Business Unit Description

AARP was built on innovation and has a long history of developing solutions that create opportunity and solve problems for people 50-plus. It's part of our DNA.

The Hatchery, an AARP innovation lab, is an innovation accelerator that works with start-ups and investors to discover big ideas and bring them to scale to change how people live as they age.

AARP is committed to supporting the Washington, D.C., region's thriving entrepreneurial community, driving economic development and creating bold services, products and solutions for people 50-plus .

It's all about delivering on AARP's purpose to empower people to choose how they live as they age.
Summary

The Senior Advisor of Portfolio Management is a strategist and articulate communicator who will work with a team of people to select and manage a portfolio of startup companies. As a strategic problem solver and in the areas of product co-development (with startups) and startup relationship management. This role will involve supporting companies in the development of early stage products, both as part of their plans and as co-created extensions.

This role will work closely with a staff of design, marketing and product experts in the management, support (including relationship building) of a variety of startups who are part of the AARP Innovation Labs program.
Responsibilities

Startup Management

Be a primary contact to all startup companies, within the assigned cohort, for a product execution or co-creation perspective

Assist in selection of startup companies at pitch competitions and accelerator programs.

Work with a team utilizing human centered design processes to assist startup companies with innovations to move their ideas forward leading to tangible solutions

Assist startup companies with business issues including modeling, where appropriate.

Help startup companies find the right resources within AARP needed to execute their vision to its fullest

Provide guidance and leadership to the AARP Innovation "Champions" in terms of working with the startup companies

Develop early prototypes of products in order to help teams and startup companies better conceptualize their solutions

Project Leadership

When applicable with startup companies, devise clear solution development plans that propel solutions through experimentation, testing and refinement based on learnings

Lead the solution development process for transformational innovations and work alongside startup companies, marketing and design as well as the Director of Portfolio Management to develop and design solutions

Maintain a clear sense of next steps for teams as they work through ambiguity and iterative stages in their development and management process

Help drive teams to prototype and prepare a business case for approval and execution where applicable

Innovation Expert

Be able to empathize with teams as they move through the innovation journey and help them understand how to navigate divergent and convergent phases of development

Possess mastery of innovation behaviors and have a true understanding of how to build on ideas, be open in one's thinking and identify concepts in a real, tangible way

Be an acute listener and people person who can find ways to inspire and motivate teams in a manner that propels their solutions forward

Serve as the enterprise consultant on innovation including the use of all physical and virtual tools
Requirements

A minimum of 5+ years of product development and management experience required. A bachelor's degree in design, engineering or business (or equivalent field of study). Must possess a high level of mastery of project leadership, partner management, coordination, idea evaluation and experiment design. Moderate level of fluency in product design, prototyping and marketing required.

Demonstrated thought leadership in the practice and application of innovation and agile learning methodologies. Proven track record of developing solution plans and running idea pilots for results-oriented validation. This individual must have superb verbal and visual communication skills in order to help teams understand how to describe and conceptualize their solutions in ways that further development.

The individual must be a clear and creative thinker combined with acute listening skills in order to ensure that team needs and startup partner needs are met. This individual will be perceived as the authority on solution development and refinement in moving solutions through the innovation pipeline. As such, this individual must understand the highs and lows associated with innovation and be able to help teams maintain focus in times of ambiguity and uncertainty.
Benefits Offered

AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.