Lead Specialist, Innovation Portfolio

Role Overview

Lead Specialist, Innovation Portfolio at Ma'aden, based at the company's primary location.

Role Purpose

The Lead Specialist – Innovation Portfolio enables Ma'aden to maximize the value of innovation investments by establishing a structured, transparent, and strategically aligned innovation portfolio. The role ensures that innovation initiatives are prioritized, governed, and managed as a balanced portfolio that supports long-term business growth, operational excellence, and transformation objectives. By applying disciplined portfolio management practices, the role improves investment decisions, accelerates the delivery of high-value initiatives, and strengthens the organization's ability to translate innovation opportunities into measurable business outcomes across financial, operational, sustainability, and strategic dimensions.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Strategy & Governance

• Establish and continuously enhance innovation portfolio governance frameworks, prioritization models, and investment criteria.
• Align innovation investments with business strategy, transformation priorities, and long-term value creation objectives.
• Strengthen executive decision-making through effective governance forums and portfolio review mechanisms.

Innovation Investment & Prioritization

• Optimize innovation investment decisions by evaluating opportunities based on strategic fit, value potential, risk, scalability, and feasibility.
• Develop robust business cases and recommendations that support informed funding and portfolio allocation decisions.
• Maintain a balanced innovation portfolio across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.

Portfolio Performance & Value Realization

• Define and implement portfolio performance frameworks and value realization measures.
• Improve portfolio outcomes through continuous monitoring of innovation performance, benefits, and strategic contribution.
• Drive portfolio optimization using performance insights, lessons learned, and measurable business impact.

Innovation Pipeline Management

• Build and maintain a sustainable pipeline of innovation opportunities and emerging technology initiatives.
• Enhance portfolio resilience through balanced management of initiatives across varying maturity levels and risk profiles.
• Accelerate progression of high-potential concepts through validation, piloting, and portfolio review processes.

Stakeholder Alignment & Delivery Enablement

• Foster collaboration across Innovation, Technology Operations, Data & AI, and business functions to accelerate innovation delivery.
• Resolve portfolio dependencies, resource constraints, and execution risks that affect portfolio performance.
• Promote alignment among sponsors, initiative owners, and delivery teams to improve execution effectiveness.

Strategic Insights & Executive Reporting

• Deliver executive-level portfolio reporting that provides visibility into performance, risks, opportunities, and investment effectiveness.
• Generate actionable insights that support strategic planning, budgeting, and innovation roadmap development.
• Influence leadership decisions through evidence-based portfolio recommendations and performance analysis.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Technology, Innovation Management, or a related discipline.
• 10–12 years of progressive experience in innovation management, strategy execution, technology portfolio management, PMO, or transformation environments.
• Experience managing complex cross-functional initiatives and stakeholder environments.
• Experience supporting strategic investment decisions, portfolio governance, and value realization initiatives.
• Experience within mining, industrial, manufacturing, energy, or other technology-intensive sectors is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Functional Expertise

• Innovation Portfolio Management
• Portfolio Governance & Stage-Gate Frameworks
• Strategic Prioritization
• Investment Planning & Business Case Development
• Value Realization Management
• Innovation Pipeline Management

Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Strategic Planning
• Portfolio Performance Management
• Executive Reporting & Dashboarding
• Budgeting & Investment Analysis
• Risk Assessment & Portfolio Optimization
• Data-Driven Decision-Making

People & Collaboration

• Stakeholder Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Influencing & Communication
• Facilitation & Alignment
• Analytical Thinking
• Business Acumen