What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Enterprise Innovation position at The Heritage Group?
Director of Enterprise Innovation
The Company
Founded in 1930 in Indianapolis, IN, The Heritage Group (THG) is a fourth-generation family-owned business managing a diverse portfolio of more than 30 companies specializing in heavy construction and materials, environmental services, and specialty chemicals. With operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, and a client network that spans the globe, THG's focus is on innovation, quality, and service. In 2017 THG opened the Center, a state-of-the-art facility located in Indianapolis that serves as the company's hub for collaboration and innovation. Housed at the Center is the Heritage Research Group, the Strategy and M&A group, and the New Ventures group, including a devoted accelerator space.
Innovation remains a central feature of THG's history and value creation DNA. THG operating companies have a long-term track record of helping solve problems and challenges for customers through partnership and innovation. The Heritage Research Group is one of the preeminent corporate hardtech R&D labs. HG Ventures, the Company's corporate venture arm, is one of the most active CVCs in the nation, with over 35 early-stage companies in its portfolio. The Heritage Group Accelerator each year welcomes 8-10 startups from around the world for a 3-month intensive mentoring and piloting experience. Our continued success involves the sustained, intentional maintenance of an ecosystem that encourages and supports the core, adjacent, and transformative power of innovation whenever and wherever it occurs throughout our organization-both early in the discovery cycle and later on through commercialization.
The Candidate
We are looking to add an enthusiastic and dedicated Director of Enterprise Innovation to our team who will support our growth strategy, spearhead our internal innovation initiatives, be a partner to THG operating companies, and cultivate innovative thinking and practices. This role will extend across multiple facets of the company, including innovation portfolio and project management, relationship management, theme development and connective support for The Heritage Group and our operating companies, educational content delivery, business intelligence, and new initiatives. We seek an individual who has a balanced background in building relationships, entrepreneurial thinking, and innovation execution.
Responsibilities include :
- Synthesize and curate innovation-related themes across the organization
- Coordinate and track innovation initiatives across THG, acting as a central repository for innovation ideas (products, services, business models).
- Assemble and manage teams drawing on talent from throughout THG for innovation evaluation projects.
- Organize and staff "deep focus teams" for potential new business themes.
- Aggregate customer and market insights generated across THG.
- Produce and execute innovation culture and education programs.
- Communicate regularly with senior stakeholders across THG on project details, next steps, and key asks by developing a transparent and user-friendly dashboard for innovation projects for use by the THG leadership and Board.
- Report jointly to and coordinate with Heritage Research Group and New Ventures; engage with senior leaders of THG operating companies through a centralized Innovation Council
Cultivate relationships with university and corporate tech transfer offices with a focus on potential spin-in innovation opportunities.
The successful candidate will have the following profile :
Diligence and stage-gate processes for evaluating feasibility and prioritization of innovation projects
Conceptual and organizational skills necessary to produce and maintain enterprise-wide visibility into innovation activities
