Innovation Program Manager (Management Analyst III)

Salary : $80,776.80 - $141,359.50 Annually
Location : RETIREMENT AGENCY, 12015 LEE JACKSON MEMORIAL HWY, SUITE 350, FAIRFAX (EH05), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01567
Department: Economic Initiatives
Opening Date: 10/17/2026
Closing Date: 10/30/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S27
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

The Department of Economic Initiatives seeks an Innovation Program Manager to help entrepreneurs and startups reach their growth goals and advance Fairfax County's innovation economy. This position sits within the Small Business and Economic Competitiveness Division and manages a portfolio of entrepreneurship and innovation programs, working directly with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and early-stage tech startups, as well as private, academic, and non-profit partners to build a thriving innovation ecosystem.

The position also contributes to the county's broader economic development strategy by evaluating proposals and investments, researching best practices, and supporting policy recommendations that diversify and strengthen Fairfax County's economy. The ideal candidate is a creative, collaborative, and analytical professional with strong project management skills and interest in working directly with the start-up and innovation community.

Specific duties include:

• Plan, execute and manage a portfolio of entrepreneurship, innovation economy, and economic competitiveness projects from initiation through completion, ensuring deliverables, timelines and budgets are met.
• Develop program metrics and performance measures, track progress and outcomes, and prepare reports or presentations for leadership.
• Support the evaluation and development of economic development proposals, funding applications, processes, policies and investments by conducting analysis, assessing feasibility and impact, and preparing recommendations.
• Research best practices, identify policy gaps or barriers that impede economic competitiveness and entrepreneurship, and contribute to policy recommendations in coordination with department leadership.
• Build and foster effective working relationships across the county's innovation ecosystem by engaging directly with entrepreneurs and startups, as well as private, academic, and non-profit partners, to identify needs, connect businesses to county and regional resources, and align efforts in support of goals.
• Prepare clear, well-researched written materials, including policy papers, issue briefs, and Board agenda items as directed, as well as program materials for individual and broad-audience communications.
• Contribute to the department's marketing and outreach efforts; convene forums and represent the department at meetings and events.

Note: The assigned functional areas for this position are project management, data analysis, and policy development.
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

• Independently designs, develops, and coordinates ongoing department programs and special projects;
• Performs a wide range of professional-level management work for more than one broad administrative function including complex analysis and diverse project management in a lead capacity;
• Coordinates and manages the work of administrative, para-professional, and/or professional-level staff in the day-to-day activities of selected projects. Plans, organizes, and coordinates changes to the policies, procedures, or processes related to multiple administrative functions (financial, procurement, budget, human resources, contract or grants administration, information technology systems, etc.);
• Plans and conducts or oversees studies or research activities to ensure program quality, determine unmet needs or ensure efficacy of existing programs;
• Provides guidance, recommendations, and advice to departmental managers;
• Serves on committees, task forces, and management teams to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of existing management/administrative systems;
• Writes, edits, and finalizes reports and presentations and presents findings and recommendations to department senior managers.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an-all inclusive list).

• Considerable knowledge of mission, goals, and objectives of the organizational unit, program, or activities to which incumbent is assigned;
• Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques relating to the functional area of business operation (e.g. personnel, budgeting and financial management, contract administration and management);
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques governing management, organization, operations and programmatic services;
• Ability to identify possible solutions for solving business problems;
• Ability to evaluate proposals and solutions in terms of benefits, costs, and overall impact on the project, program, or organization;
• Ability to make oral presentations to department management, other departments, or the public;
• Ability to write detailed, accurate reports, grants, or solicitations for pertinent areas of administration;
• Ability to use word processing and presentation software to prepare documents, and to use spreadsheet and statistical analysis software packages to store, manipulate, analyze and present data;
• Ability to supervise and train staff;
• Ability to lead assigned employees, including delegating and reviewing work assignments, providing coaching and guidance, monitoring and evaluating performance, and supporting training and development planning.

Employment Standards

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in field related to the assigned functional area; plus, four years of professional work experience within the functional area.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Five years of demonstrated experience within the functional areas, such as innovation-based economic development, technology commercialization, and/or a consulting environment with strong analytical skills;
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written;
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task; to be a team player; and to be flexible and adaptable to change.
• Experience with securing stakeholder engagement.
• Experience conducting professional-level research and analytics including policy development and evaluation of public sector funding programs;
• Familiarity with the entrepreneurial development process and currently available resources in Virginia focused on same.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including managing multiple concurrent projects, deliverables, timelines and budgets.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employee may require to lift up to 15 pounds. Job is generally sedentary in nature, however, visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor, incumbent must be able to operate keyboard driven equipment. Must be able to drive or access public transportation. Must communicate with others individually and in front of groups. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home including We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

#LI-NW1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Economics
• Public administration
• Business administration
• Economic development
• Data analytics/statistics
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent professional work experience do you have within the functional areas of project management, data analysis, and/or policy development?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

06

How many years of experience do you have working in innovation-based economic development, technology commercialization, and/or a consulting environment?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

How many years of experience do you have conducting professional-level research and analytics including policy development and evaluation of public sector funding programs?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

08

How many years of project management experience do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

09

Do you have experience working with state, local and regional economic development partners to include local non-profits, educational institutions, or state agencies?

• Yes
• No

Required Question