Business Development Specialist -Saratoga County

Culture of Inclusion and Community Standards:

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

Department Background:

The NYS Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture (CoE) at Cornell AgriTech is committed to improving people's lives and livelihoods by growing New York's vibrant food and agriculture economy statewide, and supporting innovation and leadership in those sectors.

The CoE is a business development hub for the state's food, beverage and agriculture industries. It cultivates business growth and job creation opportunities by connecting businesses and entrepreneurs to the resources they need to scale and thrive.

Its strategy and goal is to push entrepreneurs and startups to commercialize new innovations; pull food, beverage and agriculture-related business into New York; and grow existing food, beverage and agriculture-related business.

Position Summary:

The Business Development Specialist will work under the direction of the Executive Director and Business Development Manager to provide business mentorship, technical expertise, key leadership and strategic guidance to the CoE's entrepreneur and company participants in order to build sustainable economic growth and bring new innovations to market.

To succeed in this role, the Business Development Specialist will:

• Work collaboratively with the CoE Executive Director, Business Development Manager, and program staff to evolve and implement strategies and tactics to grow New York's food and agriculture economy.
• Recruit companies and other participants to the CoE and develop partnerships that will contribute towards providing CoE participants with the resources they need to succeed, including Cornell services, research, innovation and technology; business mentorships; business-to-business partnerships; supply chain assets; site location; sources of economic development incentives and capital funding; etc.
• Foster key relationships for CoE participants by stewarding them towards resources they need to develop and/or grow their businesses.
• Assist participants in refining technical tools such as business plans and pitch decks, and by providing guidance on corporate governance, organizational structure, operations and team building.
• Serve as CoE lead on participant projects that involve research collaborations, facility development and grants.
• Understand and guide participants with government economic development incentives and sources of capital.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color.
• Experience working with diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing programs.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages, and backgrounds.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Bachelor's degree with at least 10 years of agriculture, agriculture technology, food, beverage or related industry and/or startup experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Prior experience in Economic Development, Supervision, Business Strategy, Finance and/or Operations.
• Proficiency in networking and communicating with a diverse population of groups and individuals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks at any given time, work independently, make decisions that can significantly impact the university and projects.
• Experience in managing complex projects and priorities, keen attention to detail is critical.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Proven strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong computer skills required to manage spreadsheets and databases.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Passion for entrepreneurship and economic development in New York.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience mentoring startups and growth stage companies;
• Management and leadership experience within the food/agriculture industry;
• Experience founding and/or scaling a food or agriculture company
• Knowledge of federal, state and local economic development programs.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

No relocation assistance is available for this position.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.