Strategic Initiatives Integration Coordinator (KSEF)

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC); Lexington (KY); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Critical illness, accident, and indemn

Pet insurance and pet discount

401(k) plan

Generous paid time off

Generous holiday schedule

Job summary

KSTC is seeking a Strategic Initiatives & Integration Coordinator to strengthen collaboration across KSEF programs, reporting to the Executive Director. The role focuses on identifying shared opportunities, organizing cross‑program activities, and recommending improvements to internal workflows to reduce coordination burdens.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, capable of independent and team work, with strong people skills and diplomacy for handling sensitive interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience coordinating projects across multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent research, synthesis, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational judgment and ability to translate goals into steps.
• Ability to work collaboratively, independently, and diplomatically without formal supervision.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Cross-program coordination: identify opportunities across KSEF initiatives and coordinate meetings with clear owners and timelines.
• Strategic initiatives and research: explore partnerships, funding opportunities, and best practices; prepare briefings and analyses.
• Workflow and organizational improvement: map processes and reduce duplication; develop shared docs and CRM/workflow improvements.

Skills

Cross-program coordination

Research & synthesis

Professional writing & communication

Organizational judgment

Collaboration & diplomacy

Legal work authorization in US

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

CRM systems

Spreadsheets

Job description

About KSTC:

Since its founding in 1987, the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC) has been a pioneering force in driving science, technology, and innovative economic development throughout Kentucky. We envision a future where KSTC and Kentucky are recognized as national leaders enabling high-performing innovation ecosystems. Our mission is to champion innovation in knowledge, talent, and investment to accelerate the state's economic growth and competitiveness, securing a better future for all Kentuckians.

About KSEF:

The Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF) is an initiative of KSTC that invests in people and their ideas to promote innovation, new product development, and commercialization and to advance scientific and economic growth in Kentucky. Our team is responsible for supporting local technology innovators and entrepreneurs by lowering the barriers to accessing competitive federal funding for research and tech commercialization. In contrast to equity-holding programs, we focus on accessing non-dilutive capital for the development of high-risk/high-reward innovations. The team has a hybrid work policy with set in-office meetings.

Position Summary:

The Strategic Initiatives & Integration Coordinator strengthens collaboration and strategic alignment across KSEF programs, including CAPTIVATE KY, DARE-KY, FAST, WIN in KY, and emerging initiatives. Working closely with the Executive Director, Associate Directors, and technical staff, the coordinator identifies shared opportunities, organizes cross-program activities, synthesizes information, and recommends improvements to internal workflows. The role is intended to reduce avoidable coordination burdens on program leaders so they can focus on client services and contractual deliverables. The position facilitates progress and communicates risks but does not supervise Associate Directors, direct their technical work, or assume ownership of their program deliverables. This position reports directly to the Executive Director of Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF).

We are seeking a creative, passionate individual with an interest in helping others successfully develop and implement programs. Our team needs a person that is highly organized, is comfortable working both independently and on a team, and that has strong people skills including diplomacy and tact in handling sensitive interactions.

We recognize that the above description may not be all-inclusive and capture all potential ideal candidates. If you are a highly organized, skilled, and passionate professional looking to make an impact in our community, we invite you to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cross-program coordination:
  • Identify shared opportunities, relationships, dependencies, and resources across KSEF initiatives.
  • Coordinate meetings and shared action items involving multiple programs, with clear owners and agreed timelines.
  • Maintain a concise view of cross-program priorities and elevate unresolved dependencies to the Executive and Associate Directors.
  • Facilitate information exchange without duplicating program-specific project management or client-facing responsibilities.
• Strategic initiatives and research:
  • Research emerging partnerships, funding opportunities, innovation models, and organizational practices relevant to KSEF.
  • Prepare briefing notes, concept papers, analyses, and recommendations to inform strategic decisions.
  • Coordinate exploratory and early-stage initiatives until leadership determines the appropriate long-term program owner.
  • Support planning and coordination of cross-program proposals and partnerships as assigned.
• Workflow and organizational improvement:
  • Map recurring coordination processes and recommend practical ways to reduce duplication and administrative burdens.
  • Help develop shared documentation, templates, and lightweight mechanisms for institutional knowledge sharing.
  • Collaborate with project coordinators and the computational unit on CRM and information-flow improvements, without directing technical development.
  • Prepare consolidated progress updates for the Executive Director and follow up on agreed cross-program actions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience coordinating projects and activities across multiple stakeholders or teams.
• Excellent research, synthesis, professional writing, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational judgment and ability to translate broad objectives into practical next steps.
• Ability to work collaboratively, independently, and diplomatically without formal supervisory authority.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout employment. KSTC does not sponsor employment visas now or in the future for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in nonprofit, research, education, economic development, or innovation ecosystems.
• Experience in performance tracking, process improvement, program evaluation, or proposal development.
• Comfort with data tools, spreadsheets, CRM systems, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Experience facilitating meetings, stakeholder engagement, or collaborative initiatives.

Additional Information:

• The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required. Other duties may be assigned as determined by management.
• This position requires occasional travel throughout Kentucky to attend meetings, events, partner visits, and program-related activities. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation or the ability to travel as needed.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties and responsibilities.

Compensation:

• In the spirit of pay transparency, we can share that the pay range for this position is $62,000 - $68,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Please keep in mind that this range is the base pay only and does not consider other components that make up the total rewards package for the position. If you are hired, your overall compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience which may result in total compensation outside of this range.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

KSTC is an innovative organization looking to change the way businesses manage human resources and payroll administration. At KSTC, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset. We strive to create an environment that is welcoming, entrepreneurial, inclusive, and rewarding. Join our team today and help us build something meaningful. But first, here’s a little more information about what we do.

BENEFIT PROGRAM

• Featured benefits for full-time team members include:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• Pet insurance and pet discount program
• 401(k) plan
• Generous paid time off policy
• Generous holiday schedule

Equal Opportunity Employment

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the organizations comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which it has operations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, and compensation.