Independent Contractor
17 days ago
Bakersfield
Job Description B3K Prosperity (B3K) is a non-profit economic development organization serving Kern County and the City of Bakersfield. As a public/private collaborative effort, B3K brings together business, government, industry, and civic leaders to drive a regional economic transformation where all people prosper and businesses thrive. B3K implements a multi-prong strategy that includes: • Spurring entrepreneurial activity and innovation, • Training and educating a skilled workforce aligned to industry demand, • Building civic infrastructure to support economic and human development, • Promoting Kern County as a globally competitive region with a strong quality of life B3K actively advances five (5) key Opportunity Industries: • Aerospace and Defense, • Advanced Manufacturing, • Business Services, • Energy, • Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Website: About the Kern Coalition & California Jobs First Program B3K Prosperity serves as a Convener within the Kern Coalition, a collaborative formed under the California Jobs First (CJF) initiative. The Kern Coalition includes: • B3K Prosperity, • Kern Community College District (fiscal agent), • Building Healthy Communities Kern, • Community Action Partnership of Kern, • Kern Inyo Mono Central Labor Council Together, these organizations aim to advance equitable, industry-aligned economic development, focusing on job creation, community engagement, and sustainable sector growth. The Coalition is soliciting proposals and coordinating investments that strengthen Kern Countys competitiveness in: • Clean Energy, • Advanced Manufacturing, • Agriculture, • Aerospace & Defense This role plays a key function in ensuring those efforts are successful. More info: Kern CCD - Kern Coalition Role Summary The Industry Ecosystem Liaison serves as the primary connector between B3K Prosperity, the Kern Coalition, and the CJF Governance Council. The contractor will: • Lead regional stakeholder outreach and relationship-building, • Serve as a trusted voice with industry, academic, community, and government partners, • Support CJF-aligned program development and proposal evaluation, • Represent B3K in meetings and coordinate multiple sector-driven projects This is a 12-month, full-time contractor opportunity designed for an entrepreneurial, impact-driven leader with the capacity to navigate cross-sector dynamics and help position Kern County at the forefront of innovation and inclusive growth. Project Objectives & Focus Areas • Expand regional outreach with an emphasis on disinvested communities, • Help position Kern County as a hub for frontier technologies, • Convene stakeholders to execute strategies for Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Aerospace & Defense, • Support the B3K Innovation Hub, a cross-sector initiative built around the unique presence of Edwards AFB, NAWS China Lake, AFRL, NASA Armstrong, and other defense-related assets Key Responsibilities • Industry Ecosystem Development, • Identify and map industry players across the region, • Convene forums and facilitate collaboration across sectors, • Curate and grow a robust Aerospace & Defense community of practice, • Stakeholder Engagement & Program Delivery, • Manage regional partnerships across academia, government, industry, and military, • Lead monthly, quarterly, and bi-weekly stakeholder meetings (e.g., Energy Group, PG&E Power Group, ESAT Corridor, Capital Summit, etc.), • Represent B3K at events, meetings, and public convenings, • Operational & Contract Management, • Evaluate RFP processes and support development of CJF-aligned proposals, • Monitor and manage vendor deliverables tied to CJF activities, • Collaborate with the Sector Investment Coordinator and co-conveners, • Deliver monthly performance and activity reports, • Marketing & Visibility, • Act as the voice and tone of the B3K community across digital platforms, • Support storytelling and brand positioning of B3K Prosperity as a regional economic leader, • Maintain contact databases and oversee communications to ensure stakeholder alignment, • Innovation Network Leadership, • Build out the regional innovation gatewayfront door for investors, startups, entrepreneurs, • Develop national/international credibility through regional programming and strategic partnerships, • Align technical expertise from DoD, higher ed, and economic development groups to increase impact Ideal Skills & Attributes • A natural relationship-builder with strong emotional intelligence, • Deep experience across industry, community, academia, and government partnerships, • Skilled at facilitation, outreach, and ecosystem management, • Organized, highly communicative, and detail-oriented, • Strong public presence and ability to lead cross-sector conversations, • Strategic thinker with a passion for equitable economic development, • Familiarity with Kern County is preferred Education & Experience Requirements • Bachelors Degree in Business, Public Affairs, Economic Development, or related field, • At least 3 years of experience in economic or business development, stakeholder engagement, or project management, • Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder, community-oriented initiatives Contract Terms & Flexibility • Compensation: $72,000 $80,000 (based on experience & qualifications), • Duration: 12 months, • Invoicing: Monthly, tied to deliverables, • Work Location:, • Remote-friendly, • Optional desk in shared workspace, Downtown Bakersfield, • In-person meetings/events required occasionally throughout Kern County, • Travel: Conference-related travel reimbursed when pre-approved, • Status: Independent Contractor, • No benefits provided (contractor responsible for taxes, insurance, workers' comp, etc.)