Innovation Strategy Specialist

**Trend Research & Growth Opportunity Discovery** - Analyze emerging trends in technology and industry shifts to uncover potential innovation opportunities. - Conduct market research to identify whitespace, unmet needs, and areas for value creation. - Propose strategic innovation themes aligned with SmartLabs’ and SmartOSC’s business goals. **Innovation Strategy Development** - Collaborate with SmartLabs leadership to shape and refine the overall innovation strategy. - Define short - and long-term innovation priorities and link them to R&D programs, initiatives, or external collaboration opportunities (e.g., open innovation). **New Innovation Program Design & Initiation** - Develop plans and mechanisms to foster the generation of new ideas and mobilize internal resources, ensuring a seamless and continuous innovation pipeline - Develop evaluation frameworks and criteria to support transparent and effective assessment of internal innovation initiatives across key stages: idea sourcing, screening, validation, and experimentation. - Coordinate cross-functionally with product, delivery engineering, and business teams to facilitate the implementation of MVPs or proof-of-concepts (PoCs), ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and operational feasibility. **Innovation Portfolio Management** - Develop frameworks to track progress, risk, and potential impact of innovation initiatives. - Recommend strategic allocation of resources to the most promising initiatives with long-term business value. **R&D Ecosystem Development** - Develop strategic partnership plans to build a robust R&D and innovation ecosystem, which help identify, evaluate, and engage with external partners (startups, research institutions, universities, innovation hubs, and tech communities), based on strategic fit, complementary capabilities, and co-innovation potential. - Develop frameworks to prioritize and structure partnerships (e.g., joint development, knowledge exchange, venture collaboration) that can accelerate innovation outcomes and expand the opportunity pipeline. - Collaborate with HR and internal communications to foster a strong innovation culture and drive internal engagement in co-creation initiatives with external partners. **Requirements**: **Knowledge & Experience**: - Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Strategic Management, Economics, Innovation Management, Technology Management, Engineering, or Computer Science (with a strong interest in Strategy and Innovation). - Minimum 4-6 years of experience in strategy consulting, market/tech research, product development, innovation management, or market-driven R&D. - Proven experience in trend analysis, market insight generation, and strategic planning focused on innovation-led growth. - Strong knowledge of innovation models (e.g., disruptive innovation, open innovation, lean innovation, innovation funnel) and strategic tools (e.g., Business Model Canvas, Trend Radar, Foresight Toolkit). - Prior experience in launching internal innovation initiatives, venture building, or running innovation labs is a strong plus. **Skills**: - Strategic and analytical thinking with the ability to turn complex information into actionable insights. - Systems thinking and decision-making are based on both internal capabilities and external market signals. - Cross-functional collaboration and influence without authority. - Excellent communication and storytelling skills (both verbal and written). - Professional English proficiency (IELTS > 7.0 or equivalent), especially in business, technology, and research contexts. **Benefits**: **At SmartOSC, we offer the best to your values** - Attractive salary package: base salary + performance bonus - Salary review twice a year - Flexible working hours - Premium health care - Working in one of the largest digital transformation agencies - A professional English environment - Free English and professional training packages - Firm’s Certified Qualifications Sponsorship for career development - Annual company trip inside or outside Vietnam - Other fun activities: happy hour, quarterly team building, football club, yoga club, swimming club, charity activities, etc. - Free entertainment parties: Birthday party, Anniversary party, Sum-up Party, Year-End Party, etc.