Manager, Innovation/ R&D

Sime Darby Property; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading property development company seeks an innovative professional to manage R&D initiatives, enhance customer experiences, and drive business growth. The role requires strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage stakeholder relationships effectively.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 to 5 years of relevant experience in property development or real estate management.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of customer insights & Innovation/R&D initiatives.
• Identify market trends and opportunities, conduct research.
• Manage budgets for projects under customer insights and innovation/R&D.

Skills

Design Thinking

Business Model Canvas

Lean Methodology

Customer Journey Canvas

Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Business

Degree in Marketing

Degree in Engineering

Degree in Psychology

Job description

Requirements

Job Purpose

To execute and manage new initiatives related to innovation/R&D for development services for Township Projects and Sime Darby Property, reporting directly to the Head of Quality and Innovation.

You will be the evangelist and voice for the customer, working with internal and external stakeholders to design and curate innovative experiences that add value to our property development projects.

You will also lead design, facilitation, and brainstorming sessions across stakeholder groups to foster creative design and conversation, delivering innovative experiences in the property industry.

The role includes planning and implementing innovation/R&D initiatives, data analysis for insights, stakeholder management, and partnership and business development.

Job Responsibilities

Project Management

• Lead planning and execution of customer insights & Innovation/R&D initiatives to drive business growth within Sime Darby Property.
• Conceptualize ideas and execute them effectively.
• Quantify and track ROIs on initiatives.
• Maintain good communication, presentation, and writing skills.
• Manage project platforms and implement new initiatives.

Market Opportunities, Data Analytics, & Innovation Development

• Identify market trends and opportunities, review competitor activities, and monitor consumer needs.
• Conduct research to support customer insights and innovation initiatives.
• Perform data analytics using Excel or other tools.
• Ensure initiatives are aligned with targeted markets, customer-driven, innovative, and differentiated.
• Analyze data to enhance customer experience.

Budget Management

• Manage budgets for projects under customer insights and innovation/R&D.

Facilitation & Stakeholder Coordination

• Design and facilitate brainstorming sessions across stakeholder groups.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to ensure project success.

Partnership & Business Development

• Develop partnerships with corporates, educational institutions, and other entities to support initiatives.

Education/Professional Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Psychology, or relevant discipline.
• Other fields may be considered based on interest in customer experience and design thinking.

Additional Requirements

• Passion for problem-solving, strong empathy skills, and stakeholder management.
• Ability to work independently and deliver projects with minimal supervision.

Key Skillsets

• Design Thinking, Business Model Canvas, Lean Methodology, Customer Journey Canvas.
• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills.

Minimum 4 to 5 years of relevant experience, preferably in property development, commercial & retail development, or real estate management from a customer perspective.