Head of Innovation

FM•Norwood, MA

About The Position

The Head of Innovation drives innovation resources and services strategically across FM. Working with senior leadership, the role establishes priorities aligned with strategic initiatives and manages a portfolio of innovation projects, venture opportunities, targeted investments, and Joint Venture/M&A opportunities. The portfolio includes multi-year endeavors with significant strategic value and potential impact for clients. The role plans, executes, and supports innovation and venture programs, guiding cross-functional teams and advising initiative sponsors. It monitors and reports portfolio progress to senior leaders, with emphasis on business objectives, value delivery, and efficient allocation of innovation resources. The Head of Innovation leads efforts to identify, analyze, and test approaches for business value innovation, and collaborates across the organization to bring implementable products and capabilities into the business. The role also communicates progress to stakeholders and advocates for process changes based on results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 10 years of relevant and increasing leadership responsibility in one or more of innovation, M&A/investments/ventures, strategic planning, program/project management, or financial management/reporting.
At least 10 years of experience leading teams.
Ability to navigate FM’s organization, roles, and relevant functions.
Strong business acumen in commercial property insurance.
Ability to develop and sustain excellent relationships to drive workstreams across organizational boundaries.
Strong communication and influence skills when working with executive partners.
Strong project management knowledge, tools, and techniques to influence the success of innovation services.
High attention to detail, forward-thinking, and strategic approach.
Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Strong prioritization skills to meet competing deadlines.
Strong qualitative, quantitative, and financial analysis skills.
Ability to travel 20% of the time and possess a valid passport.

Nice To Haves

MBA or master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the Innovation team of 8–10 direct reports and 4–6 indirect reports, and manage resources supporting a portfolio of projects that enable the business and create value for clients.
Provide stakeholders with research on emerging trends, potential M&A targets, technology, and insights with potential client value.
Manage the innovation portfolio, budget allocations, and stage-gate performance metrics for new innovation efforts.
Support the Innovation team in developing business cases and new innovation investments.
Develop innovation metrics, performance indicators, and reports for leadership to promote transparency and accountability.
Lead communications and public relations resources in developing and maintaining integrated plans for internal and external audiences.
Liaise with outside industry and academic experts and the venture ecosystem to inform strategic planning for FM and its clients.
Serve as the Company’s Innovation Expert for enterprise projects and programs.
Ensure vendor and partner engagements, such as proofs of concept, comply with FM Legal and Information Security requirements.
Advise sponsors and senior leaders, guide cross-functional program teams, and monitor and report progress against business objectives and value delivery.
Identify, analyze, and test approaches for business value innovation, and help bring new products and capabilities into the business in an implementable manner.
Keep stakeholders informed of progress and advocate for internal or external process changes based on results.