Program Manager Business & Ecosystems Lifesciences (m/w/x)

ZEISS Group; München; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ZEISS Group in Munich is seeking a Program Manager specialized in digital and AI transformation to orchestrate high-impact, market-ready solutions. You will drive end-to-end programs across multiple SBUs, from opportunity framing to MVP and scaling in an AI-powered environment.

The role demands a strong consulting or corporate strategy background, with extensive experience guiding senior stakeholders and delivering measurable business value through AI-enabled initiatives.

Qualifications

• Excellent university degree in business, engineering, natural sciences, or informatics.
• 5+ years in top management consulting, corporate strategy, digital transformation, or innovation roles with exposure to AI enabled solutions.
• Proven track record leading complex, cross functional innovation initiatives with senior stakeholders.
• Fluency in English; German would be a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex innovation programs from opportunity identification to MVP and scaling, leveraging AI to drive measurable business value.
• Enable SBUs to experiment rapidly, bring ideas to market, and scale solutions.
• Anticipate how AI reshapes roles and customer interactions, integrating these shifts into solution design.

Skills

AI strategy

Stakeholder management

Leading cross-functional teams

Communication

Digital transformation

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Job description

Your RoleAt ZEISS Digital Partners (ZDP), we’re shaping the future of ZEISS through digital and AI - fast, scalable, and close to the business. Together with ZEISS business units, we drive digital and AI transformation and create innovative solutions that deliver real value for customers and the company. Our Digital Business Innovation team brings together diverse expertise to build new digital products, develop business models, and lead innovation transformation initiatives. By combining customer-centric methods with strong business and strategy capabilities, we turn ideas into impact.As a Program Manager (f/m/x) with a strong focus on business in an AI-driven world, you operate as a strategic orchestrator and value owner. Your responsibility goes beyond strong concepts - your focus is delivering real, market-ready business solutions in collaboration with our strategic business units.Lead complex innovation programs - from opportunity identification to MVP and scaling - leveraging AI to drive measurable business value, adoption, and impactEnable SBUs to experiment rapidly, bring ideas to market, and scale solutionsAnticipate how AI reshapes roles, and customer interactions, while speeding up workflows and processes - proactively integrating these shifts into solution designAct as a thought leader and trusted advisor on digital business innovation and digital transformation topics in an AI-driven world – separating hype from value and enabling informed decisionsDefine success beyond pilots, including value metrics, decision logic, operating models, and governance for AI powered solutionsCollaborate with the ZEISS business units as well as our Design, Data Analytics and Cloud Engineering colleagues at ZEISS Digital PartnersYour ProfileYou are a business expert for digital & AI innovation, comfortable navigating uncertainty, rapid technological change, and senior level decision contexts.You bring: An excellent university degree, preferably in business, engineering, natural sciences, or informatics5+ years of experience in top management consulting, corporate strategy, digital transformation, or innovation roles with exposure to AI enabled solutionsA strong track record of leading complex, cross functional innovation initiatives with senior stakeholders — from problem framing to executionSolid understanding of AI and GenAI value mechanisms in Innovation and R&D, including where automation, augmentation, and decision intelligence create real business impactStrong communication skills and the empathy to easily communicate with people from diverse backgroundsExperience with working in or with the APAC region is a plusFluency in English (fluency in German would be a plus)Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:Sabrina Rieker