Organizational Development Consultant-Business Development

Innovation Works, Inc.•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

Innovation Works (IW) seeks to engage an external consultant to support two distinct scopes of work related to organizational business development initiatives. Project Scope 1: Build to Scale (Estimated 35 to 50 hours) IW has served as a lead organization on multiple Build to Scale grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), participating in at least four such grants over the past 18 years, including predecessor i6 programs. These grants have enabled IW to launch new technology-based economic development initiatives and expand existing programs to benefit southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy. Past initiatives include a software accelerator, a physical products accelerator, a manufacturing expansion program, and a rural entrepreneurship program. Each grant has involved collaboration with subawardee partners such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Catalyst Connection, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania. In Spring 2026, the EDA is expected to release guidelines for a new round of Build to Scale grants. This cycle will include increased award caps from $2 million to $5 million and a significantly larger funding pool of $150 million compared to $50 million historically. As a result, IW anticipates heightened competition, with successful proposals likely led by large, regionally collaborative consortia. To strengthen its competitiveness, IW seeks a consultant with deep familiarity with the Build to Scale program, the EDA, and the southwestern Pennsylvania economic development landscape. The consultant will support three key activities under the direction of IW’s Chief Business Development Officer. Task 1: Vet Proposal Concept (Estimated 5 hours) The consultant will apply their knowledge of EDA evaluation criteria to assess and refine the initial project concept developed by IW and Carnegie Mellon University. This may include narrowing the project thesis or recommending alternative strategic directions. Task 2: Explore Consortium Expansion (Estimated 5 to 10 hours) The consultant will collaborate with IW leadership to identify and evaluate potential additional partners beyond IW and Carnegie Mellon University. Recommendations should consider mission alignment, programmatic strengths, credibility as an EDA grantee, and regional influence. If aligned with IW’s strategy, the consultant may assist in outreach and engagement of prospective partners. Task 3: Author First Draft of Proposal (Estimated 25 to 35 hours) The consultant will prepare a complete first draft of the Build to Scale proposal in accordance with EDA guidelines. This will require a comprehensive understanding of the project concept, partner roles, and EDA priorities. The draft should be written in a professional, narrative format. IW leadership and partner organizations will review and revise the draft. Depending on the nature of revisions, follow-on edits may be completed by the consultant or IW’s internal grant writer. The consultant will not be responsible for financial documentation or final submission through the EDA portal. Project Scope 2: Foundation White Paper (Estimated 15 hours) IW partners annually with Ernst and Young to produce the Pittsburgh Technology Investment Landscape Report, a comprehensive analysis of regional venture investment trends, including benchmarking against peer regions. IW compiles and analyzes the underlying data, while Ernst and Young validates findings to ensure objectivity. In 2025, a regional foundation leader requested supplemental analysis to examine how the lack of locally based capital impacts the region’s competitiveness in the national venture ecosystem. Much of the data for this white paper has already been compiled, and the consultant will focus on the following two tasks under the direction of IW’s Chief Business Development Officer. Task 1: Review and Assess Existing Materials (Estimated 5 hours) The consultant will review the most recent Investment Landscape Report, supporting data analyses, and the foundation’s request to confirm alignment on deliverables. Based on this review, the consultant will recommend any additional data or analysis needed to fully address the project objectives. Task 2: Draft White Paper Narrative (Estimated 10 hours) The consultant will develop a comprehensive narrative of approximately 5 to 10 pages, including charts, that synthesizes existing data and addresses the foundation’s key questions. The final product should present a clear, compelling, and visually engaging analysis. The consultant will incorporate feedback from IW’s Chief Business Development Officer, CEO, and investment team and revise the document accordingly.

Requirements

A strong, practical understanding of the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the Build to Scale program
Deep knowledge of the southwestern Pennsylvania technology and economic development ecosystem
Exceptional grant writing and narrative development skills
Ability to analyze financial and economic data and translate insights into clear, persuasive arguments
Familiarity with, and relationships within, key nonprofit and regional stakeholder organizations