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This role will contribute to how the company anticipates and prepares for that growth. Working at the intersection of technology, industry intelligence, and business strategy, the Manager will identify and interpret emerging signals, develop perspectives on how key industries may evolve, and translate those insights into potential growth opportunities and strategic options for the company.
For a technically grounded professional looking to broaden their impact, this is an opportunity to influence how a global organization evaluates emerging technologies, interprets industry change, identifies new opportunities, and positions itself for future growth.
The company has built a strong position in semiconductor packaging through its advanced materials technology. Building on that foundation, it is looking beyond today’s businesses to understand where its capabilities, together with emerging technologies and external partnerships, can create new sources of long-term growth.
Based in Palo Alto, the role is positioned within the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem to build relationships and gather firsthand intelligence from technology companies, startups, investors, universities, research organizations, and other industry participants. These external perspectives complement broader market and technical research and help the company identify emerging signals and understand how technologies and markets are evolving. The position works closely with colleagues across the United States and Japan, with periodic domestic and international travel.
Employment Type: Permanent, full-time
You will join a collaborative and evolving strategy and innovation team that works across business, R&D, and venture investment. Working directly with innovation leadership, you will contribute your technical perspective to the team's core areas of focus while also gaining exposure to broader growth and innovation challenges across the organization.
For someone who wants to apply their technical expertise to bigger business questions, expand their influence, and help the company prepare for what comes next, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Apply to Manager, Growth Strategy & Intelligence (Hybrid)
The Opportunity
Our client is investing in its long-term growth strategy, looking beyond its established businesses to understand how emerging technologies and industry shifts may create new opportunities and where their capabilities can create differentiated value.This role will contribute to how the company anticipates and prepares for that growth. Working at the intersection of technology, industry intelligence, and business strategy, the Manager will identify and interpret emerging signals, develop perspectives on how key industries may evolve, and translate those insights into potential growth opportunities and strategic options for the company.
For a technically grounded professional looking to broaden their impact, this is an opportunity to influence how a global organization evaluates emerging technologies, interprets industry change, identifies new opportunities, and positions itself for future growth.
About the Company
Our client is a global company with more than a century of experience turning scientific discovery into practical applications and new businesses. From its origins in food, the company has expanded its scientific and technical capabilities across healthcare, bio and fine chemicals, and advanced materials, creating a diverse portfolio with innovation at its core.The company has built a strong position in semiconductor packaging through its advanced materials technology. Building on that foundation, it is looking beyond today’s businesses to understand where its capabilities, together with emerging technologies and external partnerships, can create new sources of long-term growth.
Location
Palo Alto, California | HybridBased in Palo Alto, the role is positioned within the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem to build relationships and gather firsthand intelligence from technology companies, startups, investors, universities, research organizations, and other industry participants. These external perspectives complement broader market and technical research and help the company identify emerging signals and understand how technologies and markets are evolving. The position works closely with colleagues across the United States and Japan, with periodic domestic and international travel.
Employment Type: Permanent, full-time
What You Will Do
- Conduct primary and secondary research on emerging technologies, market developments, competitive dynamics, and industry trends to develop informed perspectives on how relevant industries and markets may evolve.
- Engage external experts, customers, industry participants, technology companies, startups, investors, and academic institutions to deepen understanding, gather firsthand intelligence, and test hypotheses.
- Develop future-state scenarios, identify potential industry shifts and inflection points, and assess their implications for the business.
- Connect technical and market insights to the company’s business, technologies and capabilities, customer relationships, and business models to identify opportunities for growth, differentiation, and competitive advantage.
- Evaluate new applications, adjacent markets, and strategic options across R&D, partnerships, venture investments, business development, and potential M&A.
- Support forward-looking strategy development by translating research and insights into strategic perspectives, options, and recommendations.
- Collaborate with business, R&D, innovation, and venture investment teams to evaluate opportunities and support strategy development.
- Serve as the technical point person for a major future-focused strategy initiative while contributing to broader innovation strategy efforts.
Who You Are
- A technically grounded professional with experience in R&D, applied research, engineering, or product development.
- Deep expertise in at least one relevant technology area, with the curiosity and learning agility to understand adjacent industries and emerging technologies.
- Interested in applying technical knowledge beyond product development or research to broader questions of market direction, innovation, and business growth.
- Able to connect complex technical developments to commercial opportunities, competitive dynamics, and business implications.
- An independent thinker and researcher who can investigate ambiguous questions, synthesize information, and develop a well-supported point of view.
- A strong communicator who can engage technical and business stakeholders and articulate ideas clearly.
- Collaborative and co-creative, with the ability to challenge assumptions, incorporate different perspectives, and build alignment.
- Comfortable with ambiguity, influencing without direct authority, and working across a global, consensus-driven organization.
Education & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, computer science, or another relevant technical discipline required. An advanced degree or MBA is a plus.
- Approximately 4–10 years of relevant experience in R&D, applied research, engineering, technology development, or a related technical environment.
- Technical expertise in one or more relevant areas, including semiconductors, electronic or advanced materials, advanced packaging, photonics, next-generation computing, robotics or physical AI, energy technologies, or adjacent fields.
- Experience in strategy, innovation, corporate development, venture investing, or new business development is preferred but not required; strong interest and aptitude for applying technical expertise to growth strategy is essential.
- Experience working across functions, organizations, or geographies in complex technical or business environments preferred.
Flexibility & Work-Life Integration
- Work Structure: Hybrid position based in Palo Alto, California.
- Environment: Collaborative and evolving innovation strategy function, offering the opportunity to help shape the team’s approach and contribute to broader organizational priorities.
- Travel: Periodic domestic travel and occasional international travel.
Why Join the Team?
This role offers the opportunity to bring technical expertise and business strategy together to help shape the future direction of a global organization. Rather than focusing on a single product or research program, you will explore how technologies and markets may evolve, what those changes mean for the company, and where new opportunities may emerge.You will join a collaborative and evolving strategy and innovation team that works across business, R&D, and venture investment. Working directly with innovation leadership, you will contribute your technical perspective to the team's core areas of focus while also gaining exposure to broader growth and innovation challenges across the organization.
For someone who wants to apply their technical expertise to bigger business questions, expand their influence, and help the company prepare for what comes next, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
About Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search
Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search is a leading provider of Executive Search, Leadership, Individual Contributor, and Contingent Workforce Solutions, empowering businesses to achieve their strategic objectives through expert talent acquisition. Our specialties include sales, marketing, finance/accounting and operations hiring. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of market trends, Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search helps global organizations build high-performing teams and navigate complex workforce challenges.