At The Engineered Stone Group Innovation Lab
We are looking for an Innovation Manager
About us
The Engineered Stone Group is the global leader in the engineered stone bathroom products segment.We make shower trays, bathtubs, washbasins and many other types of products.
This is the Opal Quiz bathtub produced by Acquabella, one of the companies in the group.
To strengthen our market position and to further drive innovation, new product development and sustainability the Group is developing its Innovation Lab.The Innovation Lab owns and nurtures a challenge-driven innovation portfolio which encompasses a broad range of opportunities. The Lab is responsible for developing and rolling out next-generation products, services and business models, as well as for driving process innovations for the group’s companies.
About the position
We are looking for a skilled Innovation Manager to become the lab’s first team member.Reporting to the Innovation Lab Director, you will drive innovation projects and build innovation capabilities throughout the group.By joining in a Day-One scenario, you will be part of the design and development of the innovation lab, taking an active role in its strategic planning and implementation.This role will operation under a hybrid model. In innovation practice there is no substitute to face-to-face interaction. Our basecamp will be in Valencia -where we are planning to build our lab’s HQ- and occasional travelling to the group’s manufacturing sites will also be required. We are aware that we all need alone time to focus or collect our thoughts, so part-time remote work is fine if not in conflict with ongoing activity.The development of the Innovation Lab and its activities draws a broad field of play. We are open to candidates that bring a full stack of skills covering all the responsibilities described below, as well as to candidates who perform at an extraordinary level in some of them and are open to building new skills and grow into the less-developed areas.We are not looking for a vertical specialist in narrow fields.
This is the Frezio washbasin, made by Fiora.
Key Responsibilities
Manage the Innovation Portfolio
Dynamically plan and follow-up projects, identifying and actively managing risks, and engaging stakeholders -both internal and external- to ensure an impactful delivery.
Identify and shape potential new challenges, as well as continuously refine and update our understanding of existing challenges in our portfolio.
Research and digest
Analyse opportunities for innovation. Perform desktop and field research to gain a deep understanding of all relevant dimensions (market, technology, legal, user, etc.).
Synthesise findings into clear, actionable recommendations to validate, reformulate or discard a matter.
Define and run/oversee hypothesis-driven experiments to validate, discard or iterate new concepts (technical feasibility, market fit, usability…)
Monitor and detect early signals from competitors, key customers, and potential partners as well as key cross-sector leaders.
Shape new value propositions
Design value propositions, transforming available information (data, insights, ideas, etc.) into conceptual solutions.
Create narratives and visuals that support communication, discussion and iteration around opportunities, problems or solutions.
Contribute to the critical analysis of concepts and ideas.
Facilitate collaboration
Plan and deliver workshops, sprints and other goal-oriented work dynamics.
Contribute to developing the ES Group Innovation Community, fostering meaningful interactions and knowledge exchange between its members. Cross-functional collaboration will be essential.
Contribute to developing relationships with external stakeholders that can potentially drive our open innovation model.
Share knowledge
Produce contents to communicate ongoing activities and results of our activity, ranging from internal reporting to producing contents for our Innovation Newsletter or pieces for our website or social networks.
Tinker, learn and grow
This job relies very much on personal and professional growth.We consider essential that you read a lot, experiment with new methods and tools, share half-baked ideas, do open-ended exploration of new possibilities (a “What if we combine this with that?” type of situation), and overall, try things you are unsure of.We will provide the right environment for that, framed in a culture that is respectful and failure tolerant as well as built on accountability.
Requirements
Must-have experience and background
At least 5 years of hands-on work experience in innovation management, with proven track record of impact-delivering work.
Solid project management skills.
Experience with waterfall and agile frameworks, design thinking, and process facilitation.
Fluency in English, since it is the vehicular language in the ES Group. C1 or C2 level.
Other non-negotiable skills
Good ability for research and analysis. Critical thinking comes naturally.
Strong synthesis and communication skills. Able to digest complex matters into actionable nuggets.
High attention to detail while also able to roll with scenarios that are imperfect.
Intercultural and interpersonal competency, i.e. ability to work well with a variety of people from different cultural and/or professional backgrounds.
Enthusiasm for organising chaos. Likes systems and order, but not at the expense of getting things done and making impact.
Pioneering spirit. Preference to start things from scratch vs. maintaining a “well oiled machinery”
Creativity, and good sense of humour. They go together, right?
This will be good
Specific experience in the manufacturing industry.
Mixed background (engineering + design, research + tech, design + business, etc.)
Growth mentality. Passionate about innovation and exploration.
Experience delivering workshops, innovation sprints and similar formats.
Storytelling skills. Able to communicate in a narrative manner.
Illustration or other visual communication skills. Able to make graphic representations to embody a concept or to support communication.
Lean, resourceful, scrappy mentality. Able to quickly ditch a plan when it no longer works and come up with an alternate idea.
Fluent in Spanish or Polish, since some of the group’s companies are based there.
Location
Valencia, Spain.
Perks
Training budget to use discretionally (courses, books...)
International, multi-cultural work environment.
Opportunity to attend fairs and key industry events.
Laptop (mac or PC, your choice) and desktop monitor.
Cell phone.
Welcome pack.
We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applications without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, sex, gender, origin, ancestry, age, or citizenship status, marital or familial status, or any other personal or social characteristic.We encourage individuals of all styles and backgrounds to apply for this position, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.
Do you see yourself here?