Director of High Growth Business Acceleration

Overview

Job Description
● Reporting to: The President and CEO of Invest Newark, the City of Newark’s Economic Development
Corporation. The Deputy Mayor for Economic and Housing Development serves on the Invest Newark
Board of Directors. The post holder will be supported by an advisory group of senior industry leaders.

● Responsible for the design and implementation of plans to encourage the growth of Newark’s high-
growth startup cluster and to raise the cluster’s national and international reputation.

Background
Newark has an opportunity to leverage its strengths to grow a leading US high-growth cluster. The city
possesses important assets for high-growth startups, including diverse talent, capacity building and training,
university programs, incubators, and accelerators, companies and funding sources, and proximity to New
York City.
On June 24, 2021, Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced an economic recovery plan for the city, which included
support for high-growth startups. The plan has three objectives relevant to this topic:
1. Build the city’s reputation for high-growth startups.
2. Support founders and startups, and
3. Build a talent pipeline.
Mayor Baraka’s vision for Newark’s high-growth startup cluster is that:
• Newark is recognized nationally as one of the country’s most successful, diverse, high-growth startup
clusters.
• Newark residents (with a particular focus on MWBE firms) can access the resources and support
needed to create high-growth startups and, thereby, growing household wealth.
• Newark’s high-growth startups choose to remain in Newark to grow their businesses.
• The city also attracts more high-growth businesses which propel its economy and contribute to its
vital services.
• Newark residents can access good jobs being created by these high-growth businesses.
• The cluster builds on the city’s strengths in logistics, e-commerce and distribution,
apparel/wearables, and food tech.
• Newark’s startup cluster has a clearly defined geographical hub in clustered buildings.
Mayor Baraka has had conversations with key individuals in the startup ecosystem, and they have identified the
following priorities for action.
• Make it easier for high-growth entrepreneurs/startups to find and access the support they need.

• Provide resources for residents on how to evolve an idea into a business.
• Provide access to pre-seed/proof of concept, seed/angel, and seed+/early-stage funding.
• Provide access to startup/move-on space, particularly for high-tech manufacturing businesses.
• Continue to grow, deepen, and retain Newark’s talent pipeline.
• Support startup networks and collaboration between startups and corporate entities which drive
revenue.
• Build Newark’s reputation as a high-growth startup hub.
They have also agreed that the city’s initial role should be as follows:
• Galvanize other actors, including the State of New Jersey, Newark Alliance, Invest Newark, and the
private and higher education sectors.
• Complement other actors’ efforts, while focusing on a very limited number of high impact
interventions.
• Focus on efforts, with the private sector, to attract high-growth startups, particularly in high-tech
manufacturing. (There are already some 40 Newark-based organizations already support indigenous
startups and small businesses.)
• Lead programming such as destination branding, a marketing/communications campaign, and the
development of incentives (such as payments to founders and employees, buy-local vouchers,
flexible leases, and fit-out and rent subsidies). Incentives should be made available to both indigenous
and attracted businesses.

The Role
The City of Newark and Invest Newark are now looking to recruit a senior person to drive this work forward
and help realize Mayor Baraka’s vision.
Invest Newark will employ the successful candidate on a full-time basis. (S)He will be based out of Invest
Newark and report to Invest Newark’s CEO. (S)He will also have the backing of the Deputy Mayor for
Economic and Housing Development, and access to the resources of the Newark government.
Invest Newark has allocated funding for the position initially for 24 months but expects the role to continue
beyond this period.
Key Tasks
The successful candidate will develop strategies and partnerships to grow Newark’s tech cluster. For example:
● Working with partners to attract high-growth startups, particularly in tech manufacturing.
● Working with the city, state, and private sector to incentive high-growth startups to come to, or
remain/expand in, Newark.
● Convening and unblocking barriers for these businesses.
● Encouraging partners to build tech cluster networks (including a physical, convening space) and
facilitating innovation collaborations.
● Championing and shining a spotlight on the cluster.
● Creating an ambassadors’ program.

The successful candidate will both deliver quick wins and build capacity and remove barriers for long-term
growth.
The successful candidate will also support Invest Newark’s President and CEO, the Deputy Mayor for
Economic and Housing Development, and the Chief Innovation Economy Officer to convene and galvanize
founders, companies, and organizations which have an interest in the success of Newark’s high growth startup
cluster.
Important stakeholders include:
● Serial entrepreneurs and angel investors
● Newark Alliance
● Newark Venture Partners
● Incubators/ accelerators such as HAX
● Large companies, such as Audible, Prudential, Panasonic, the Port Authority, and United
● NJ EDA
● NJ Institute of Technology and Rutgers University

Person Specification
The successful candidate will be a dynamic entrepreneur, who has founded a business, been part of a startup
team, and/or raised venture capital. S/He will:
– Be a proud champion and spokesperson for Newark’s startup scene.
– Have a strategic mindset and a marketing temperament.
– Be able to galvanize senior stakeholders around a single vision.
– Have strong sales experience.
– Be familiar with the Newark start-up ecosystem.
– Be familiar with Newark and NJ government operations.
Ideally, s(h)e will also have experience engaging on public policy issues (e.g., innovation, skills), be familiar
with software and coding specialties, and have at least seven years of experience working within a successful
start-up ecosystem. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
Invest Newark is committed to diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our
company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation,
age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We bring out the best in each other, honoring the core
values of the organization: urgency, collaboration, and professionalism.

Please send your resume to hrconnect@investnewark.org

Invest Newark is an equal opportunity employer.