Innovation Portfolio Manager

Hempel Paints Kuwait Company W.L.L.; Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 735,000 - 1,003,000; Full time

Job summary

Hempel seeks an Innovation Portfolio Manager to strengthen governance and drive progress across our innovation portfolio. You will collaborate with stakeholders, oversee stage-gate processes, and promote a fail-fast mindset to accelerate value delivery globally.

You will shape processes, governance frameworks, and reporting to align initiatives with business priorities, optimize resources, and reduce time-to-market for innovative coatings solutions.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in innovation portfolio management, portfolio management, project management, or PMO roles.
• Master's degree in engineering, business, finance, science, or a related field.
• Experience with Innovation Portfolio Management and/or New Product Development (NPD) Stage Gate processes.
• Strong skills in process improvement, prioritization, planning, resource allocation, and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Refine and improve processes for Innovation Development and optimization of our existing portfolio.
• Maintain and enhance portfolio frameworks, tools, and templates.
• Facilitate decision board and governance meetings.
• Manage stage-gate processes and portfolio governance.
• Communicate key decisions and priorities to stakeholders.
• Train and support the organization in Innovation Portfolio Management.
• Strengthen the innovation data foundation and reporting capabilities.
• Help embed a structured fail fast, learn fast approach.
• Drive alignment between innovation initiatives and business objectives.
• Monitor portfolio performance, resource allocation, and project progress to support effective decision-making.
• Document and follow up on key portfolio decisions to ensure transparency and accountability.

Skills

Process improvement

Prioritization

Planning

Resource allocation

Stakeholder management

Agile/Waterfall

Innovation portfolio management

Education

Master's degree in engineering, business, finance, science, or related field

Job description

Are you Ready to help shape the future of innovation at Hempel? As part of our growth strategy, Hempel is strengthening its innovation capabilities across the organization. A key element of this journey is a disciplined and effective Innovation Portfolio. processes We are looking for an Innovation Portfolio Manager to join our Innovation Portfolio & Technology Transformation team and help drive the development, governance, and continuous improvement of innovative solutions for customers worldwide. Drive Progress Across the Innovation Portfolio In this role, you will bring transparency, structure, and momentum to Hempel's innovation portfolio. You will oversee portfolio governance, facilitate decision-making, drive progress through stage-gate processes, and promote a fail fast, learn fast mindset. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, you will continuously identify opportunities to improve the way innovation is managed and executed. You will also help ensure strong alignment between innovation initiatives and business priorities, optimize resource allocation across the portfolio, and contribute to reducing time-to-market for innovative solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Refine and improve processes for Innovation Development and optimization of our existing portfolio
• Maintain and enhance portfolio frameworks, tools, and templates
• Facilitate decision board and governance meetings
• Manage stage-gate processes and portfolio governance
• Communicate key decisions and priorities to stakeholders
• Train and support the organization in Innovation Portfolio Management
• Strengthen the innovation data foundation and reporting capabilities
• Help embed a structured fail fast, learn fast approach
• Drive alignment between innovation initiatives and business objectives
• Monitor portfolio performance, resource allocation, and project progress to support effective decision-making
• Document and follow up on key portfolio decisions to ensure transparency and accountability

What we’re Looking For?

• 3+ years of experience in innovation portfolio management, portfolio management, project management, or PMO roles
• A master's degree in engineering, business, finance, science, or a related field
• Experience working with Innovation Portfolio Management and/or New Product Development (NPD) Stage Gate processes
• Strong skills in process improvement, prioritization, planning, resource allocation, and stakeholder management
• Experience with business cases, governance, decision-making frameworks, and risk management
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
• Familiarity with agile and/or waterfall methodologies
• Experience working in an international and innovation-driven environment
• Curious, pragmatic, and able to balance big-picture thinking with execution
• Interest in both physical and digital technology-driven solutions
• Customer-centric mindset and solid business understanding
• Knowledge of the coatings industry is an advantage

Join a Collaborative and Diverse Team

You will become part of the Innovation Portfolio & Technology Transformation team, a diverse group of around 10 colleagues with varied professional and cultural backgrounds. The role offers extensive exposure to stakeholders across functions, seniority levels, and geographies, making it an excellent opportunity to influence how innovation is delivered at Hempel. Working at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and innovation, you will help ensure that Hempel invests in the right opportunities and continues to strengthen its innovation capabilities globally.

For questions, please reach out to Head of Innovation Portfolio & Technology Transformation, Mads Moeller Borch on [e-mail]. We will conduct interviews on an ongoing basis. Application due 2026-10-21 Seniority Level Associate Job Functions Project Management, Strategy / Planning Industry Chemicals

At Hempel, you’re welcomed to a global community of +7000 colleagues around the world. A workplace built on shared trust, mutual respect and support for each other. We’re on a mission to double our impact. To succeed, we need bright minds and team players. Which is why, from day one, your input, ideas and initiative are not only welcomed, but expected. In return, you will enjoy great opportunities for development in a growing global company – and be part of the solution by contributing to our global impact. At Hempel, we are committed to everyone feeling safe, valued and treated equally, in an environment where each employee can bring their authentic selves to work. We believe that inclusion is key to innovation and by bringing together the most diverse perspectives and talents, we can achieve great things, together.

Hempel is a world-leading supplier of trusted coating solutions working with customers within the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Our purpose is to shape a brighter future with sustainable coating solutions, and being owned by the Hempel Foundation gives us the stability, means and purpose to deliver lasting, positive change in the world. The Hempel Group is the owner and parent company of Crown Paints, Wattyl and the Neogard brand.