Innovation Lead: Cross-Functional MVP & Strategy

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. is seeking an Innovation Lead who can guide cross-functional squads from ideation to MVP, acting as a practical facilitator and data-driven strategist.

You will drive design-thinking workshops, validate concepts, and map MVPs, accelerating internal innovation in a Houston-based setting. As a mid-level individual contributor, you will manage the day-to-day innovation funnel, track milestones, and partner with Legal, Finance, and Compliance to clear roadblocks.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in innovation roles such as consulting, product management, or agile project management.
• Strong knowledge of Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile/Scrum.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence with workshop facilitation skills and the ability to influence without authority.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and aligning diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Co-Creation: design and lead workshops, hackathons, and cross-department sessions to extract high-value ideas.
• Validate & De-Risk: conduct market research, competitor analysis, and user interviews to validate concepts.
• Coordinate Prototyping: partner with engineering, design, and product teams to map and build MVPs for testing.
• Manage the Innovation Pipeline: track projects in the innovation funnel with documentation, metrics, and reviews.
• Influence Without Authority: build relationships with Legal, Finance, and Compliance to clear roadblocks.

Skills

Innovation consulting

Product management

Corporate strategy

Agile project management

Tools

Collaborative digital whiteboards

Project tracking software

Job description

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. is seeking an Innovation Lead who can guide cross-functional squads from ideation to MVP, acting as a practical facilitator and data-driven strategist.

You will drive design-thinking workshops, validate concepts, and map MVPs, accelerating internal innovation in a Houston-based setting. As a mid-level individual contributor, you will manage the day-to-day innovation funnel, track milestones, and partner with Legal, Finance, and Compliance to clear roadblocks.