Description
The individual is responsible for Customer Co-Innovation Program, including planning, operations, coordination and execution of our client's innovation efforts at Barcelona Co-innovation Center.
This includes:
- Driving day-to-day activities of the Innovation Center (workshops, programs, events, sales engagement and customer meetings)
- Delivering Co-Innovation customer engagements including demos at Barcelona Co-innovation Center
- Engaging Spain Sales to ensure fully engaged and onboard with objectives and regularly contributing customer engagements.
- Ensuring Governance model for Country and Sales Leadership to ensure proper engagement and common objectives are maintained - in conjunction with Digitaliza initiative
- Manages and supervises Co-Innovation Center programs (opportunity definition, business plan, scope, requirements, project management, and execution) related to different types of external stakeholders (startups, incubators, universities, partners, investors, portfolio companies etc.)
- Drives coordination, project management, tracking and collaboration between cross-functional team members in multiple functions (Engineering, Finance, Accounting, HR, Marketing, PR, WPR, Legal)
- Engages with the Co-Innovation Center program and other Co-Innovation Centers to support corporate initiatives at the local Co-Innovation Center
- Drives ongoing internal and external awareness of innovation programs
- Drives efficiency by being a focal point of contact for any ecosystem questions (procurement, PR, accounting, finance, ordering)
- Stays compliant with latest Spanish governance rules, procedures and regulations
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in the high-tech industry, and at least 5 years of experience in business development or sales or product management
- Strong knowledge of the local public and private sector innovation ecosystem.
- Applicants must be high motivated, proactive and want to work with a start up' mentality and want to help shape and evolve the way we engage and support start-ups.
- Possess a strong work ethic and team player mentality with strong decision making and analytical abilities.
- A track record of working in high paced changing environment, in a senior or leadership position.
- The candidate is not expected to come from a technology background, but have been exposed to technology selling processes. Whilst the role is not expected to be a hands-on technical, some technical knowledge and the ability to translate, understand and simplify' complex technical solutions is considered essential.
- Ability to build executive level business relationships in an effort to better align business opportunities.
- Uses judgment to solve problems where protocol or process might not exist. Accepts responsibilities for success and failure of team/project
- Previous experience of working in a Business Development or Technical Architecture role would be considered advantageous.
- Oral communication skills should be demonstrated in delivering presentations to C-level business executives and also facilitating more interactive business discussions with those executives (project scoping, deal negotiations, problem resolution, etc.)
Desired Skills
- Strong organization skills - the ability to plan, execute and manage a complex plan with hundreds of work elements, and multiple team members, and meet aggressive deadlines
- Strong stakeholder management skills. The ability to influence multiple functions at all levels and align a core and broader virtual team to achieve a common goal
- Storyteller, excellent communication skills - written, verbal and presentation skills
- High energy. Bias to action. Self-starter and self-motivated. Thrive in a pressured environment.
- Exhibit drive and tenacity
- Have a sound understanding of internetworking technologies, and be familiar with Cisco's portfolio; any Cisco Career Certifications, although not essential, would be advantageous.
- Be comfortable understanding and explaining complex technical themes, and adjusting delivery to the intended audience.
- Fluent in written and spoken Spanish and English