American Chemical Society

Director of Innovation

American Chemical Society$200K — $250K *
Business Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Business Administration, Communications, or related field.
  • 10 years of experience in product management, innovation, or strategic business development with startups and corporate innovation.
  • 5 years leading cross-functional product or innovation teams.
  • Experience in corporate venture capital (CVC) and strategic investments.
  • Proven track record in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including due diligence and integration.

Responsibilities

  • Lead innovation and investment strategy by identifying trends and conducting market research.
  • Evaluate early- to growth-stage companies for potential investment or acquisition.
  • Collaborate with Publishing, Sales, Technology, and Marketing to align innovation initiatives with company goals.
  • Mentor a multidisciplinary team of investment analysts and product managers.
  • Guide prototype development, testing cycles, and transition validated concepts to scalable products.
  • Develop integration plans for newly acquired entities and provide strategic support.
  • Define, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and product performance.

Benefits

  • Up to 20% domestic and international travel for industry engagement.
  • Remote work flexibility for two days per week.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

Lead innovation and investment strategy through identifying emerging trends, conducting market and customer research, developing new product and service concepts, and evaluating early- to growth-stage companies for potential investment or acquisition. Conduct preliminary and detailed due diligence, develop valuations, and support term sheet negotiations. Collaborate with internal stakeholders across Publishing, Sales, Technology, and Marketing to align innovation initiatives with organizational goals. Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team including investment analysts, product managers, and product owners. Guide prototype development and testing cycles, and transition validated concepts into scalable products. Develop integration plans for acquired entities and provide ongoing strategic support, including Board participation where applicable. Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and report on product performance and user experience. Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and ensure compliance with relevant legal and regulatory standards.

Requirements:
  1. Master's degree in Business Administration, Communications, or a closely related field.
  2. 10 years of experience in product management, innovation, or strategic business development, including work with startups, scaleups, and corporate innovation.
  3. 5 years of experience leading cross-functional product or innovation teams, including direct management of product managers, analysts, and technical staff, which may have been gained as part of or in addition to the 10 years of experience in product management, innovation, or strategic business development, including work with startups, scaleups, and corporate innovation.
  4. Other experience and skills must include:
  • Corporate venture capital (CVC) and strategic investments.
  • Proven track record in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including deal sourcing, due diligence, and integration.
  • Building and scaling ventures through venture studio models.
  • Product management platforms including Jira, Aha!, or Productboard.
  • Market research and analytics tools including Qualtrics, Tableau, or Power BI.
  • CRM systems including Salesforce.
  • Experience leading teams using Agile methodologies.
  • Experience with digital transformation and marketing technology platforms including DAM, DSP, and data warehouses.
  • Experience leading innovation initiatives in both startup and corporate environments.
  • Experience in international business development and global market expansion.
  • Experience bridging the European and U.S. tech and academic ecosystems, leveraging cross-cultural insights and networks to identify and scale high-potential ventures.
  1. Up to 20% domestic and international travel required to attend industry conferences, meet potential investment and acquisition targets, and collaborate with stakeholders.
  2. May work remotely two (2) days per week.
  3. Must have current authorization to be employed in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

Employer: The American Chemical Society

Annual Salary: $200,000 - $250,000

Work Location: 1155 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Apply Online at: https://jobs.acs.org/

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About American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 150,000 members at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical engineering, and related fields. The ACS is a non-profit organization and holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code. Its headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., and it has a large concentration of staff in Columbus, Ohio.
Learn more about American Chemical Society
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1876

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