Vice President, Innovation
About the role
As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best. Reporting to Marmon’s Chief Innovation Officer, the Vice President of Innovation supports innovation efforts across Marmon’s diversified industrial portfolio of approximately 150 operating companies spanning 12 industrial groups. Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer, this executive will help drive sustainable growth through new product development, technology adoption, business model innovation, strategic partnerships, and enterprise-wide innovation capabilities. The Vice President of Innovation serves as both a strategist and catalyst, helping portfolio companies identify, prioritize, and execute innovation initiatives that accelerate revenue growth, improve competitiveness, increase operational effectiveness, and create long-term shareholder value. Success in this role requires influencing leaders across a decentralized organization, fostering a culture of innovation across diverse markets and industries, as well as maintaining a portfolio of resources that support innovation efforts at Marmon’s operating companies. Up to 50% travel is required.
Responsibilities
- Innovation Strategy & Portfolio Management: Identifies emerging technologies, market trends, customer needs, and industry disruptions that may impact portfolio companies; manages a portfolio of innovation resources for business units, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and spending priorities; partners with Group and Platform leaders and operating company presidents to translate innovation opportunities into measurable business outcomes; partners with business leaders, engineering teams, and technology providers to pilot and deploy innovative solutions.
- Growth & New Product Development: Establishes best practices for innovation processes, stage-gate development, commercialization, and portfolio management; monitors and improves innovation performance metrics including new product revenue and contribution margin, Vitality Index, R&D effectiveness / Innovation ROI, time-to-market, project success rates; facilitates collaboration to leverage new technologies across Groups, Platforms, and individual operating companies.
- External Innovation & Partnerships: Builds strategic relationships with universities, research institutions, and technology providers; develops mechanisms to identify and evaluate external innovation opportunities; leads due diligence efforts related to technology acquisitions, partnerships, licensing, and strategic investments; represents Marmon within industry, innovation, and technology forums.
- Innovation Culture & Capability Development: Fosters a culture that encourages experimentation, continuous improvement, and taking calculated risks; creates communities of practice and technical working groups across Marmon’s engineering and innovation disciplines; develops innovation training programs for leaders, engineers, and technical professionals; identifies and mentors high-potential innovation leaders throughout Marmon; manages recognition programs that celebrate innovation achievements and value creation.
- Governance & Performance Management: Develops annual innovation scorecards and benchmarking processes; tracks innovation investments and ensures accountability for results; leads enterprise-level innovation reviews and strategic planning sessions.