Portfolio Aide

The Context

Founded in 2021, Edge Collaborative ("Edge") is a civic incubator that partners with public, private, and nonprofit organizations to tackle systemic economic challenges in Stockton. With a focus on three key areas – jobs and workforce, climate, and community wealth – Edge seeds and supports partner-led initiatives with a range of tools. These tools include access to capital, talent, policy support, and coalition-building. Edge Collaborative is seeking an Operations Advisor who is excited to manage the operations of a young, growing organization.

The nature of this role, and of this work, is highly dynamic and iterative - as we aspire to serve the needs of the community and be responsive to funders. As a result, high standards for creativity, patience and communication will be required to balance the needs of both sets of stakeholders - and navigate corresponding shifts to work plans.

Position Overview

As an independent contractor, the Portfolio Aide at Edge Collaborative will focus on the monitoring and execution of Edge's partner-led project portfolio. This 14-month role will work closely with a small, local team -- with regular input from the Director of Economic Innovation, 1-3 technical assistance providers, and Edge's internal operations team. The Portfolio Aide will serve as the operational backbone of the portfolio: building systems to track progress, keeping the team accountable to commitments, and ensuring that our tools and processes support effective collaboration and communication. The ideal candidate should combine a deep desire to serve the community, and an exceptional attention to detail and follow-up.

This is a hybrid role, with an expectation to be in the office at least 3x a week. While regional candidates are welcome to apply, priority will be given to qualified applicants from Stockton.

Length of contract: 14 months with extension opportunity

Contract size: $87,500 - depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience

• Developing portfolio systems for organization and collaboration : Design lightweight systems for the portfolio team's execution against projects' highest priorities/needs
• Internal platform management : Manage communications and project management platforms that enable consistency across the portfolio team, including virtual and in-person meetings
• Resource coordination : Provide portfolio team connection to organizational know-how across the org – including those of vendors, relevant documentation, and other practical resources. Lead planning and logistics (e.g. scheduling, venue, agendas) of community-facing engagements related to portfolio projects/partners
• Vendor oversight : Serve as the primary point of contact between the portfolio team and the organization's operations team, primarily around regranting and vendor contracts (including with scope, timeline and quality)

• 3-5 years of experience with progressive responsibility in various aspects of organizational operations. In-depth experience interacting with executive leadership, senior staff, key stakeholders
• Strong project management skills, including experience with process improvement & creation
• Demonstrated timely follow-through and ability to work independently at a rigorous and efficient pace, exercising independent judgment to meet deadlines and budgets, set realistic expectations, prioritize multiple complex assignments and produce deliverables.
• A recognition that humor and a "let's figure it out" orientation go a long way towards navigating changing and challenging circumstances
• Exceptional communication skills (ie: you love asking questions to better understand the issue, and regularly communicate what you need to be successful)
• Well-organized and self-directed (ie: you appreciate guidance, but you've got it handled)
• High standards of integrity and confidentiality in all relationships
• Empathetic with solid interpersonal skills

About Edge Collaborative's Structure 

Our team is uniquely structured; we tackle public sector challenges, but with the audacity and innovation of the private sector. Our work is structured around the 3 primary portfolio areas - with teams that run fairly autonomously. Think of us as part R&D lab and part nonprofit. Increasingly, a key component of our civic incubation work involves seed investing into community-led initiatives across the region.

Team Values

Beginner's mindset - we love asking the 'stupid questions' to understand what is possible. Our greatest asset is our curiosity as beginners (not experts). We want to discover how and why particular systems and people have been historically neglected by the public and private sectors. 

Undaunted - we believe that bold solutions emerge from the margins (or edges, as we might say). The first answer is usually never right, but we're not afraid of being wrong. We bring a passionate persistence to breaking through the stalemates and road blocks.

Boundless creativity - we thrive as a team. We take inspiration from "keystone species" in ecology - modeling our work after the resourcefulness of penguins and the vibrancy of bees. We cross-pollinate ideas, sectors, and institutions to help manifest the untapped potential of the people we serve. 

Humility in service of community - we care deeply about the communities in which we work, and endeavor to put their needs at the center of how we design and incubate new initiatives. We strive to balance the boldness of our imagination with the recognition that slow, sustained trust building with partners is critical to the long-term viability of the work.

Sheer whimsy - we believe that serious work calls for a playful attitude, as we imagine what is possible. Play is derived from a place of joy and speaks to how we aspire to brighten our days. Plus, what's life without a lil bit of whimsy?