Strategic Innovation Manager

All locations
  • Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Barcelona, Spain
Business:
Energy Systems
Position type:
Full Time
Contract type:
Permanent Employee
Job ID:
6833
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Overview

About us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our knowledge to advance safety and performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions to tackle global transformations.

About Energy Systems

We help customers navigate the complex transition to a decarbonized and more sustainable energy future. We do this by assuring that energy systems work safely and effectively, using solutions that are increasingly digital. We also help industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry.

About the role

Digital & Data Solutions (D&DS) is building a mission-critical, domain-driven digital business to support the energy transition, combining trusted data, engineering-grade software, and digital twins to deliver decision-grade insights in high-complexity environments.

Within D&DS, the Strategy, Innovation & Partnerships (SIP) unit drives growth by connecting market insight, innovation execution, and ecosystem expansion through a build–buy–partner approach.

As a Strategic Innovation Manager, you will play a key outward-facing role at the intersection of customers, markets, and innovation. You will actively secure and shape a pipeline of customer-anchored innovation opportunities, translate real-world signals into strategic opportunity spaces, and actively contribute to D&DS’s growth by identifying where to build internally and where to accelerate through partnerships or acquisitions.

You will work closely with customers, business lines, internal innovation labs, and leadership to ensure strategy remains dynamic, evidence-based, and tightly connected to execution. This is a highly dynamic role suited to individuals who thrive in ambiguity and convert insights into tangible business impact.

What you'll do:

  • Identify, originate and advance customers opportunities and shape innovation: Build a pipeline of customer opportunities to run experiments and validate new solutions. Act as an innovation ambassador, developing a strong network of customers willing to experiment through long-term, trust-based relationships.
  • Scan markets and identify opportunities: Continuously monitor industry trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies to define high-value opportunity spaces aligned with D&DS strategic priorities.
  • Translate insight into strategy: Convert market and customer signals into actionable strategic inputs, supporting the continuous evolution of D&DS strategy.
  • Drive a customer-anchored innovation pipeline: Work with internal innovation labs and business lines to ensure experiments are grounded in real use cases, with clear commercial intent and pathways to scale.
  • Enable build–buy–partner decisions: Assess where D&DS should build internally versus accelerate through external solutions, contributing to a balanced and evidence-based growth approach.
  • Scout and evaluate ecosystem opportunities: Identify and screen potential partners, technologies, and acquisition targets to support partnership and inorganic growth initiatives.

What we offer

At DNV, you will join a purpose-driven organisation working at the forefront of the energy transition.

What we offer:

  • The opportunity to influence strategic growth in a rapidly scaling global digital business.
  • A high-exposure role with direct interaction with customers, partners, and senior leadership.
  • Participation in building next-generation digital solutions combining data, AI, and domain expertise.
  • A collaborative and international environment.
  • Flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on work–life balance.

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion.

About you

We are looking for a commercially minded and outward-facing strategy and innovation professional.

Experience and background:

  • Experience in business development, innovation, or strategy.
  • Proven ability to engage customers and external stakeholders.
  • Exposure to innovation processes, experimentation, or product development.
  • Familiarity with partnership ecosystems or M&A screening.
  • Established professional network within renewables, energy transition, or adjacent ecosystems is a strong advantage.

Skills & capabilities:

  • Strong commercial acumen.
  • Entrepreneurial, self-starting mindset.
  • Strong market sensing and strategic thinking capabilities.
  • Ability to identify and prioritize high-value opportunity spaces.
  • Ability to influence stakeholders in a matrix organisation.

Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which we operate is essential for DNV. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and practices.

Benefits

Please note, benefits may depend on your contract type, please confirm with your recruiter.

Profit Share

You’ll be part of our global profit share scheme that means we all share in our success as a business. If we profit, so do you. This will be part of our Total Compensation approach each year and depends on our year-end results.

Insurance

Taking care of you with travel, life, and accident insurance.

Pension Schemes

We care about your long-term financial security and prioritize pension and retirement benefits to reflect our caring values.

Professional Development

We believe in the 70/20/10 learning model, where 70% of your learning comes from performing your everyday tasks and working on different projects, new areas and initiatives to gain new skills. 20% from working with others and mentoring and the rest from formal education.

Hybrid Working

Adapting to the changing world of work around the world.

Purpose-led organization

You become part of a world-leading company where we know and live our purpose; to safeguard life, property, and the environment, with the opportunity to tackle global change through your work.

Supportive and caring culture

We offer opportunities to connect through social and professional networks. Our largest community CONNECT, organizes after-work events and informal meetings throughout the year.

Attractive rewards

We focus on work/life balance and offer employees flexible working hours and workplace, annual vacation allowance, competitive pension, insurance, and a global profit share scheme.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At DNV, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is not only an ethical choice, but also a business decision.

Diversity, fairness, and a sense of belonging are a source of strength for our people, our business, and our customers, and help us to deliver on our purpose, vision, and values.

Learn more

Working here

Since 1864 we’ve been dedicated to safeguarding life, property and the environment. Today we remain at the forefront of new technologies and techniques to help our customers transform for a more sustainable future.

At DNV you can expect to deliver career and industry defining work. You’ll be given the time to build your network, the resources to support your development, and the freedom to satisfy your curiosity and desire to learn.

Learn more

Application Process

FAQs

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions page. We’ve put together answers to the questions we’re asked most often to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. Whether you're curious about our recruitment process, benefits or career growth and development, you should find the information below.

How can I find job openings that fit my skills and interests?

Explore our official job search page where you can use filters such as job type, location, and department to find roles that best match your qualifications and career aspirations.

What’s your application process like?

You can apply directly through our careers page by submitting your CV and any other documents we require (i.e. university diplomas/transcripts; visas; previous employment reference letters). Make sure your application is fully completed, and you tailor it to the specific job listing. 

Is your recruitment process designed to be inclusive and accessible?

Yes, it is. We're an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all candidates. We’re happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. Share the details of what you need within your application.

What types of interviews might I undergo?

Depending on your role, our interview process may include initial phone screenings, video conferences, and in-person interviews, focusing on both your technical abilities and our shared values. You can ask your recruiter specifically about the interview process for your role. 

How long does the hiring process typically take from application to decision?

The timeline can vary but we make every effort to reply to each candidate as soon as possible and keep everyone up-to-date with where they are in the recruitment process.

How do I know if a recruitment contact is legitimately from your company?

Official communication will come from our verified company email addresses. Carefully check any suspicious looking emails and if you have any doubts, don’t engage.

Are there any fees involved in your recruitment process?

No, we do not charge any fees at any stage of our recruitment process. All applications and interviews are free of charge, we will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments – please be wary of any requests for payment as these are likely scams.

What should I do if I suspect a job scam?

If you encounter suspicious job postings or recruitment practices, do not provide personal information and contact your recruiter as soon as possible. We take these matters seriously. We will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments part of our recruitment process.

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Disclaimer

Please beware of recruitment scams that pretend to be from DNV or its employees. We will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments as part of our recruitment process.