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Director Open Innovation Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Henderson Engineers

Business - Practice Director

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

... open. As an ESOP, each of our employee-owners are an essential part of our mission to lead the ... GROWTH & INNOVATION * Assists sector leadership of assigned sector and/or other sectors, as needed ...

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City of Glendale, AZ

Water Services Director

Glendale, AZ · On-site

$159K - $239K/yr

Water Services Administration Opening Date: 07/23/2026 Hours per Week: 40 Description The City of ... Glendale Water Services promotes industry best practices, leadership, and innovation to ensure our ...

American Express

Director - Technologies

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$144K - $256K/yr

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and ... Here, you can work alongside talented engineers in an open, supportive, and inclusive environment ...

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All JobsOpen Innovation JobsDirector Open Innovation JobsDirector Open Innovation Jobs in Arizona

Director Open Innovation information

See Arizona salary details

$20.4K

$107.3K

$180.6K

How much do director open innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for director open innovation in Arizona is $107,264.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,398.00 and $163,592.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Open Innovation vs Innovation Manager?

AspectDirector Open InnovationInnovation Manager
CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in Business, Engineering, or related fields; often requires experience in innovation or R&DBachelor's or Master’s in similar fields; focus on project management and innovation processes
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, executive-level interactionsProject execution, team coordination, supporting innovation initiatives
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large corporations, tech firms, and R&D departmentsCommon in corporate innovation teams, startups, and product development units

The main difference is that the Director Open Innovation focuses on strategic leadership and high-level innovation initiatives, while the Innovation Manager handles day-to-day project execution and supports innovation processes. Both roles require relevant credentials and are integral to fostering innovation within organizations, but they differ in scope and seniority.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of open innovation?

To thrive as a Director of Open Innovation, you need a strong background in innovation management, cross-industry collaboration, and strategic leadership, often supported by an advanced degree in business, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with open innovation platforms, intellectual property management systems, and experience with tools for partnership management are typically required. Outstanding relationship-building, negotiation, and change management skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are essential to successfully drive external collaborations, accelerate innovation pipelines, and deliver business value through strategic partnerships.

What is a director of open innovation?

A Director of Open Innovation is a senior leader responsible for driving innovation by fostering collaboration between an organization and external partners, such as startups, universities, and research institutions. They create and manage programs that encourage the exchange of ideas, technology, and knowledge to accelerate product development and solve complex business challenges. This role involves identifying strategic partnerships, overseeing innovation projects, and ensuring alignment with the company's goals. The Director of Open Innovation plays a key part in building an innovative culture and expanding the organization's capabilities beyond its internal resources.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of open innovation when integrating external partnerships into existing company structures?

A Director of Open Innovation often encounters challenges such as aligning external partners' goals with internal business objectives, managing intellectual property concerns, and ensuring smooth communication across different organizational cultures. Successfully integrating new ideas or technologies can require navigating resistance to change within the company and establishing clear processes for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Building trust, setting transparent expectations, and fostering strong internal advocacy are key strategies for overcoming these challenges and maximizing the value of external collaborations.
What are popular job titles related to Director Open Innovation jobs in Arizona? For Director Open Innovation jobs in Arizona, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Open Innovation jobs in Arizona look for? The top searched job categories for Director Open Innovation jobs in Arizona are:
What cities in Arizona are hiring for Director Open Innovation jobs? Cities in Arizona with the most Director Open Innovation job openings:
Director Open Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Open Innovation job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $107,264 per year, or $51.6 per hour.

Director of Customer Service and Innovation

City of Goodyear, AZ

Goodyear, AZ • On-site

$149K - $221K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Salary: $149,518.56 - $221,960.94 Annually
Location : Goodyear, AZ
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY2600772
Division: City Manager
Department: City Manager
Opening Date: 07/24/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
Job Description Summary
The position will be open until filled with a first review date of August 14, 2026
The Director of Customer Service and Innovation leads organizational efforts to enhance customer experience, drive service excellence, and implement innovative practices across all service channels. This role is responsible for strategic planning, continuous improvement, performance measurement, and oversight of customer-facing operations, including the 311 Call Center.
Director of Customer Service and Innovation Recruitment Brochure
The ideal candidate for this newly created leadership role will be an experienced, forward-thinking professional who brings a blend of strategic vision, analytical strength, people-centered leadership, and deep expertise in customer experience. Joining an organization with an award-winning workplace culture, the chosen candidate must be capable of elevating that culture even further- making customer service excellence a defining organizational cornerstone and leveraging the city's culture to deliver exceptional performance.
Key attributes of the Ideal Candidate:
  • Strategic and innovative thinker
  • Expert in performance management and KPI frameworks
  • Strong continuous improvement leader
  • Call center operations expertise
  • Culture builder and people - centered leader
  • Collaborative relationship builder
  • Skilled communicator and change champion
  • Results - driven, purpose - driven leader
At the City of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to building and maintaining a highly engaged workforce. You will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation. We believe that successful employees are those that possess these six core values:
Adaptability - Integrity - Initiative - Empathy - Optimism - Innovation
Only a limited number of the most qualified applicants meeting the City's requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will consist of a panel interview. All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as it will come from a system generated source.
Essential Functions
  • Directs organization-wide customer service strategies, aligning service delivery with strategic objectives, performance expectations, and long-term planning priorities.
  • Leads the design, implementation, and monitoring of organizational performance measures, KPI frameworks, and customer experience dashboards used to guide decision-making and resource allocation.
  • Oversees continuous improvement initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce service friction, and enhance operational efficiency across all customer service functions.
  • Provides strategic leadership for the 311 Call Center, ensuring responsive, accurate, and high-quality service through modern tools, clear procedures, and effective staff development.
  • Introduces and evaluates innovative technologies, service platforms, and process enhancements that strengthen customer engagement and support modernization of services.
  • Collaborates with departments to improve customer touchpoints, integrate service systems, and promote organization-wide service consistency and accessibility.
  • Develops and maintains customer feedback systems and analytics processes that identify service trends, monitor satisfaction levels, and guide continuous improvement efforts.
  • Leads, mentors, and evaluates staff within customer service and innovation teams, cultivating a culture focused on service excellence, problem solving, adaptability, and innovation.

Requirements
  • Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience: Seven or more years of progressive experience in customer service management, operations, innovation, or process improvement.
  • Certifications and Other Requirements: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification is highly desirable, but not required, Valid Driver's License
  • Reading: Work requires the ability to read and comprehend complex legal documents, development agreements and contracts, executive business letters and communications, development-related documents, master plans, design guidelines, construction site plans, budget documents, business magazine, journals, newspapers and technical reports, strategic or operational plans.
  • Math: Work requires the ability to perform moderately complex math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, college algebra, and statistics.
  • Writing: Work requires college-level ability to write communication with executive management, City Council, and business executives; and prepare marketing documents, development agreements, and concise, professional letters.
  • Managerial: Complex - Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of a department including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.
  • Budget Responsibility: Significant - Has responsibility for final approval of a department's budgetary recommendations to a Deputy City Manager/City Manager. Monitors progress toward fiscal objectives and adjusts plans as necessary to reach them.
  • Policy/Decision Making: Significant - The employee normally performs the duty assignments within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. End results determine effectiveness of job performance. This position independently decides how objectives are achieved and what resources are needed. Typical positions in this category are upper management to executive level jobs.
  • Technical Skills: Comprehensive Application - Work requires advanced skills and knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs, solutions for highly complex issues, and/or processes organization-wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively.
  • Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: High - Interactions involve overseeing and/or approving final decisions regarding policy development and implementation. This level often involves interaction with others outside the organization or department on key departmental/organizational /regional issues and requires exercising participative management skills, high levels of emotional intelligence, networking and relationship building skills, negotiation, and the ability to reach consensus on complex issues to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

The City of Goodyear offers a highly competitive benefits package including:
  • Vacation Leave: 14 days per year, increasing with longevity. Goodyear offers an enhanced vacation benefit of recognizing total years of service under all Arizona public retirement systems for accruing vacation.
  • Sick Leave: 12 days per year
  • Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday the first full pay period of January
  • Flexible Holiday: 24 hours per calendar year (prorated based on hire date)
  • Health Insurance: Three health plans available to select from at a group rate
  • Dental Insurance: Two dental plans available to select from at a group rate
  • Vision Insurance: Available at a group rate
  • Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care and Dependent Care accounts available
  • Short Term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage
  • Cancer Benefit: City-paid coverage
  • Life Insurance: City-paid insurance valued at twice the annual salary ($400,000 maximum); additional life insurance for self and/or dependent is available at employee's cost
  • Longevity pay beginning at year six
  • Tuition Assistance: $5,250 per calendar year
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Onsite wellness center/clinic
  • Access to the Goodyear Recreation Center
  • Robust employee well-being program
  • Free identify theft monitoring and protection with Aura
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan: 2% city match (employee contributes 1%)
  • Retirement Health Savings: $22.50 city contribution (employee contributes $12.50 per pay period)
  • Retirement: Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined Benefit plan with mandatory city and employee contributions currently at 12.00%. Plan includes Long Term Disability Benefit.

01
Please indicate your highest level of education completed:
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree or higher

02
Please indicate your years of professional experience in customer service management, operations, innovation, or process improvement.
  • Under 7 years
  • 7-8 years
  • 9-10 years
  • 11 years or more

03
Do you currently possess a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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