Corporate Innovation Manager DE-FR-Nordics

WHO WE ARE:

Plug and Play Tech Center is the largest global technology startup accelerator. With 14 industry specific programs ran annually, we match make startups with corporate leaders, such as Panasonic, Deutsche Bank, Maersk and Mercedes.  With over 25 global locations, Plug and Play is searching for new team members to join our growing team.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

Plug and Play Tech Center is currently seeking a Corporate Innovation Manger. The Corporate Innovation Manager maintains the relationships between Plug and Play and the corporations. This role provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with top executives and entrepreneurs at all the innovative, major corporations.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

• Execute business development and corporate market research programs by devising collection methods and then collect targeted data to identify and evaluate potential corporate partners for participation in Plug & Play’s Innovation programs. The purpose is to work with these companies to develop potential partnerships/investment opportunities with Plug & Play’s existing portfolio of over 300 startup companies.
• Conduct market research and analyses of startup companies in the relevant vertical to determine their viability for participation in Plug & Play’s Acceleration Programs. Afterwards, continue analyses and communicate with selected program participants to support the program’s market exploration and investment activities. 
• Conduct deal flows by matching startup technologies to the interests of large corporations in the relevant industry sector. The goal is to find and match companies with complementary technologies and/or aligned business objectives.

• Communicate regularly with corporate partners’ executives and learn their short-term and long-term innovation goals

• Work closely with the Ventures team to make sure that research projects are conducted in a timely manner and relevant meetings are scheduled accordingly

• Organize and manage Corporate Partners’ visits to Plug and Play offices

• Maintain account plans, and regularly review these against established milestones and targets

• Establish protocols for assessing service quality for accounts. Serve as an interviewer for such assessments 

• Maintain industry and specialty knowledge and expertise 

• Integrate the strategies for information and accounts to encourage team members to work more closely together 

• Act as project manager for specific accounts, coordinating day-to-day activities

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field

• Minimum of 2+ years prior experience performing Account Management in a B2B setting, involving top executives, preferably for a technology product/service

• Experience in Investment Banking and Consulting with top firms is a plus

• Experience in Supply Chain or Logistics is a plus

• Experience with B2B based partnerships in your vertical category

• Ability to manage complex projects and multi-task with excellent organizational skills

• Pays attention to both details and macro-level outcomes

• Strong internal and external communicator with strong interpersonal skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills (more than one language is a plus, especially German, Japanese, French, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Dutch, and Norwegian,)

• Comfortable with a fast-paced environment and changing requirements – startup experience is a plus

• Ability to flourish with minimal guidance, be proactive, and handle uncertainty and ambiguity

• Can-do attitude, strategic thinker, and passionate for new products and solutions

• Travel 20%