Innovation Portfolio Manager

Drive Progress Across the Innovation Portfolio

In this role, you will bring transparency, structure, and momentum to Hempel's innovation portfolio. You will oversee portfolio governance, facilitate decision-making, drive progress through stage-gate processes, and promote a fail fast, learn fast mindset. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, you will continuously identify opportunities to improve the way innovation is managed and executed. You will also help ensure strong alignment between innovation initiatives and business priorities, optimize resource allocation across the portfolio, and contribute to reducing time-to-market for innovative solutions.

What will your Key Responsibilities be?

• Refine and improve processes for Innovation Development and optimization of our existing portfolio
• Maintain and enhance portfolio frameworks, tools, and templates
• Facilitate decision board and governance meetings
• Manage stage-gate processes and portfolio governance
• Communicate key decisions and priorities to stakeholders
• Train and support the organization in Innovation Portfolio Management
• Strengthen the innovation data foundation and reporting capabilities
• Help embed a structured fail fast, learn fast approach
• Drive alignment between innovation initiatives and business objectives
• Monitor portfolio performance, resource allocation, and project progress to support effective decision-making
• Document and follow up on key portfolio decisions to ensure transparency and accountability

What we're Looking For?

• 3+ years of experience in innovation portfolio management, portfolio management, project management, or PMO roles
• A master's degree in engineering, business, finance, science, or a related field
• Experience working with Innovation Portfolio Management and/or New Product Development (NPD) Stage Gate processes
• Strong skills in process improvement, prioritization, planning, resource allocation, and stakeholder management
• Experience with business cases, governance, decision-making frameworks, and risk management
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
• Familiarity with agile and/or waterfall methodologies
• Experience working in an international and innovation-driven environment
• Curious, pragmatic, and able to balance big-picture thinking with execution
• Interest in both physical and digital technology-driven solutions
• Customer-centric mindset and solid business understanding
• Knowledge of the coatings industry is an advantage

Join a Collaborative and Diverse Team

You will become part of the Innovation Portfolio & Technology Transformation team, a diverse group of around 10 colleagues with varied professional and cultural backgrounds. The role offers extensive exposure to stakeholders across functions, seniority levels, and geographies, making it an excellent opportunity to influence how innovation is delivered at Hempel. Working at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and innovation, you will help ensure that Hempel invests in the right opportunities and continues to strengthen its innovation capabilities globally.

Sounds like a match? Click the Apply for position button in the top‑right corner and submit your application and CV in English via our recruitment system. For questions, please reach out to Head of Innovation Portfolio & Technology Transformation, Mads Moeller Borch on MMBO@hempel.com. We will conduct interviews on an ongoing basis.