Innovation Project Specialist

Hitachi Energy is seeking a dynamic, action-oriented

Innovation Project Specialist to drive the execution of open innovation projects across the global transformer business.

In this highly collaborative role, you will lead and coordinate innovation projects that bring together internal stakeholders, startups, technology partners, suppliers, universities, and research organizations to solve strategic technical challenges and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.

Working at the core of the Global Innovation Organization, you will transform innovation opportunities into structured projects, pilots, and technical implementations that create measurable business value. You will act as the central point of coordination between business needs, technical experts, external partners, and delivery teams, ensuring successful project execution from concept to validation.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, global environment, enjoys solving complex technical challenges, and is motivated by bringing innovative technologies into real-world transformer applications.

• Lead end-to-end execution of open innovation projects, including planning, stakeholder alignment, scope management, risk mitigation, and progress reporting
• Coordinate collaboration with startups, technology providers, universities, research institutes, and other external partners to address technical and business challenges
• Drive innovation pilots, proof-of-concepts, and technology evaluations, ensuring clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and effective knowledge capture
• Facilitate technical problem definition and translate business needs into structured innovation projects and work packages
• Work closely with R&D, Operations, Product Management, and business sponsors to ensure alignment between innovation activities and business priorities
• Manage project timelines, budgets, resources, and deliverables while balancing multiple initiatives in parallel
• Support the identification, assessment, and maturation of emerging technologies relevant to the transformer business
• Ensure transparency and governance by tracking KPIs, project milestones, technical outcomes, lessons learned, and risks
• Act as the key interface connecting Innovation, Engineering, Operations, and external ecosystem partners
   

• Degree in Engineering, Innovation Management, Technology Management, Business Administration, or a related field
• 3–6 years of experience in technical project management, engineering, innovation, R&D, product development, or consulting
• Hands-on experience leading cross-functional technical projects involving multiple stakeholders and external partners
• Experience managing pilots, proof-of-concepts, technology evaluations, or product/process development initiatives
• Strong planning, prioritization, execution, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working in complex, global, matrixed environments
• Confident communicator, comfortable interacting with engineers, researchers, startups, suppliers, and senior stakeholders
• Practical problem-solver with a structured, delivery-focused mindset
• Genuine interest in technology, innovation, and bringing new solutions into industrial applications
• Knowledge of the manufacturing technologies, or energy sector is considered a strong advantage