Innovation Manager

*Candidates local to the Redmond, Washington area are desired, but the role is a remote position.

Mission

The Innovation Manager is responsible for identifying, validating, developing, and commercializing strategic growth initiatives that create meaningful new recurring revenue for MAJIQ.

Unlike traditional Product Management roles that focus on enhancing existing products, the Initiative Manager is responsible for discovering and building MAJIQ's next generation of business expansion. Acting as an internal entrepreneur, this individual identifies significant market opportunities, develops investment-ready business cases, leads customer validation, guides commercialization, and remains accountable for the initiative through its formative years until it becomes an established part of MAJIQ's business.

The Initiative Manager works across customers, industry experts, Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Executive Leadership to transform strategic opportunities into sustainable businesses.

Why This Role Exists

MAJIQ has established a strong leadership position within the pulp and paper industry. As manufacturing continues to evolve and traditional markets mature, MAJIQ is committed to expanding into adjacent industries, new business models, and emerging technologies.

The Initiative Manager exists to identify and create the next generation of growth opportunities that will diversify MAJIQ's business and materially contribute to its long-term success.

Key Outcomes

The Initiative Manager will be expected to:

Identify and validate strategic growth opportunities capable of becoming significant new businesses for MAJIQ.

Develop investment-ready business cases supported by customer validation, market research, and financial analysis.

Build strong relationships with customers, prospects, industry experts, and strategic partners to uncover unmet market needs.

Lead early customer engagement through advisory councils, design partnerships, proofs of concept, and pilot programs.

Partner with Product and Engineering to define commercially viable Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

Develop commercialization strategies including pricing, positioning, go-to-market planning, and customer adoption strategies.

Build reference customers and establish early market credibility.

Remain accountable for the commercial success and strategic direction of assigned initiatives until they mature into sustainable businesses.

Responsibilities

Opportunity Discovery

Identify strategic opportunities that leverage MAJIQ's strengths while expanding into adjacent markets and industries.

Research emerging technologies, customer challenges, competitive offerings, and market trends.

Develop and maintain a pipeline of potential ventures at various stages of maturity.

Market Validation

Conduct customer discovery with existing customers, prospects, and industry experts.

Estimate Total Addressable Market (TAM) and Serviceable Available Market (SAM).

Validate customer pain points, willingness to pay, and competitive differentiation.

Build investment theses supported by market evidence.

Business Case Development

Develop comprehensive business cases including:

Market opportunity

Customer value proposition

Commercial strategy

Pricing model

Revenue projections

Investment requirements

Financial returns

• •Risks and mitigation strategies
• •Present recommendations to Executive Leadership for investment approval.

Commercialization Leadership

Partner with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success to:

Define MVP scope

Prioritize customer requirements

Guide commercialization strategy

Support product launch

Develop sales enablement materials

Build customer references

Measure adoption and market success

Venture Leadership

Serve as the business owner for assigned initiatives by:

Monitoring commercial performance

Gathering ongoing customer feedback

Recommending strategic pivots when appropriate

Expanding market opportunities

Transitioning mature initiatives into MAJIQ's core business portfolio

Success Measures

Success will be measured by:

Quality and strategic value of opportunities identified

Customer validation achieved

Strength of investment recommendations

Successful commercialization of new initiatives

Customer adoption and market acceptance

Strategic contribution to MAJIQ's long-term growth

Creation of sustainable recurring revenue businesses

Development of reference customers and new market presence

Core Competencies

WORKING WITH AI – DEVELOPING WITH AI

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Naturally identifies opportunities, embraces uncertainty, and demonstrates the initiative required to build something from the ground up.

Commercial Acumen

Understands how businesses create value through customer needs, pricing strategies, recurring revenue models, and profitable growth.

Strategic Thinking

Recognizes emerging market opportunities and develops long-term growth strategies aligned with MAJIQ's vision.

Customer Obsession

Builds deep relationships with customers and seeks to understand operational challenges before proposing solutions.

Financial & Analytical Skills

Develops sound business cases supported by market analysis, financial modeling, and data-driven decision making.

Influence & Leadership

Builds alignment across cross-functional teams without relying on formal authority.

Bias for Action

Moves quickly from concept to validation while maintaining disciplined decision-making.

Resilience

Thrives in ambiguity, adapts to changing market conditions, and learns quickly from both successes and setbacks.

Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations, or a related field.

10+ years of experience in product management, business development, strategy, operations, manufacturing technology, enterprise software, consulting, or entrepreneurial ventures.

Demonstrated experience bringing new products, services, or businesses to market.

Experience developing business cases, market analyses, and commercialization strategies.

Strong financial and analytical capabilities.

Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.

Ability to travel approximately 25–40%.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial business builder who enjoys creating new businesses rather than managing mature ones.

Successful candidates may come from enterprise software, manufacturing, consulting, startups, operations leadership, or corporate innovation. We value individuals who have demonstrated curiosity, resilience, commercial judgment, and the ability to transform ideas into successful businesses.

This role requires someone who is equally comfortable speaking with customers, developing financial models, presenting investment recommendations to executives, and working alongside product and engineering teams to bring new ventures to market.

FLSA Designation (US Only):

Exempt

Salary Range:

The estimated base salary range for this role is USD$135,000.00 - USD$165,000.00 per year. We include salary ranges in job postings only where required by applicable pay transparency laws, based on the jurisdictions in which the role may be performed. The posted range is a good faith estimate and reflects factors that are subject to change. Final offer amounts may vary based on job-related factors, including work location, candidate experience and expertise, and other relevant considerations.

Other Compensation (US Only):

This role will also be eligible for participation in a Company profit sharing bonus plan. Plan details will be provided to you upon hire.

Benefits (US Only):

Full time employees will also be eligible for enrollment in a wide range of choices of benefits , including medical, dental, vision,