Principal Specialist, Innovation Portfolio

Job Info Job Identification 7269 Job Category Principal Specialist Posting Date 03/03/2026, 07:20 AM Locations Riyadh, Riyadh, 11537, SA Apply Before 03/30/2026, 09:00 PM Job Schedule Full time Job Description Role Summary The role supports the innovation portfolio by progressing prioritized opportunities from concept to pilot readiness and scale-up. Reporting to the Innovation Portfolio Director, the role partners closely with the Senior Specialist for Scouting & Open Innovation to translate external ecosystem insights into qualified use cases and works in parallel with the Senior Specialist for Opportunities & Market Competitiveness to ensure alignment with business priorities, value drivers, and competitive positioning. Key Responsibilities Manage assigned opportunities through the portfolio stage-gate (qualification concept business case pilot scale recommendation). Translate scouting insights into structured use cases: define problem statements, hypotheses, stakeholders, and value drivers. Conduct market and technology research, benchmarking, and vendor/startup engagement in coordination with the Senior Specialist (Scouting & Open Innovation). Develop business cases including ROI, risks, dependencies, resourcing, and implementation roadmap. Design and manage PoCs/pilots: scope, success criteria, KPIs, data plan, and governance. Coordinate cross-functional execution with BUs, Technology Enablement, Finance, Procurement, Legal, and HSSE. Prepare executive-ready materials (portfolio updates, decision memos, and presentations) for the Innovation Portfolio Director and governance forums. Track benefits realization, capture lessons learned, and support change management and adoption post-implementation. Partner with technology and business units (Aluminum, Phosphate, Gold) to embed validated innovations into Maaden's technology and operational landscape. Develop mechanisms for tracking performance, adoption, and realized business value across the innovation portfolio. Core Competencies Innovation management and portfolio governance Partnership development and stakeholder engagement Technology scouting and R&D collaboration Program management and pilot-to-scale execution Strategic communication and influence Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Business, or Innovation Management (advanced degree preferred) 8+ years' experience managing innovation portfolios within large-scale industrial or digital environments Proven success in translating pilots into scaled, production-ready solutions with measurable outcomes Strong network across industry, startups, academia, and R&D ecosystems Ability to link emerging technologies with Maaden's strategic and operational priorities