Program Officer, Higher Education and US Incubation

About the Organization

The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives.

Established by prolific US inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy in the early 1990s, and guided today by the Lemelson family, we believe invention can solve many of the biggest economic and social challenges of our time. That’s why we work to strengthen the ecosystems where inventions can take shape, grow, and flourish. For more than two decades we have inspired young people from diverse backgrounds to tackle the world’s most daunting problems, advanced the field of invention education with a goal of reaching all children, and equipped entrepreneurs with the skills they need to start successful invention-based businesses. A private philanthropy, The Lemelson Foundation has an endowment of around $370 million and an annual budget of approximately $18 million. All told, we have provided over $200 million in grants and other investments to hundreds of organizations around the world.

We aspire to strengthen the invention ecosystem and empower inventors to solve the biggest global challenges and opportunities of our time, whether it’s ensuring equal access to a healthy life, providing clean water and sanitation, developing clean energy alternatives, rethinking how the world grows, shares and consumes its food, or building a strong and stable economy. We approach our work using a three-part framework we call impact inventing:

  • Inventions should have positive social impact;
  • Inventions should be environmentally responsible from the materials and processes used through final products that go to market; and,
  • Business models should become financially self-sustainaing.

The Lemelson Foundation has created a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and innovation. An entrepreneurial environment with huge flexibility and opportunities for growth has allowed the small team of 10 staff to create a large footprint and outsized presence for the Foundation. Commitment to diversity is one of the Lemelson Foundation’s core values as we work to foster an inclusive work environment. We cannot do our work without collaboration between people with diverse skillsets and backgrounds.

Program Officer, Higher Education and US Incubation Portfolio

The Program Officer (PO) will be an integral part of our close-knit team, providing support on issues that cut across the Foundation’s priorities and are of high importance to the overall strategy. The portfolio for this position focuses on projects and programs that inspire students in higher education to become inventor-entrepreneurs and promotes invention education in the post-secondary realm in both our US and Developing Country programs. It also supports educational opportunities to equip students with technical knowledge and skill, and to cultivate critical mindsets such as empathy, perseverance, and a willingness to fail. Current priorities for the role include creating programs to ensure invention education reaches students from under-resourced communities, leveraging the work of existing partners such as VentureWell, integrating sustainable design and other environmentally responsible approaches to invention into higher education, and advocating for changes in higher education that will foster a pipeline of impact inventors.

A critical purpose of this portfolio is to enable young US based inventors-entrepreneurs to translate their ideas to products and businesses that solve important social challenges. Priorities include: expanding the incubation of youth-led companies; ensuring inventors from all backgrounds are given opportunities to have impact with their inventions; and, advocating for support of invention-based, social impact enterprises launched by inventors.

The primary role of the program officer is to develop, monitor and manage a portfolio of investments (grants, contracts) and other non-grant activities in direct support of the Foundation’s strategy. The PO will be expected to apply technical expertise in the evaluation of opportunities as well as solicit expert input from others. She or he will serve as a thought leader and spokesperson on Foundation priorities, and as an advocate for invention education and incubation of enterprises focused on social impact. Stories of the impact of our work can be found in the legacy of our 20th Anniversary Celebration and ongoing Impact Spotlights.

The PO reports directly to the Executive Director and will work closely with colleagues from across the Foundation. She or he will participate in and provide support to internal working groups and critical team projects.

Primary Responsibilities

Grant Development and Management:

  • Explore new activities and opportunities at the national level within the US, as well as in developing countries, to enhance the opportunities for collegiate and university youth to to become successful inventors and entrepreneurs whose inventions improve lives;
  • Seek opportunities in the US to foster and promote an ecosystem that will support young inventor/entrepreneurs to translate their ideas to products and businesses that have social impact;
  • Partner with other Foundation program officers managing complementary portfolios to facilitate a seamless invention pathway from K-12 through higher education and incubation within Oregon, nationally and globally;
  • Assist grantee partners in accessing information and networks that will enhance their ability to foster the pipeline of impact inventors and their related businesses;
  • Develop collaborative relationships with potential grantees to develop plans and projects for funding;
  • Serve as a partner and resource to grantees to facilitate accomplishment of strategic objectives; and,
  • Direct a portfolio of complex grants and contracts requiring high-level grant and relationship management skills, and an ability to apply and evaluate milestone-based performance objectives.

Strategy, Evaluation, & Organizational Learning:

  • Participate in shaping and implementing the Foundation’s overall strategy focused on invention, innovation and entrepreneurship;
  • Through work in advocacy and policy, build partnerships and influence to shine a spotlight on the need for and impact of invention;
  • Highlight and leverage existing approaches and programs that foster environmentally responsible inventing;
  • Identify practice-based evidence and case studies that can support communications and advocacy around our priority issues;
  • Contribute learnings from funded projects and the work of others in the field, and integrate those learnings to adapt and evolve the portfolio strategy over time;
  • Engage with colleagues from across the Foundation, and with external consultants, to maximize impact of our collective grants and contracts portfolio;
  • Contribute to a Foundation culture of collaboration, learning, and innovation;
  • In partnership with the entire Foundation team, participate in refining and implementing business processes especially as they relate to grantmaking and management; and,
  • Actively engage in the ongoing evaluation of Foundation progress against strategic priorities and periodic strategy refreshes, including leading on initiatives or sub-initiatives as assigned.

Thought Leadership & Advocacy:

  • Develop expertise and credibility in the fields related to the Foundation’s focus on post-secondary invention education in both the US and developing countries, and, maintain knowledge of key players in the fields of invention education, entrepreneurship education, sustainable design, the Maker movement, and 21st century workforce development;
  • Develop expertise and credibility in topics related to fostering effective invention and incubation ecosystems for young inventors in the US, including national efforts to promote entrepreneurship, increase jobs, enhance advanced manufacturing, and strengthen the eonomy;
  • Establish and nurture the external partnerships that will contribute to the success of our investments;
  • Partner with the Foundation’s communications team to maximize the impact of our grantees’ stories and learnings;
  • Serve as a resource to other Foundation staff and grantees on technical issues relating to innovation, incubation, and research approaches, especially regarding students in the post-secondary age ranges in both the US and developing countries;
  • Participate in writing background documents, briefs, portfolio reviews, meeting reports, and presentations for internal and external audiences;
  • Plan and facilitate partner consultations and meetings to expand Foundation knowledge, build communities of practice, inform fields, and develop new partnerships and grants or contracts opportunities; and,
  • Represent the Foundation and its priorities among diverse external audiences.

The Ideal Candidate

Excited by the Foundation’s mission and motivated by the opportunity to play a leading role in supporting the next generation of impact inventors, we seek an individual who is curious, passionate and wholly dedicated to the power of invention to solve many of the biggest economic and social challenges of our time.

Candidates should feel a deep personal connection to our work and embrace our commitment to positive social change and environmental responsibility. The ideal candidate has the motivation to be a key contributor and leader within the organization, bringing a positive influence to our culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate possesses the following skills and attributes:

  • A strategic mindset with the ability to identify and translate strategic opportunities into tangible action and outcomes;
  • Excellent problem solving abilities;
  • A passionate lifelong learner who has the intellectual agility to become knowledgeable across a very broad range of priority issues and quickly see connections, opportunities, and intersections;
  • Ability to organize, prioritize, and balance work across all levels from strategy development to daily execution, delegate as needed, and meet deadlines within a fast paced environment with multiple and competing demands;
  • Strong listening and synthesizing skills, and the ability and desire to capture, distill, and share what is important, why it matters, and how it relates it to our audiences;
  • Facility to work with diverse partners including educators, technologists, engineers, entrepreneurs, governments, non-profits, and for-profits, among others;
  • A team player and collaborator who is able to influence broadly and successfully within an organization, foster a positive professional atmosphere, and connect across issues and functions;
  • A bridge-builder who enjoys bringing people together;
  • Outstanding oral and written communications skills, able to effectively present new and complex ideas to audiences of varying backgrounds and degrees of technical knowledge, mount persuasive arguments, negotiate, and serve as a spokesperson to varied audiences;
  • Strong interpersonal skills, with an approachable style, cultural sensitivity, and an ability to listen empathetically;
  • Humble and patient, able to situationally balance both leading and supporting; and,
  • Positive, self-aware, self-confident and eager to grow personally and professionally.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a minimum of seven years of experience in progressively responsible roles in one or more of the following areas: invention, innovation, entrepreneurship, design, engineering, technology, or science. Deep knowledge and understanding of higher education, its role in educating and supporting student inventors and entrepreneurs, and emergent trends in the sector is essential. Prior experience building national or international partnerships and programs is highly desired. Experience working on sustainable design or environmental issues, as well as programs targeting under-resourced communities is an asset. Previous strategic grantmaking experience is highly valued as is experience with or knowledge of developing countries. A Bachelor’s level degree in a related field is required; an advanced degree is strongly preferred.

The position is based in Portland, OR, but may include up to 25% of time on domestic travel, and occasional international travel, including developing countries.

To Be Considered

Cover letters expressing your passion for the mission and fit for the role should be addressed to Sarah Meyer at candidateportal.waldronhr.com.

The search for the Program Officer at the Lemelson Foundation is being assisted by a team from Waldron:

Sarah Meyer, Search Director

206.792.4221

Heather Mohler, Senior Associate

206.792.4311

The Lemelson Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically welcome and accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious creed, color, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition as defined under State law, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and/or local laws and ordinances.