Innovation Leadership Gateway

Calling tomorrow’s innovation leaders…
As we transform into a truly market-driven company, we are further strengthening our innovation talent pipeline. Can you imagine yourself steering our innovation activities? Our Innovation Leadership Gateway is a Philips-wide program designed to match your talent and ambitions with excellent global career opportunities.

Take the lead
If you are an ambitious professional, qualified to Master’s Degree level in Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering or Technical Industrial Design, and have a proven track record in innovation, you could be the person we need to drive our 'growth through innovation' strategy forward. We will assess your suitability during an application process that culminates in a 1½-day assessment at which you will get the opportunity to learn a great deal more about Philips through presentations and interaction with our Sector CTOs and senior management team members.

The development program
Once you have been accepted, you will be placed in a highly responsible Integral Project Management position in one of our three business sectors or our Corporate Technologies organization. You will manage multi-disciplinary projects and collaborate with Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Sales departments to turn customer insights into innovative products and real commercial success. After two to three years, you will move up the ladder to even more rewarding international positions such as Business R&D Manager, Business Chief Technology Officer, Research Group Leader, or in new business creation, program management, product strategy or product management.

The fast track to the top
At the same time, you will benefit from a two-year program of individual coaching from CTOs, R&D executives and other leaders within Philips, as well as extensive skills and career development training in our ‘Top Potentials’ program. Through presentations and informal get-togethers, you will have access to Philips’ Board of Management, right up to CEO level. By participating in our ‘One Philips’ projects, you will be given a real opportunity to influence the future of our company and the way we do things.

Are you one of our future leaders?
To join us via the Innovation Leadership Gateway, you will need to demonstrate you have much more to offer than your technological skills alone. We are looking for:

• Leadership qualities: ability to deliver results by motivating and inspiring those around you
• Management skills: to manage innovation in an international, multi-disciplinary business environment
• Business acumen: the entrepreneurial spirit to grasp business opportunities and the drive and determination to bring them to fruition

In addition to your Master’s Degree qualification, you will need 7-12 years of relevant working experience, of which at least  6-8 yrs in R&D/ innovation/ technology for electronic products/systems (hardware and/or software).

It is essential that your experience includes active involvement in:

• Research and/or development of electronic products/systems
• Management of both people and projects
• Interaction with marketing (and/or customers)
• Identifying new opportunities to grow business through technology and innovation
• Driving these opportunities enthusiastically forward to success 

Ideally, your career has taken you to different parts of the world and made you multilingual (English being one language that you are fluent in). You should also preferably have worked in all the various stages of innovation throughout a technology lifecycle.

It’s important that you have demonstrated success in one or more of the following areas:

• Product development to strict deadlines, involving applied technology and collaboration with purchasing, manufacturing and marketing departments;
• Successful project team management in transforming a breakthrough new idea based on product concept/technology into a successful delivery;
• Team building, including the attraction of new talent;
• Innovation management;
• Change management;
• New venture development;
• Industry standards definition and negotiation.

At this moment no Innovation Leadership Gateways are scheduled for 2010. Please check our Leadership roles in Technology and Innovation and apply for a challenging career with Philips.