Director Innovation Management

TL;DR

Director Innovation Management: Leading the build-up and future direction of innovation strategy globally with an accent on governance, portfolio steering, and cross-functional alignment. Focus on connecting technology, business, and external ecosystems to unlock new growth opportunities and drive innovation-led business impact.

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Company

hirify.global is a global leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, driving innovation in the automotive, industrial, and IoT sectors.

What you will do

• Define and evangelize the global innovation strategy, translating market and technology trends into actionable directions for senior leadership.
• Lead the Innovation Management function, overseeing governance, Innovation Councils, and portfolio steering.
• Establish and expand innovation ecosystems, including startups, universities, and strategic partnerships.
• Manage the end-to-end innovation portfolio, including prioritization, funding logic, and performance metrics.
• Drive alignment between corporate strategy, R&D, and business lines to ensure innovation translates into tangible business impact.
• Champion a culture of experimentation and cross-functional collaboration across the organization.

Requirements

• Extensive experience (approx. 12+ years) in innovation, strategy, R&D, or technology leadership.
• Strong strategic foresight with the ability to translate complex trends into decision-ready insights.
• Proven leadership and influence skills across functions, geographies, and senior stakeholders.
• Experience building structures, teams, or new capabilities in ambiguous environments.
• Strong execution mindset with the ability to turn ideas into tangible outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex topics into clear executive narratives.