Pilots Innovation Manager (Cleantech Incubator, Non-profit)

Los Angeles, CA
Full Time
Mid Level

  About LACI 

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is a private non-profit organization creating an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation (through working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies), transforming markets (through partnerships in transportation, energy and sustainable cities) and enhancing communities (through workforce development, pilots and other programs). Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water & Power (LADWP), LACI is recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the world by UBI. Since 2011, LACI has helped 375 portfolio companies raise $1 billion in funding, generate $335 million in revenue, and create 2,626 jobs throughout the Los Angeles region, with a projected long-term economic impact of more than $585 million. Learn more at laci.org.

About LACI’s Innovation Pilots

LACI launched our Innovation Pilots in 2019 to help bring the benefits of the green economy to neighborhoods that often lack cleantech solutions yet are burdened with poor environmental quality, and to surface learnings that can be applied to scale the adoption of cleantech solutions throughout the LA region and beyond. LACI deploys these pilot projects with and within selected communities defined by the state as “disadvantaged communities” to address community needs as well as key technology, business model and educational challenges. Past and current pilots have tested electric vehicle car share models, e-bike lending library models, neighborhood electric vehicle shuttle services, and the deployment of induction stoves in low-income single-family homes.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President of Innovation Pilots, the Manager, Innovation Pilots  plays a key role in LACI’s  work to develop and execute catalytic pilots in underserved communities with startups and partner organizations. This role works to drive utilization of the innovation pilots in partnership with community based organizations, business entities, and elected officials, ensuring that we collect data and assess the impacts of the pilots in order to both pivot as needed and to surface lessons that can be utilized to scale the adoption of technologies deployed.  The Manager, Innovation Pilots works as part of  the Innovation Pilots Team to tackle pilot strategy and execution, working to advance the overall priorities set forth by the Market Transformation team with direction from the cross departmental Pilots Coordinating Team (PCT) and in consultation with LACI’s Clean Energy, Transportation Electrification, and Sustainable Cities partnerships.

What You’ll Do:

  • Pilot Concept Development: Contribute to the cross-team development of innovative pilot concepts, offering effective customer outreach strategies to drive adoption and increase utilization. Collaborate with LACI’s leadership to establish pilot impact goals and success metrics. Work with the VP Innovation Pilots to draft the customer acquisition strategy, community outreach, and utilization components of the pilot implementation plans and  budgets
  • Fundraising and Grant Proposals: Assist the VP, Innovation Pilots and the Development Team with grant proposal development and grant administration once awarded, as needed. Participate in the discovery/research  phase to determine need/demand for potential  future pilots
  • Pre-Pilot Preparation: Organize internal LACI pilot kick-off meetings as needed. Identify possible community outreach and implementation partners for pilots and provide selection recommendations to the Pilots Coordinating Team. Draft community partner contracts and shepherd through signing process. Support Pilots Team in the selection process for technology partners. Convene meetings with community partners, draft agenda items, and lead resulting discussions to shape pilot preparation to maximize utilization. Draft Customer Acquisition  and Utilization Plan for each pilot,  including related KPIs and tactics  (eg. focus groups, information sessions, tabling)  and tools for tracking progress (eg. surveys, enrollment forms, reports, etc.)
  • Pilot Implementation: Facilitate conversations between community partners and tech providers to ensure smooth deployment and utilization of new technology solutions in the community. Collect and assess pilot utilization data to track progress. Work with community partners to adjust the customer acquisition and utilization strategy, during the pilot  as needed. 
  • Pilot Communication and Adoption: Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to implement communication strategies (including logos, flyers, direct mailers, blogs, social media posts, and press releases). Collaborate with the Government Affairs team  to boost outreach through the support of local elected officials. Organize and coordinate LACI-led community events and workshops to drive customer adoption and pilot  utilization. Organize meetings with community partners and hold regular meetings to support them in achieving customer acquisition and pilot utilization  KPIs. Manage invoices from community partner subcontractors and support the VP of Innovation Pilots with  tracking spend on outreach, customer acquisition, and pilot utilization efforts
  • Post Pilot Wrap Up: Manage invoices from subcontractors and support the VP of Innovation Pilots with  tracking spend on outreach, customer acquisition, and pilot utilization efforts. Help organize final press events/materials. Document key learnings as it relates to outreach, customer acquisition,  and utilization to inform best practices for similar innovation pilots in the future.

Why You’re Right for the Job:

  • You’re ambitious and driven. This comes primarily from your desire to create meaningful change through your work. Due to this inner drive, you have a tendency to take projects further, faster, and you’re willing to go above and beyond to get the job done well. 
  • You believe clean technologies are the future.  You have an interest in making the world a cleaner, safer and better place to live in through clean technologies. 
  • You enjoy bringing people together. You foster inclusion because you understand the technical needs and community barriers to adopting cleantech in the communities we serve. 
  • You’re a team player. You thrive in a highly collaborative work environment working with different team members and departments to meet LACI’s external goals
  • You thrive working on new projects. You enjoy building and supporting a new project that hasn’t been done before. You are comfortable navigating ambiguity and believe that the final decision is in the best interest of LACI. 

Requirements:

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

  • BA/BS degree in relevant field 
  • Project Management: 3-5  years related project management work experience, preferably  in cleantech,  with the ability to assess interdependencies, manage details, adhere to deadlines, and follow up on action items
  • Community Outreach: Previous experience working in partnership with community based organizations  and supporting customer adoption of new technologies
  • Adaptability: Ability to be flexible in approach and pivot when necessary to achieve project objectives
  • Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with and between internal teams and external stakeholders
  • Initiative: Actively seeks and identifies opportunities to contribute to and achieve department goals
  • Problem solving: Identifies the root cause of the problem,  potential impact and implications; proposes potential solutions to the VP, Innovation Pilots

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proficient in Spanish (written and spoken)
  • Awareness of marketing strategies focused on customer engagement, community outreach and utilization
  • Understanding of project implementation requirements with city and county governments
  • Familiarity with different communities and neighborhoods across LA County
  • Experience with conflict resolution
  • Experience with grant application and management at Federal and State level
  • High-level knowledge of  zero emission transportation, clean energy, and circular economy solutions

Work Requirements

  • Hyrbid work setting: Must work on site at our Downtown LA campus two to three days a week, occasional travel to meet with partners for Community Pilots.

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: Manager Range $62-72k 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.   

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