Enterprise Innovation Lead - Hybrid

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Job Summary:

NRG is the leading essential home services platform, powered by our customer-focused strategy, strong balance sheet, and comprehensive sustainability framework. We offer a unique whole home experience to millions of North American customers. Our family of brands bring the connected future into reality through a unique value proposition centered around smarter energy, innovative services, and essential connections with the home.

The Enterprise Innovation Lead will be instrumental in driving NRG's strategic innovation efforts. This role is responsible for identifying, validating, and developing new business concepts and innovative ideas, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and business units, and advancing these ideas through a rigorous prototyping and validation process. Working cross-functionally with key business units and stakeholders, the Enterprise Innovation Lead will refine validated concepts into scalable solutions, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency, creating new revenue streams, and delivering incremental customer value. Experience in the energy industry is a plus.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Ideation and Concept Development:

• Collaborate with the corporate strategy team to identify and develop high-potential ideas that align with company objectives.
• Assess financial, operational, and strategic feasibility for these ideas.

• Foster a Culture of Innovation:
  • Act as a subject matter expert and advocate for innovation across the organization.
  • Encourage creative thinking, idea-sharing, and collaboration at all levels.
  • Organize workshops, hackathons, and idea challenges to engage employees, empowering them to contribute to the innovation pipeline.
  • Refine and optimize innovation-related processes to sustain and enhance the culture of innovation.

1. Prototyping and Validation:

• Drive iterative testing, gathering data-driven insights to refine concepts into prototypes.
• Ensure concepts meet strategic requirements and validation criteria.

1. Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work across departments-Strategy, Technology, Legal, Data, Finance, and others-to align on innovation goals.
• Act as the hub for innovation-related efforts, leveraging stakeholder insights to refine and assess ideas.
• Build strong relationships to support the transition of concepts from ideation to execution.

1. Scaling and Operationalization:

• Partner with business units to integrate validated concepts into operations.
• Support the development of capabilities, capacity, and market reach for successful innovation launches and scaling.

1. Market and Industry Awareness:

• Stay informed about emerging technologies, trends, and competitive movements in the energy sector.
• Leverage insights to identify new opportunities and expand the innovation pipeline.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Innovation Management, or a related field. Advance degree preferred.
• Experience:
  • 10+ years of experience in roles related to corporate innovation, product development, strategy, or a similar function with a focus on developing and implementing new concepts or ventures.
  • Proven experience leading cross-functional projects or initiatives, preferably within a large enterprise environment.
  • Experience in the energy industry or familiarity with its regulatory and operational dynamics is highly desirable.
• Technical Skills and Knowledge:
  • Proficiency in innovation frameworks (such as Lean Startup, Design Thinking, etc.) and tools for concept development, testing, and iterative improvement.
  • Strong financial acumen, with experience in assessing and modeling financial feasibility and ROI for new initiatives.
  • Knowledge of project management and product development lifecycle tools and methods.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking:
  • Ability to analyze complex problems, gather and interpret relevant data, and develop actionable solutions.
  • Strategic mindset with the capability to align new ideas with corporate strategy and assess their potential impact on business goals.
• Communication and Collaboration Skills:
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated success in building and nurturing cross-functional relationships at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Adaptability and Innovation Mindset:
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, work in fast-paced environments, and adapt to shifting priorities.
  • A passion for innovation and a proactive approach to identifying and developing new opportunities for the business.

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Influential Leadership: Ability to inspire and influence others without direct authority. The role requires leading cross-functional teams and gaining buy-in from stakeholders across the organization.
• Creative Problem-Solving: A creative and resourceful mindset to approach problems from new perspectives, adapt to unexpected challenges, and develop innovative solutions.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Comfort with ambiguity and the capacity to pivot quickly based on new information or shifting priorities. Innovation work often involves changing directions based on testing outcomes and market feedback.

Working Conditions:

• Located in Houston, TX office
• Hybrid workforce segmentation
• Open office environment.
• Some overtime required as special projects arise.
• Travel (add % of time or minimal, etc.)

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Official description on file with Talent.