Senior Innovation Project Management Professional

Hitachi

Innovation Project Manager operationalizing global Open Innovation agenda at Hitachi Energy across transformer business. Collaborating with startups and partners to transform innovation into measurable results.

Posted 4/11/2026full-timeVaesteras • 🇸🇪 SwedenSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Operationalize open innovation offerings, ensuring each product (e.g. innovation startup challenges, venture‑clienting, entrepreneurial activities, etc.) is delivered consistently and professionally.
Manage end‑to‑end project execution for innovation activities: planning, timeline control, reporting, stakeholder alignment, risk identification, and delivery quality.
Run global startup challenges: coordinate scouting inputs, manage submissions, prepare evaluation committees, track funnel conversion, and ensure smooth communication with startups and internal sponsors.
Drive open innovation projects: organize exploration calls, facilitate problem‑statement definition, schedule experiments or pilots, and ensure evidence and learnings are captured.
Plan and deliver high‑quality events and sessions such as ideation workshops, innovation sprints, customer co‑creation sessions, and webinars — ensuring readiness of speakers, materials, logistics, and communications.
Translate product blueprints into execution plans with clear milestones, roles, and deliverables.
Ensure reporting and transparency by tracking KPIs, progress, outcomes, and risks — connecting closely with product governance standards defined in the Open Innovation architecture.
Be the “glue” across teams, connecting Innovation Operations and Technology, with R&D, Product Management, and business sponsors.
Continuously improve delivery quality by documenting lessons learned, proposing enhancements to playbooks, templates, and toolkits.
Represent the innovation program externally when engaging with startups, universities, incubators, and partners.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Degree in Innovation Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 3–6 years’ experience in project management, innovation operations, startup programs, consulting, or coordinating cross‑functional activities.
Practical, hands‑on experience in delivering innovation activities (startup challenges, pilots, workshops, events) is a strong plus and highly valued, we are looking for someone who enjoys driving real execution and seeing tangible outcomes.
Experience running innovation challenges, hackathons, accelerators, venture‑clienting pilots, or hands‑on ecosystem engagement is a strong plus.
Strong organizational and execution skills, you enjoy planning and delivering end‑to‑end projects with clarity and discipline.
Ability to drive structure, priorities, and alignment in complex, global, matrixed environments.
Skilled communicator who is comfortable interacting with startups, engineers, executives, and cross‑regional teams.
Practical problem‑solver with a “get‑things‑done” mindset — you move from idea to execution rapidly.
Ability to manage multiple projects at once under tight deadlines.
Passion for open innovation, startup collaboration, and accelerating impactful ideas.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Collective agreement
Flexible working hours
Health care and wellness allowance
Fantastic career possibilities within Hitachi Energy, both within Sweden and globally
Various training and education supporting employee development
Diversified company with over 70+ nationalities working in Sweden
Supplementary compensation for parental leave
Employee Benefit Portal with thousands of discounts and perks

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

project managementinnovation operationsstartup programsevent planningKPI trackingrisk identificationstakeholder alignmentproblem-solvingexecution planninginnovation challenges

Soft Skills

organizational skillscommunication skillsexecution skillsproblem-solving mindsetability to manage multiple projectsclarity and disciplinecross-functional coordinationadaptabilitycollaborationleadership