Senior Manager - Innovation

Transguard Group was established in 2001 and has diversified significantly, we lead in the fields of Cash Services, Security Services, Manpower Services, Facilities Management & Aviation. Transguard Group is the UAE’s most trusted business support and outsourcing provider and has a large, dynamic and culturally diverse workforce with 50,000 employees!
We are currently recruiting for a Senior Manager - Innovation for our trusted client to be based out of their office in Dubai.

Purpose-

• Startup Engagement and Collaboration: Establish and maintain relationships with startups, incubators, and accelerators to source innovative solutions and technologies.
• Idea Generation and Management: Drive the generation of new ideas and manage the innovation pipeline to ensure a steady flow of viable projects.
• Evaluation and Selection: Implement a rigorous evaluation process to select the most promising startups and ideas for collaboration or investment.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with various internal departments to align innovation initiatives with business objectives and integrate new solutions seamlessly.
• Performance Tracking and Reporting: Monitor, analyze, and report on the progress and impact of innovation initiatives to stakeholders, and monitor key performance indicators to assess the impact of innovation initiatives and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibility-

• Support and drive the development and implementation of innovation strategies.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and creative problem-solving within the organization.
• Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with startups, accelerators, and incubators.
• Align these relationships with the company’s innovation goals.
• Evaluate collaboration, investment, or acquisition potential with startups.
• Facilitate introductions and meetings between startups and relevant internal teams.
• Conduct market research and stay up to date with trends and changes in the startup ecosystem.
• Develop clear criteria and a robust evaluation process for selecting startups and ideas.
• Manage the coordination with the evaluation committee and key stakeholders, providing recommendations and insights for strategic decision-making.
• Support in overseeing the structured process for idea generation, submission, and management.
• Ensure a diverse, high-quality pipeline of innovation opportunities, balancing short-term gains with long-term strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in validating ideas, assessing feasibility, and prioritizing projects based on potential impact and alignment with senior management objectives.
• Oversee the seamless integration of selected startups or solutions into the company, addressing any challenges.
• Monitor the progress of innovation projects at a senior management level, proactively identifying and resolving issues.
• Ensure that the benefits and outcomes of innovation initiatives align strategically with the company’s overarching objectives.

• At least 7 years of experience in driving and managing the innovation process within an organization, from idea generation to successful implementation, while aligning with the company's strategic objectives.
• Expertise in MS suite and Project Management.