Sr. Director, Xylem Innovation Labs

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23000 employees operating in over 150 countries Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the worlds most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

Sr. Director Xylem Innovation Labs (XIL)

The Role

This is a rare opportunity to lead and scale one of the most ambitious external innovation platforms in the industrial and water sector.

Xylem Innovation Labs (XIL) is Xylems enterprise engine for external innovation venture engagement and ecosystem-driven growth. Following a successful build phase XIL is now entering its next chapter: institutionalizing external innovation as a repeatable scalable and commercially impactful growth capability across Xylem.

The Sr. Director Xylem Innovation Labs will own and evolve this platform end to endsetting enterprise strategy establishing governance and operating cadence allocating resources and ensuring external innovation translates into measurable growth margin and strategic advantage. Reporting to the Chief Innovation & Products Officer (CIPO) this leader will operate with significant autonomy and visibility partnering directly with the ELT/segment leadership and representing Xylem with senior external stakeholders.

This role is designed for a leader who has successfully navigated both entrepreneurial and large corporate environments and who is motivated by the opportunity to scale innovation at enterprise level while representing Xylem externally with credibility and impact.

Essential Duties & Principal Responsibilities

Lead and Scale Xylem Innovation Labs

• Own the enterprise mandate strategy operating model and performance of Xylem Innovation Labs as Xylems central external innovation and venture platform.

• Take XIL from its initial build stage into its next phase as a formalized repeatable and globally scalable capability embedded in how Xylem drives growth.

• Establish enterprise governance (e.g. investment committee/portfolio reviews) KPIs funding models and operating rhythms that institutionalize external innovation across the enterprise.

• Anticipate future innovation needs and evolve XIL to include new models such as incubation growth ventures and new business creation as Xylems strategy matures.

Oversee Venture Open Innovation and Market Intelligence

• Lead Xylems venture and open innovation portfolio including investment strategy fund partnerships startup engagement governance and portfolio value creation.

• Oversee technology scouting market intelligence and ecosystem sensing to inform enterprise strategy and executive make / partner / buy decisions.

• Build and manage a high-quality external pipeline of technologies startups and partners aligned to enterprise and segment priorities.

• Ensure all external innovation activity is strategically focused globally relevant and connected to real business needs.

Scale the Partnerships Accelerator and Drive Commercial Impact

• Own the strategy and evolution of Xylems Partnerships Accelerator as a differentiated sourcing and validation engine for external innovation.

• Partnerwith Commercial Partnerships and segment leaders to drive clear commercialization pathways (pilot scale) including business cases value realization and executive decision points.

• Embed external technology partnerships into standard product management engineering and development processes to ensure innovation flows into the core business.

Enterprise Leadership External Representation and Strategic Storytelling

• Serve as an enterprise leader responsible for translating external innovation strategy and performance into clear compelling narratives for executives partners and external stakeholders.

• Represent Xylem Innovation Labs externally with leaders across venture capital firms startups academic institutions industry peers strategic partners and enterprise customers.

• Build and maintain a strong external profileand engage in thought leadershipfor Xylem as a credible disciplined and impactful innovation partner.

• Engage selectively with strategic enterprise customers using innovation as a value-added differentiator that strengthens relationships and drives long-term growth.

Build Teams Culture and InfluenceatScale

• Build lead and develop a high-performing XIL team spanning venture partnerships open innovation and ecosystem engagement.

• Drive innovation outcomes through influence relationships and credibility across segments and functions in a global matrixed organization.

• Foster an entrepreneurial mindset while ensuring rigor governance and enterprise alignment.

Qualifications & Experience

• 1520 years of professional experience across innovation leadership venture capital strategy entrepreneurship or related domains.

• Bachelors or Mastersdegree required with a demonstrated combination of technical and business experience (e.g. engineering technology product strategy venture or commercial leadership).

• Proven ability to operate effectively in both entrepreneurial environments and large complex global organizations.

• Meaningful experience with venture capital and/or corporate venture activities including investment evaluation governance partnerships or portfolio engagement.

• Track record of designing and scaling innovation venture or growth platforms.

• Strong executive presence and storytelling capability with the ability to influence senior leaders and external partners.

• Demonstrated ability to set enterprise priorities allocate resources and drive cross-segment alignment through executive governance and operating cadence.

• Experiencedpeople leaderwith the ability to attract develop and retain talent.

• Hybrid role based out of Charlotte NC.

• Up to 30% travel global in scope.

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage conservation and re-use. Our products impact public utilities industrial sectors residential areas and commercial buildings with a commitment to providing smart metering network technologies and advanced analytics for water electric and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.