Workshop Facilitator and Summit Support Contractor - Innovation Works, Inc.
Contract Position: Innovation Workshop Consultant and Facilitator
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Innovation Workshop Consultant and Facilitator to play a key role in the planning, organization, and execution of the three planned 2025 Create Summits. These summits, focusing on Industrial Automation, Life Sciences/Healthcare, and Construction, will bring together top local robotics talent, technology companies, and senior industry professionals to address key challenges in their fields. This contract position will span from January 2025 to December 31, 2025, with opportunities to support various dynamic and impactful events.
About the Create Program
The Create Program is one of three programs the Robotics Factory of Innovation Works offers. This program pairs industry leaders with local technologists and entrepreneurs to create new products and businesses. Through design-centered thinking innovation summits, we align technologists to top industry needs to ensure a clear product-market fit from the start.
Key Responsibilities
Innovation Workshop Planning and Design
- Collaborate in planning meetings to refine workshop goals.
- Design workshop structure and events tailored to summit objectives.
- Develop and produce workshop presentation decks and supporting materials.
- Establish systems for capturing workshop data and outputs.
Pre-workshop Participant Engagement
- Review and refine challenge areas with stakeholders.
- Design and distribute participant surveys to collect data for problem refinement.
- Identify and engage key problem owners.
- Draft and distribute Requests for Information (RFIs) for participants.
- Assign participants to working groups based on expertise and interests.
Staff Training
- Conduct training sessions for support staff to ensure effective workshop execution.
- Lead walkthroughs of the workshop agenda and logistics with staff.
Workshop Execution
- Prepare workshop areas to facilitate smooth operations.
- Oversee and guide ideation activities during workshops.
- Collect and organize participant-created content.
- Support and participate in related summit events.
- Lead and direct live, all-day workshop with approximately 8-10 teams of 10 participants each. This will include providing guidance and reviewing the content of teams, directing teams on activities, etc.
Post-workshop Activities
- Organize and document workshop content.
- Create a comprehensive final report in Word, PowerPoint, or HTML format.
- Generate a summary report with key metrics and outcomes (metrics to be defined).
General Expectations
- Ability to work with a team on an intermittent basis, and will require 2-3 days on-site for each of three innovation summits held in 2025 – April 1-2, late summer, late fall.
- Attend weekly planning check-ins (frequency may vary).
- Provide ongoing support for planning, mockups, content creation, and advisory services during non-workshop months.
- Facilitate in-person workshops at designated summit locations.
- Notify IW in advance of any anticipated increase in consulting hours beyond the agreed-upon threshold.
- Bill additional hours at the approved hourly rate.
Qualifications
- Working knowledge of robotics technology.
- Experience in two or more industrial sectors including construction, defense, industrial automation, medical device, health care, life sciences, etc.
- Previous experience in leveraging design-centered thinking processes, such as Luma Institute, and leading the facilitation of innovation workshops
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
- Experience with data collection, documentation, and reporting.
- Familiarity with challenges in Industrial Automation, Life Sciences, or Construction industries is a plus.
- Ability to work both onsite and virtually, as needed.
Contract Details
- Contract period: January 2025 – December 31, 2025.
- Monthly support activities as outlined in the Facilitator Statement of Work.
- Compensation: Hourly rate based on experience; additional hours to be pre-approved.
How to Apply
If you are an experienced innovation workshop facilitator, with a strong knowledge of robotics, ready to contribute to the success of the 2025 Create Summits, please send your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience to [email protected].
Join us in shaping innovative solutions and driving impactful industry collaboration!
Innovation Works, Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.