Director, Strategic Initiatives

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Strategic Initiatives based in the United States.** The Director, Strategic Initiatives will shape innovation strategy and drive the development of transformative business opportunities across emerging industries, including foodtech, agritech, water technology, and next-generation infrastructure. This leadership role combines strategic foresight, market intelligence, technology assessment, and venture creation to identify opportunities with significant long-term potential. You will connect advanced technologies, including AI, robotics, sensing, controls, and energy systems, with evolving market needs to develop differentiated solutions. Working across internal teams and external innovation ecosystems, you will lead strategic programs, cultivate partnerships, and support early-stage venture development. The role offers the opportunity to collaborate with startups, researchers, universities, investors, and industry leaders to accelerate innovation. You will help define future growth priorities, validate emerging business concepts, and influence the direction of next-generation industrial, environmental, and life-systems technologies. ### Accountabilities - Strategic Planning and Market Intelligence: Develop strategic roadmaps across emerging technology domains, conduct market and industry landscape analyses, and deliver actionable insights and executive-level recommendations. - Technology and Opportunity Assessment: Identify opportunities to apply AI, robotics, sensing, controls, and energy capabilities to emerging market challenges and establish criteria for evaluating potential ventures. - Startup and Innovation Pipeline Development: Build and manage a pipeline of startups, researchers, and emerging technologies, leading technical and strategic evaluations across food, water, climate, and infrastructure systems. - Innovation Program Leadership: Lead innovation programs, pilot projects, and collaborative initiatives with startups, universities, and industry partners. Mentor founders and advise internal teams during early-stage concept development. - Venture Creation and Validation: Partner with AI, Product, and Engineering teams to develop venture theses, shape concept prototypes, identify underserved market opportunities, and support validation and early traction for selected ventures. - Partnership and Ecosystem Development: Establish and strengthen relationships with research institutions, universities, investors, multinational organizations, and corporate partners to expand innovation opportunities. - Industry Representation: Represent the organization at conferences, panels, and ecosystem events, strengthening its position in emerging industrial, environmental, and life-systems technologies. - Additional Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned in support of strategic initiatives and innovation objectives. ## Requirements - Education: Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant technical or scientific discipline is required. - Professional Experience: At least 10 years of experience in new business creation, domain leadership, innovation management, or a closely related field. - Domain Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in one or more relevant areas, including water technology, agritech, foodtech, infrastructure systems, or related emerging technology sectors. - Open Innovation and Venture Development: Proven success working with startup ecosystems, open innovation initiatives, venture programs, or external strategic partnerships. - Strategic and Analytical Skills: Ability to assess emerging technologies, evaluate market opportunities, develop strategic roadmaps, and translate complex industry insights into actionable business initiatives. - Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with technical, product, engineering, research, and business teams to advance innovation and develop new business concepts. - Communication and Relationship Building: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage researchers, founders, investors, industry partners, and senior executives. - Leadership and Influence: Strong ability to lead collaborative programs, mentor early-stage teams, build strategic relationships, and influence decisions across diverse stakeholder groups. ## Benefits - Annual Base Salary: Expected range of $149,600–$205,700, depending on factors such as work location, relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. - Additional Compensation: Potential eligibility for commissions tied to individual performance or sales metrics, incentive compensation, and discretionary awards, depending on the position and applicable plans. - Healthcare Benefits: Access to a range of medical and other benefits, with specific coverage details provided during the offer process. - Retirement Benefits: 401(k) eligibility. - Paid Time Off: Various paid leave benefits, including vacation, sick time, and parental leave. - Remote Work: Remote position based in the United States. - Professional Impact: Opportunity to shape strategic innovation initiatives, develop emerging technology ventures, and build partnerships across multiple high-growth sectors.