Product Innovation Manager

September 16, 2026

Hybrid

Senior

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Description

IMI plc is a global specialist engineering company focused on fluid and motion control across industrial automation, process automation, climate control, life science, and transport sectors. The Product Innovation Manager drives early-stage innovation across the Growth Hub, leading Phase 0-2 innovation sprints from opportunity discovery through customer and market validation. Reporting to the Growth Hub Director, the role involves facilitating workshops, hackathons, and co-creation sessions, applying Design Thinking and Lean Startup methodologies, and presenting evidence-based Go/Pivot/Stop recommendations to leadership. This is a highly visible, hands-on role with flexible/remote work and regular travel to IMI sites on a fixed-term 6-month contract.

Responsibilities

Lead innovation sprints from opportunity discovery to customer and market validation
Apply Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and experimentation methodologies to test ideas and develop MVPs
Drive evidence-based Go / Pivot / Stop decisions and present recommendations to leadership
Facilitate workshops, hackathons, design sprints, and co-creation sessions across the business
Personally lead multiple sprints per year from discovery to Go/Pivot/Stop decision
Promote a practical test-and-learn culture throughout the organization
Build strong relationships across sectors, functions, and regions
Connect teams with relevant internal and external experts to accelerate innovation
Act as a Growth Hub ambassador through showcases, pitch events, and leadership forums

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Innovation, Design, Technology, or a related field
4-8 years of experience in innovation consulting, venture building, growth strategy, business transformation, startups, or innovation-focused corporate roles
Proven experience leading innovation sprints, customer discovery, MVP validation, and cross-functional workshops
B2B experience preferred; exposure to industrial, automation, manufacturing, or technology sectors is an advantage
Strong practitioner of Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile, customer discovery, and rapid experimentation
Excellent facilitator who can guide diverse teams and influence stakeholders at all levels
Confident challenger who uses data and evidence to test assumptions and drive decisions
Strong relationship builder with the ability to connect people, expertise, and opportunities across the organization
Fluent with AI tools and rapid prototyping solutions
Additional certifications or qualifications in innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy, or design thinking are a plus

Conditions

Flexible/Remote work environment with regular travel to IMI sites
Fixed 6-month contract
Full-time work
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Design ThinkingLean StartupAgileAI toolsMVPprocess automation

Similar jobs

Picked by AI from the meaning of the description, not keywords

This device does not meet the site requirements

What may not work

Product Innovation Manager

Job summary

Score

Description

Responsibilities

Requirements

Conditions

Similar jobs

Job summary

Score

Similar jobs

Product Innovation Manager

Job summaryAnalysis and summary of the description [data-chart=chart-_R_b5s5eav5ubsqiuialb_] { --color-score: var(--warning); } .dark [data-chart=chart-_R_b5s5eav5ubsqiuialb_] { --color-score: var(--warning); } 55ScoreAverage

Job summary

Score

Description

Responsibilities

Requirements

Conditions

Similar jobs

Job summaryAnalysis and summary of the description [data-chart=chart-_R_b5s5eav5ubsqiuialb_] { --color-score: var(--warning); } .dark [data-chart=chart-_R_b5s5eav5ubsqiuialb_] { --color-score: var(--warning); } 55ScoreAverage

Job summary

Score

Similar jobs