PRADA Innovation Manager

BoF Careers; Milano; On-site; EUR 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Prada Group in Milan seeks an Innovation Manager to join the Digital team, reporting to the Group Digital Director. This role connects business needs with technological opportunities and shapes the adoption of emerging technologies, from AI to immersive experiences.

You will lead a portfolio across content production, algorithms and clienteling, guiding experiments to scale and embedding solutions into day-to-day processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in technical, scientific, economic or humanities disciplines.
• Experience in innovation management, digital transformation or technology-driven project roles, ideally in consulting and in the luxury sector.
• Strong understanding of emerging technologies, particularly AI, Generative AI, algorithms and data-driven solutions.
• Ability to simplify complexity and drive cross-functional initiatives from experimentation and pilot phases through to implementation and scale.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with senior leadership.
• Full professional proficiency in Italian and English (B2).

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess emerging technologies, including AI, Generative AI, algorithms and immersive solutions, evaluating their potential applications and relevance to the business.
• Own and deliver a portfolio of innovation projects from ideation to roll-out, currently spanning content production, algorithms and clienteling, ensuring quality of execution and value delivered.
• Lead pilots and proofs of concept and scale successful solutions into product art direction and customer experience, embedding each new technology within the relevant teams until it becomes part of day-to-day processes.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders - business, digital, product and front-end teams, as well as technology partners, startups and consultancies - ensuring alignment and speed of execution.
• Translate complexity into actionable insights, preparing analyses, recommendations and executive materials to support decision-making by Innovation leadership and Top Management.
• Foster an innovation and AI-driven culture, sharing knowledge and best practices across the organization and becoming a trusted point of reference on AI, algorithms and emerging technologies.

Skills

Innovation management

Digital transformation

Stakeholder management

AI/Generative AI

Cross-functional leadership

Portfolio management

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree

Job description

Founded in 1913 in Italy, the Prada Group was built on a tradition of excellence and with a vision of innovation. The Group, a world leader in the luxury sector, operates in more than 45 countries with the PRADA, Miu Miu, Versace, Church's, Car Shoe and Luna Rossa brands, and has employees of over 100 nationalities.

We are looking for an Innovation Manager to join our Digital team in Milan, reporting directly to the Group Digital Director. This is a highly cross-functional and strategic role, requiring the ability to connect business needs with technological opportunities and translate complex topics into clear priorities and actionable initiatives. The role will be responsible for identifying, shaping and driving the adoption of emerging technologies, from Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI to advanced algorithms and immersive digital experiences, turning new technological opportunities into tangible business value.

Working at the intersection of technology, business and customer experience, the Innovation Manager will lead a portfolio of high-impact initiatives across areas such as content production, algorithms, clienteling, CRM and customer experience. The role will cover the full innovation journey, from identifying an opportunity and defining the business case, through experimentation and validation, to scaling and embedding successful solutions into the organization. As the first role specifically dedicated to this scope, the Innovation Manager will also have the opportunity to shape the company's approach to innovation, defining ways of working and progressively contributing to the development of a dedicated team.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess emerging technologies, including AI, Generative AI, algorithms and immersive solutions, evaluating their potential applications and relevance to the business.
• Own and deliver a portfolio of innovation projects from ideation to roll-out, currently spanning content production, algorithms and clienteling, ensuring quality of execution and value delivered.
• Lead pilots and proofs of concept and scale successful solutions into product art direction and customer experience, embedding each new technology within the relevant teams until it becomes part of day-to-day processes.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders - business, digital, product and front-end teams, as well as technology partners, startups and consultancies - ensuring alignment and speed of execution.
• Translate complexity into actionable insights, preparing analyses, recommendations and executive materials to support decision-making by Innovation leadership and Top Management.
• Foster an innovation and AI-driven culture, sharing knowledge and best practices across the organization and becoming a trusted point of reference on AI, algorithms and emerging technologies.

Knowledge And Skills

Bachelor's or Master's degree in technical, scientific, economic or humanities disciplines.

Relevant professional experience in innovation management, digital transformation or technology-driven project roles, ideally gained in consulting and with proven exposure to the luxury sector, including fashion, hospitality, luxury travel, automotive or premium services.

Strong understanding of emerging technologies, particularly AI, Generative AI, algorithms and data-driven solutions, combined with a genuine passion for technology and a strong focus on business impact.

Ability to simplify complexity, cross-functional initiatives from experimentation and pilot phases through to implementation and scale. Familiarity with Agile, Product Management and innovation methodologies is a plus.

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leadership, business teams, technical specialists and external partners.

Full professional proficiency in Italian and good command of English (at least B2 level) are required.

RAL: from 70.000 Euro Gross Annual

Joining our Company means working in a creative and international environment, with teams of people motivated by curiosity and the quest for excellence. The engine of our success is the importance and value that we place on the talent and passion of our people leading to their own professional growth.

Prada Group promotes an inclusive work environment, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal characteristics. We believe that diversity is a value and we are committed to build a fair and respectful workplace for all.