Director Operations Manager Startup Jobs in Louisiana

The Senior Manager, Startup Localization advances Newlab New Orleans' mission to attract, retain and scale early and growth-stage physical technology startups in Louisiana. This execution-oriented role works hands-on with startups to understand their technical and commercial needs, and partners closely with regional stakeholders to translate those needs into viable localization pathways, including pilots, demonstrations, and first-of-a-kind commercial deployments. You will help startups navigate across regional partners to accelerate their market entry and project development milestones by supporting activities such as site selection, securing incentives, and identifying local supply chain partners.

The ideal candidate will be technically fluent, highly-organized, and have a strong understanding of startup commercialization barriers. You must be comfortable working across startups, industry stakeholders, regulatory authorities, infrastructure sites, and economic development partners. Direct experience in technology commercialization and/or project development across the Newlab New Orlean' prioritized focus areas including carbon management & utilization, industrial decarbonization and efficiency, advanced fuels, and shipping and maritime logistics is a plus.

The role is deeply place-based and requires regular engagement with industrial site partners, government stakeholders, and local partners across Louisiana. Knowledge of the local ecosystem is a plus. This role is in person and will be based out of Newlab New Orleans and reports directly to the Managing Director.

Responsibilities 

Startup attraction and localization support

• Support the sourcing, evaluation, and onboarding of startups with Newlab's global membership and commercialization teams, aligned with Newlab New Orleans' platform focus areas
• Serve as a primary point of contact for startups as they explore Louisiana-based market entry, including pilots, demonstrations, or early deployment opportunities
• Support technical and project-level diligence on startups to assess defensibility and viability of local deployment
• Work with startup members to map commercialization and supply chain requirements 

and identify where Newlab can provide targeted support to de-risk market entry and scale-up

• Help translate startup technical requirements (e.g. power, heat, water, siting, feedstocks, permitting considerations) into feasible local deployment pathways
• Coordinate site visits, technical scoping discussions, and early feasibility assessments with startups and regional ecosystem partners

Economic development and stakeholder engagement

• Engage regularly with state and local economic development organizations, workforce partners, and public agencies to maintain a strong understanding of relevant policies, programs, incentives, funding mechanisms, and other relevant public resources 
• Provide hands-on support to help startup members navigate, identify, and unlock   incentives, grants, and other public-sector resources to accelerate commercialization and/or project development outcomes  
• Serve as a translational layer between startup members and regional stakeholders; help  prepare materials for key meetings, site discussions, and/or public-private working sessions

Technical and ecosystem coordination

• Maintain an index of key sites, supply chain partners, and other key resources that can be activated for specific startup / project attraction opportunities  
• Work with utilities, site owners, industrial partners, and infrastructure providers to align startup needs with available assets
• Identify and document gaps in infrastructure or resources that could impact startup attraction and commercialization outcomes
• Support the identification and activation of shared infrastructure, demonstration sites, and pilot-ready facilities across the region
• Track and document technical assumptions, constraints, and deployment requirements for startup projects to inform the development of policies and public-private funding mechanisms 

Platform reporting, data tracking and project management

• Support location-based reporting by aggregating key data and insights tied to startup attraction, localization, and deployment activity  
• Support the development of repeatable localization playbooks including key database frameworks, templates, and internal processes 
• Contribute to market research on technology trends, regional competitiveness, and Louisiana's value proposition for physical technology startups
• Collaborate closely with Commercialization, Membership, and Operations teams to ensure Platform capacity and resources are aligned to support startup localization and scale-up

Attributes and Skills 

• Builder mentality with demonstrated founder empathy and understanding of technology commercialization, including a track record of working with early-stage startups
• Technical fluency and comfort engaging on topics such as energy systems, industrial processes, infrastructure requirements, or regulated environments
• Strong project management skills and ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Interest in place-based economic development and startup-driven industrial innovation
• Experience building and managing relationships with diverse public and private sector stakeholders 
• Deep network across the Louisiana and the broader Gulf South with an intrinsic understanding of business and cultural norms in the region
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate and deliver within a fast-paced environment  

Experience

• 5-7 years of experience
• Experience working with or for venture-backed startups 
• Familiarity with Louisiana's industrial, energy, maritime, or manufacturing ecosystems
• Exposure to pilot projects, demonstrations, or first-of-a-kind deployments
• Experience engaging with utilities, ports, industrial sites, and public-sector partners
• Background in engineering, energy systems, advanced manufacturing, or a related technical field

Compensation

• $115,000-$150,000
• Eligible for bonus program 
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits 

EEO employer. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time