Evaluation and Selection often happens at two or more levels.

First-level Evaluation and Selection is typically handled by Innovation Managers because they operate close enough to the innovation program to understand incoming ideas, program criteria, funnel needs, strategic priorities, and resource constraints. Their role is to conduct or coordinate the initial filtering and facilitation needed before ideas move into higher-level decision processes. Executives may be involved at a later level, especially when larger resource commitments, strategic tradeoffs, or portfolio decisions are required. Interns are not appropriate because the evaluation of innovation opportunities requires judgment, strategic understanding, and program accountability. Quantitative analysts may support evaluation with data, scoring, or modeling, but they do not normally run the first-level selection process. The phrase “in the program” also signals the operational program role rather than a senior governance role. Therefore, Innovation Managers are the correct answer because they are responsible for managing the early evaluation pipeline and preparing ideas for more advanced selection decisions.