Position Title:

Director of AscendRural Innovation LabSalary Range:

Director of AscendRural Innovation Lab (Grade 19, Exempt). Annual salary range: $154,400 – $193,000. This range reflects the minimum to midpoint of the grade. Salary may exceed the midpoint and will commensurate with experience.Job Description Summary:

The Director of AscendRural's Innovation Lab will will serve as a senior leader responsible for shaping the strategic direction and operational execution of AscendRural’s innovation pilots and technology accelerator. This leader will oversee the design, implementation, and scaling of high-impact pilot programs that drive measurable improvements in rural well-being across rural America.

As the architect of AscendRural’s Innovation Lab, the director will play a critical role in translating visionary ideas into structured, scalable pilots, fostering partnerships with technology companies, and positioning AscendRural as a national leader in rural innovation.

Gather ideas to grow the business using various resources such as market information, consumer insight, personal networks, people that might not otherwise interact, etc. Provide constructive coaching to stimulate and research breakthrough ideas with high potential business impact. Engage key stakeholders across the business to ensure successful implementation of innovation projects. Lead multi-disciplinary project teams to develop and refine product prototypes into solutions that best fit the organization's business.Job Description:

Responsibilities

Take responsibility for developing and delivering change management plans and achieving outcomes that support the organization's overall strategy.
Provide strategic vision and executive oversight for AscendRural’s national innovation pilots, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and community priorities. Serve as a senior thought leader representing AscendRural with national partners, philanthropic organizations, policymakers, and rural leaders. Lead the development of a portfolio of scalable, high-impact pilots addressing rural challenges in health, wellbeing, technology, and connectivity. Establish clear success metrics, oversee performance evaluation, and ensure all pilots deliver measurable outcomes and pathways to scale.
Launch, manage, and scale AscendRural’s technology accelerator program designed to support companies contributing to rural pilot initiatives. Oversee strategic mentorship, product validation, and market readiness support for participating companies. Position the accelerator as a national model for supporting technology-driven solutions to rural challenges.
Design modular, evidence-informed frameworks for assessing rural ecosystems and rapidly deploying pilots across diverse regions. Develop enterprise-level systems for capturing lessons learned, codifying best practices, and enabling national replication of successful models. Ensure frameworks integrate implementation science, equity principles, and adaptability to local economic, technological, and cultural contexts.
Collaborate with academic and research institutions to embed rigorous evaluation, evidence generation, and continuous learning into all pilots and accelerator initiatives. Oversee the production of high-quality research outputs, including impact reports, peer-reviewed publications, and case studies that demonstrate AscendRural’s national leadership. Ensure AscendRural’s work contributes to both immediate rural impact and the broader knowledge base of rural innovation and economic development.
Identify and communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the region; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; Lead and Expand the Technology Accelerator to Support National Pilot Initiatives
Manage and report on performance within the department or area of responsibility; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports and hold individuals accountable for achieving them; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of annual business objectives.
Take responsibility for managing the definition, development, and delivery of a significant product or service within the product development and engineering program, ensuring alignment with customer requirements.
Define the execution plan to disseminate innovative capabilities across the businesses, helping people develop these competencies and enabling them to innovate through solutions such as idea generation platforms, jam sessions, and hackathons.
Manage budget plans for a department. May involve development or delivery or both.
Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization's formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization's talent pool.
Other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description:

Masters Degree in related field, and nine (9) years of executive or senior leadership experience in innovation, entrepreneurial ecosystem development, or large-scale pilot program management.
OR
Fifteen (15) years of executive or senior leadership experience in innovation, entrepreneurial ecosystem development, or large-scale pilot program management
Proven success designing, launching, and scaling national or multi-regional pilots that deliver measurable, real-world impact.
Experience leading startup accelerators or large-scale entrepreneurial support programs, ideally with a technology focus.
Expertise in implementation science, lean innovation, and evidence-based program development.
Demonstrated success building and managing complex, cross-sector partnerships at the national level.
Exceptional strategic leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Strong track record of securing private investment such as venture capital or seed funding, cultivating partnerships, and positioning organizations as national leaders in their field.
Passion for advancing rural innovation, health equity, and connectivity.
Executive presence and ability to represent AscendRural with national partners, funders, and policymakers.
Ability to lead in dynamic, high-growth environments with creativity, adaptability, and strategic focus. Commitment to inclusive, equitable innovation ecosystems that serve rural and underrepresented communities.
Experienced in strategic management and leadership across company functions directing substantial resources over long time frames (More than 15 years).

First review of applications will take place September 2nd. If interested, please submit your application prior to this date to be considered.

If selected:

Screening interviews will take place the week of September 15th
Panel interviews will take place the week of September 22nd
Finalist interviews will take place the week of September 22nd or 29th

Location:

This is a remote position and does require travel within the region.
Preferred candidates should be located within Minnesota in order to complete the travel within the region.
On occasion may be expected to attend meetings or trainings at Sourcewell's headquarters in Staples, MN, advance notice would be given to team member.

*Sourcewell is currently accepting applications from all states, except the following: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Applicants living in or planning to relocate to a state not on this list are encouraged to apply. *

Sourcewell exists to empower community success. We stand with our partners in government and education striving to recognize and honor the differences in each of our community members. We are committed to removing barriers to equity.

Values

Seek. Be curious.
Empower. Be accountable and liberate others.
Impact. Be a difference maker

Full Time/Part Time:

Full timePosition Type:

RegularScheduled Hours:

40#LI-Remote

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Director of AscendRural Innovation Lab