strategist will play a key role in enhancing the organization’s ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Initiative Development • Generate and present high-impact innovation recommendations based on market insights, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and goals for the Innovations Lab. • Recommend and prioritize innovation initiatives based on strategic alignment, market opportunities, and resource availability. • Establish and adjust KPIs and performance metrics for innovation projects to track progress and success. Project Execution and Delivery • Manage and execute the design of innovation projects, ensuring timely completion, adherence to budget, and effective cross-functional collaboration. • Make day-to-day decisions on project execution, resource allocation, and timelines within the scope of assigned initiatives. • Track, measure, and report on the success of innovation initiatives, adjusting strategies based on outcomes, stakeholder feedback, and industry trends. Innovation Pipeline Management and Stakeholder Engagement • Identify and prioritize new opportunities, maintaining a robust innovation pipeline to support growth and competitive advantage. • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of strategic priorities and innovative design. • Gather, analyze, and synthesize data to inform strategic recommendations and provide actionable insights that guide project direction. • Measure stakeholder satisfaction through feedback from internal and external stakeholders to enhance collaboration and engagement. • Assess the strategic impact of innovation initiatives by evaluating their contributions to overall organizational success, including revenue growth and market penetration.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS: • Bachelor’s degree in business, Education, or a related field from an accredited four-year college or university; a master’s degree is preferred. • 3-5 years of experience in education or a related area. • Capacity for strategic thinking to envision and drive innovative solutions that align with market insights and organizational goals. • Experience in project management, successfully managing complex projects from inception to completion while planning and coordinating cross-functional teams. • Strong analytical and research expertise, with the ability to gather, interpret, and synthesize data to inform strategic decisions. • Excellent communication skills, capable of clearly conveying strategic recommendations and building relationships to foster collaboration across diverse teams. • Adaptable and a continuous learner, with the flexibility to adjust to changing priorities and a commitment to staying current with industry trends and best practices in innovation and strategy.

COMPUTER SKILLS: • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and Teams • Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Microsoft Planner, etc.)

COMPENSATION: Salary Range $85,000 - $95,000This is the targeted compensation for the position. A range of factors, including but not limited to; location, skills, experience, will be considered. Actual compensation may vary. Think Together is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, religious creed, physical disability, mental disability, age for individuals age 40 and over, medical condition (as defined by state law (for example, cancer or genetic characteristics or HIV/AIDS), marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.