Job Description

Job Title

Strategy & Innovation Manager / Innovation Catalyst

Level

P4

Experience

10–12 years

Location

Hyderabad / Bangalore

We are seeking a Strategy & Innovation Manager / Catalyst to operate at the intersection of strategy, execution, ecosystem, and culture, driving innovation programs from idea to pilot to scale

This role will partner closely with business units, digital & product teams, GCC leadership, and external ecosystems (startups, partners, academia) to convert ambiguity into structured execution and measurable impact. You will shape innovation pipelines, lead pilots, influence senior stakeholders, and ensure innovation delivers real business outcomes — not just ideas.

What You’ll Do

Innovation Strategy & Lifecycle Ownership

• Own and deliver end-to-end innovation initiatives across the full lifecycle — ideation, design, build, test, pilot, and scale.
• Translate Carrier’s enterprise and digital strategy into focused innovation themes, roadmaps, and execution plans.
• Shape propositions by iterating on insights, customer needs, and commercial viability.

Idea to Execution Funnel (Internal Innovation)

• Design and run a structured idea-to-execution pipeline across functions and teams.
• Establish robust mechanisms for:
  • idea sourcing and challenges
  • prioritization and filtering (impact, feasibility, effort)
  • pilot sponsorship and ownership
• Ensure every idea moves to execution, merge, or conscious closure — no open loops.
• Maintain leadership-ready innovation pipeline dashboards and reports

Hackathons, Challenges & Engagement

• Lead enterprise hackathons, innovation challenges, Shark Tank–style forums, and ideation workshops
• Partner with business, digital, product, data, and engineering teams to turn outputs into: prototypes, pilots and MVPs
• Drive participation, energy, and credibility of innovation programs across the organization.

Startup & External Ecosystem Engagement

• Build and sustain strong startup, accelerator, VC, and ecosystem partnerships relevant to Carrier’s priorities.
• Scout emerging solutions and technologies; structure POCs, pilots, and co-innovation engagements
• Act as a bridge between Carrier business units and external innovators

Product, Platform & Digital Innovation

• Work closely with product, platform, architecture, and delivery teams to design scalable, execution-ready solutions
• Evaluate build vs buy vs partner decisions for digital capabilities.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of digital products, platforms, and solution architectures

Market & Technology Scanning

• Continuously track emerging technologies and innovation models (AI, GenAI, data platforms, IoT, cloud, automation, digital twins).
• Analyze competitor activity, industry trends, and customer behaviors to identify opportunity spaces.
• Convert insights into clear use cases, pilots, and leadership recommendations

Stakeholder & Executive Management

• Partner with senior leaders, BU heads, product owners, and GCC leadership to align priorities and funding.
• Influence without authority in a matrixed, global environment
• Prepare crisp, compelling executive and board-level updates on innovation progress and outcomes.

Metrics, Governance & Value Realization

• Define success metrics for innovation initiatives:
  • business impact (revenue, cost, efficiency, experience)
  • pilot success KPIs
  • scale readiness
• Track milestones, risks, assumptions, and benefits realization.
• Strengthen innovation governance, frameworks, and playbooks.

What You Bring

Experience & Background

• 10–12 years in strategy, innovation, digital transformation, product, solutioning, or ecosystem roles.
• Proven experience delivering innovation programs or portfolios, not just ideation.
• Strong exposure to startup ecosystems, accelerators, or external partnerships
• Demonstrated success running hackathons, pilots, MVPs, or incubation programs
• Experience working in global, matrixed organizations or GCC environments

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong understanding of digital technologies (AI/ML, GenAI, data, cloud, SaaS, automation, IoT) at a solution level.
• Ability to translate strategy into executable roadmaps and pilots
• Exceptional stakeholder management, storytelling, and influencing skills
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and creating clarity through structure.
• Agile / Lean / Design Thinking mindset with bias toward action.

Carrier is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

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