Innovation Center Director

Menlo Park, CA

Job Description

Nomura, a global financial services group and SRI International, a non-profit R&D institute, recently announced a collaboration to establish the "Nomura SRI Innovation Center (NSIC)”, a membership-based innovation center dedicated to Japanese companies, located on SRI's campus in Menlo Park, California. NSIC connects its member companies with experts from SRI technology labs, academic research, investors, incubators and startups to encourage and enhance innovation. NSIC facilitates member companies’ innovation practices and the transition of new technologies to markets via a range of workshops, guest lectures and bespoke content covering research trends, startups and ventures, evolving business models and focused interactive experiences.
We are seeking a creative, enthusiastic and customer-focused leader who is capable of collaboratively working with internal and external teams as well as our partner, Nomura, and with the NSIC members, to develop and deliver the NSIC programs and expand the NSIC membership. In this role, you will identify, create, inspire and manage all aspects of the NSIC program, including content creation, needs discovery, workshop facilitation, membership recruitment and new product/business/venture development.
This position reports to the Vice President, Global Partnerships and is part of an industry-focused business development team that operates across many technology and business sectors and works closely with SRI Ventures and with SRI’s research labs.

Key duties:

• Manage the NSIC from program design through launch, execution and growth
• Develop and manage program budgets and financial and non-financial objectives.
• Identify and structure relationships with internal and external partners to support the NSIC’s mission
• Oversee NSIC staffing and hiring
• Lead business development activities to grow the NSIC membership (supported by SRI’s Tokyo, Japan office)
• Support NSIC member company innovation goals through direct interaction with their local team and as an advisor to their executive leadership
• Be an articulate, outgoing and motivating spokesperson for SRI and represent SRI’s overall research capabilities at relevant industry meetings and conferences.
• Keep abreast of current market and technological developments relevant to the NSIC mission
• Participate as a key member of SRI’s commercial team working in collaboration with SRI’s research groups, Global Partnerships business development team, Ventures and executive management to develop a growth strategy for NSIC and related R&D activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum Master’s degree in Engineering, Applied Science, Business, or equivalent, and 10 years of post-grad industrial experience
• Candidates should have a strong track record of innovation with a proven ability to execute on complex tasks and projects simultaneously
• Self-motivated and highly adaptable and flexible, with the ability to thrive in an ambiguous environment
• Background in one or more fields related to R&D, product management, startups, and innovation practices
• Commitment to results with the ability to convert abstract client needs into beneficial business relationships.
• Experience building and maintaining client and partner relationships and leverage those relationships to secure new business.
• Innovative thinker with an inquisitive nature and strong, well developed written and verbal communication skills, and effective presentation skills
• Ability to think at a strategic level, and translate strategy into action

Other requirements include:

• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency required.
• Diverse and broad business perspective with strong international cultural literacy, especially in Japan.
• Demonstrate a high standard of ethical business and personal conduct through daily actions and personal example. Maintains social, ethical, and organizational norms in conducting internal and external activities.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Must be confident and credible, while at the same time open to constructive suggestions, inclusive in style, and supportive of a wide range of stakeholders and ideas
• Approximately 10% travel with willingness to travel internationally

Employment Status

Full Time

Other Requirements

• -U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency Required

EOE/AA

SRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

Background Check

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

Auto req ID

2681BR