Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager

About Our Job With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills, and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive, and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The expected starting pay for this position is $93,566.00 - $118,000.00/year, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date Location The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the community several days a week. In this position you can expect to work on site, three (3) days a week at: Wellington E. Webb Building – 201 W Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80202. Please note: Downtown parking expenses are the responsibility of the employee. We offer a flexible spending account option specifically for parking; if you elect this option, you can use pre-tax dollars for parking. We also offer a City-sponsored RTD EcoPass to all City employees– allowing the use of public transportation for free as a City Employee. Who We Are Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) serves to support Denver’s businesses, employers, and workforce, creating shared prosperity and sustained economic growth. DEDO has sharpened its focus and enhanced alignment across divisions, ensuring its work is centered on the premise that quality jobs are the most powerful tool to create better outcomes for Denverites. DEDO accomplishes this by making Denver a place that is easy to do business with, fostering job creation, and building an economy that works for everyone. DEDO helps residents gain the skills, training, and credentials needed to secure quality jobs while also supporting, growing, and recruiting local employers. DEDO’s work aligns with city priorities including the Vibrant Denver and Family-Friendly initiatives: Growing, strengthening, and supporting Denver’s small businesses Revitalizing and investing in Denver’s downtown economy Ensuring Denver residents have access to high-quality jobs as well as training and development opportunities Making it easier to do business with and in the City and County of Denver Supporting economic growth while implementing anti-displacement strategies Fostering and supporting a dynamic innovation and entrepreneurial sector Recruiting employers from outside markets Denver Business Development is focused on growing, strengthening, and supporting Denver’s businesses. This division prioritizes small businesses through 1:1 technical assistance, financing, grants, strategic planning, certification, and connections to additional resources. It also works to attract, retain, and grow businesses in the City and County of Denver. Denver Business Development supports entrepreneurs and startups helping diversify Denver’s economy and build the jobs of the future. It sells Denver on a global stage as a destination for businesses to launch or expand operations and take benefit from the city’s highly-educated and talented workforce. The division also serves Denver’s minority and women-owned businesses through small business certification, ensuring opportunity for priority businesses. What You’ll Do The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager will directly report to the Director of Business Attraction. The primary purpose of this position is to align staff and programs around a cohesive strategy that will enhance and support the city's innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a focus on promoting an environment fostering wealth creation for underrepresented populations. This work will also include monitoring outcome targets, setting specific and quantifiable metrics, and establishing implementation tactics for delivering the desired outcomes. It will also oversee the creation of an innovation hub concept within the CIty and County of Denver. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager position will be responsible for: Shape the overall development of innovation initiatives, including policy development (best practices research) and small business and start-up program creation and project management. Lead strategic relationship building with partners in the innovation and start-up community (universities and colleges, R&D facilities, industry, service providers, business and start-up community, city agencies, venture capital firms, etc.). Lead the development of an innovation "road map" that will identify a strategy for enhancement and promotion of Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a DEDO priority. Provide full lifecycle of support and technical assistance to business clients and community partners. Coordinate, manage and deliver DEDO’s innovation and entrepreneurial related programs and initiatives. Convene the innovation and entrepreneurial community for meaningful dialogue, collaboration and strategic planning. Supervise a team of 1-2 staff assigned to this work area that manage Park Hill Innovation Hub and a variety of programs. Seek sustainable sources of funding for continued growth and development of programming from government, foundational or private sector grants or private funding Lead/Manage assigned business support programs/policies/initiatives and associated compliance and reporting. Administrative duties as needed including SalesForce management, contract oversight, grant funded programs, vendor relationships, monthly and quarterly reporting on metrics Programming and engagement: Event planning and oversight. Be active in the community by attending relevant events during (and sometimes after) business hours including Colorado Startup Week. Be involved representing DEDO with the local innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Assist as needed with agency project deadlines and reports with a team-based approach. Ideal Candidate Summary What You’ll Bring We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level. Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics: A strong commitment to public service. Skilled to work at all levels of government and business, particularly with business services providers and small, start-up, and second stage (scaleup) businesses. A Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Economics, Marketing/Communications type of field. Academics, technology and innovation experience is a plus. Experience with progressively responsible business development program experience. Understand economic principles and technology based economic development practices in a wide variety of industry sectors. Leadership and managerial experience leading a results-orientated team. Ability to coordinate and align a highly professional, diversely talented staff. Experience working with and serving diverse communities in the Denver community. Familiarity of leading an RFP process. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Discern seed, angel and venture investment principles and the ability to evaluate opportunities through these lenses. Experience with public and private business financing programs. Recognize business incubation and acceleration models and details of how these programs are run. Required Minimum Qualifications Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s). Experience Requirement: Seven (7) years’ experience performing full performance professional level duties within a specialized, functional area. (This does not include clerical experience.) Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements. License/Certifications: None To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab): Resume Cover letter with details about your experience and your interest in the role. Application Deadline This position is expected to stay open until Sunday, June 21, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than June 21st at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration. About Everything Else Job Profile CA2309 Administrator III To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here. Position Type Unlimited Position Salary Range $93,566.00 - $154,384.00 Target Pay $93,566.00 - $118,000.00/year, based on experience and education Agency Denver Economic Development & Opportunity Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor. The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io with three business days’ notice. Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. See yourself experiencing growth and balance. See yourself being respected and valued. See yourself belonging here. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. Your journey starts right here. #SeeYourselfHere Never miss Denver Jobs—sign up for job alerts now!