Vice President, Innovation & Strategy

Role summary

This senior leadership role is responsible for shaping company-wide strategy, building an innovation framework, uncovering new growth avenues, and leading digital and business-model transformation. The position is a strategic decision-making role and typically works closely with the CEO, CSO, President, or the Board.

The role can apply across sectors such as technology, AI, finance, healthcare, biotechnology, semiconductors, manufacturing, new energy, consumer goods, and professional services.

Primary objectives

• Define medium- and long-range corporate growth plans.
• Create a structured innovation management approach for the business.
• Accelerate digital transformation and commercial innovation.
• Identify and develop new sources of growth.
• Strengthen competitive advantage and market standing.
• Ensure strategy is executed effectively across the organization.

Strategic planning

Lead the overall strategic planning process, including long-term direction setting, creation of planning frameworks, annual target setting, management of strategic initiatives, allocation of strategic resources, competitor planning, globalization planning, and alignment of strategy with market shifts.

Innovation strategy

Build and manage the organization’s innovation system by setting innovation priorities, encouraging an innovation-driven culture, overseeing innovation programs, assessing emerging technologies, planning innovation investments, creating incubation pathways, and enabling open innovation to support sustainable growth.

Growth and new business development

Spot and pursue new growth opportunities through market entry, new product and service concepts, new business models, strategic partnerships, international expansion, business incubation, and broader growth strategy design.

Digital transformation

Own the corporate digital agenda by shaping digital business models, applying AI and automation, enabling data-led operations, developing enterprise digital platforms, implementing intelligent operating systems, and introducing technologies that improve efficiency and market responsiveness.

Market and competitive intelligence

Create a strong strategic analysis capability by studying industry movements, conducting market and customer research, monitoring competitors, reviewing technology trends, tracking emerging sectors, evaluating risks and opportunities, and providing leadership with decision support.

Strategic investment and partnerships

Support and drive strategic collaborations such as alliances, corporate investments, M&A initiatives, joint ventures, research institution partnerships, university collaborations, and innovation ecosystem relationships that contribute to long-term enterprise value.

Organizational change and execution

Guide continuous organizational improvement through transformation programs, organizational redesign, process innovation, culture development, performance management innovation, and close oversight of strategic execution.

Cross-functional leadership

Work in partnership with teams across Product Management, R&D, Business Development, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, IT, and Operations to move strategic initiatives from planning to delivery.

Team leadership

Lead functions and roles such as Strategy Director, Innovation Director, Corporate Development Director, Strategic Project Manager, Business Analysis Manager, Innovation Project Manager, and Strategy Analyst. Responsibilities include recruiting talent, building teams, managing performance, developing innovation capability, and growing high-potential employees.

Education and experience

An MBA is preferred. Relevant academic backgrounds include Business Administration, Strategic Management, Finance, Economics, Engineering Management, Information Technology, Data Science, and Management.

The role requires 15+ years of experience in strategic planning, corporate development, innovation management, or consulting, along with 5+ years in senior management. Experience in large enterprises or multinational organizations is expected, and prior work on digital transformation or innovation programs is preferred.

Professional skills and tools

The ideal candidate should be familiar with corporate strategy, innovation management, growth strategy, corporate development, digital transformation, business-model innovation, strategic investment, mergers and acquisitions, project management, and data analysis.

Advanced use of Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Excel, PowerPoint, Jira, Confluence, OKR tools, and corporate strategy platforms is expected.

Preferred qualifications

Preferred credentials include MBA, PMP, CFA, CMA, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Core competencies

Strong strategic thinking, innovation leadership, business understanding, data interpretation, business model design, change management, cross-functional coordination, decision-making, communication, influence, and team leadership are central to success in this position.

Performance measures

Success in this role will be judged by strategic goal delivery, innovation project outcomes, revenue contribution from new businesses, new product launch success, completion of digital transformation initiatives, company revenue growth, market share improvement, return on strategic investments, innovation investment efficiency, partnership completion rates, growth in organizational innovation capability, and team performance and talent development metrics.