Innovation Specialist

University of Arkansas•Little Rock, AR

About The Position

The Innovation Specialist reports to the Innovation Strategist and will assist with Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer client services, help organize events, workshops, and stakeholder convenings, conduct research on funding opportunities, science and technology markets, partners, and trends. This position will support the Innovation Strategist in helping innovators secure non-dilutive funding and strengthen Arkansas’s statewide innovation ecosystem. The Innovation Specialist will assist clients with the SBIR/STTR grant application processes, customer-, and research-to-commercialization journeys. This role supports ASBTDC’s statewide technology entrepreneur programming, including accelerators and statewide initiatives that foster technology transfer and startup growth. This position is governed by state and federal laws, and agency/institution policy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business/entrepreneurship, management or marketing, public policy, science, or a related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in a professional working environment.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, especially with documents, data, and deadlines
Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills
Curiosity about innovation, technology commercialization, and startup ecosystems
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, especially in handling documents, deadlines, and data tracking
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to draft professional emails, edit documents, and support public-facing communications
Familiarity with or interest in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization
Basic knowledge of business development, startup terminology, or market research (can be acquired on the job)
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and stay organized in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
Comfort with digital tools such as CRMs, spreadsheets, cloud-based storage (e.g., Google Drive), and collaboration platforms
Willingness to learn about federal grant programs (e.g., SBIR/STTR) and technology-to-market pathways
Demonstrated curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to grow into higher levels of responsibility
Ability to work occasional evenings and travel in-state if needed for events (minimal)
Commitment to ethical standards, confidentiality, and professionalism in support of public service and higher education values
Team player, celebrate successes, and convey the generosity of spirit that is part of our ecosystem culture in Arkansas and on our Innovation team
Occasional evening and weekend work required
Ability to travel in-state and out-of-state, including overnight stays
Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to the University System and ASBTDC Conflict of Interest standards

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting market research
Familiarity with technology commercialization concepts, such as product-market fit, seed funding, customer discovery, intellectual property, or go-to-market strategy
Hands-on experience coordinating workshops, educational events, or community engagement efforts in fast-paced, cross-sector, and/or multi-institutional environments
Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and a growth mindset
Experience working in higher education
Experience using a CRM
MS Office, including SharePoint, Google productivity suite (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Notebook LM, Gmail), and WordPress
1 - 3 years of experience in program coordination or business development

Responsibilities

Assist the Innovation Strategist in delivering SBIR/STTR program services as directed, including consulting on topics such as new business starts, business planning, customer discovery, market potential, and SBIR/STTR proposal writing
Maintain a log and templates of SBIR/STTR funding opportunities, solicitations, deadlines, and agency guidelines
Support marketing and outreach activities by drafting promotional materials, organizing events, and preparing logistics for workshops and webinars
Track client progress along the SBIR/STTR “Customer Journey™” and “Research-to-Commercialization Journey™” pathways using internal tracking systems and metrics dashboards
Develop a knowledge base of specific agency SBIR/STTR programs and develop relationships with program managers
Maintain accurate records in CRM and data reporting tools
Help develop and update educational resources, slide decks, templates, and support materials used in training and advising
Monitor state and national innovation news, trends, and ecosystem events relevant to ASBTDC programs
Provide responsive, friendly, and timely administrative support to clients and stakeholders through email, calendar coordination, and follow-up
Participate in internal team meetings and contribute to project planning, brainstorming, and idea generation
Attend relevant trainings and workshops (internal or external) to build knowledge of innovation funding and commercialization
Perform other duties as assigned to support the success of our clients and ASBTDC’s innovation initiatives