ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Director Open Innovation Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

PALNI

Executive Director

Indianapolis, IN · On-site +1

Applied Innovation * Consortial Leader: Deep experiences in the unique mechanics of consortial ... open-education and open-source models. * Technical Literacy: Understands the range of key ...

Dohler Group

Global Account Director

Princeton, IN · On-site +1

$185K - $225K/yr

This also includes innovation services, market intelligence, advice on food safety and microbiology ... Supportive Culture - Friendly and informal atmosphere, family-owned, flat hierarchies, open ...

Medtronic

Manufacturing Engineering Director

Warsaw, IN · On-site

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 26 May 2026 At Medtronic you ... You'll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsDirector Open Innovation JobsDirector Open Innovation Jobs in Indiana

Director Open Innovation information

See Indiana salary details

$19.7K

$103.6K

$174.4K

How much do director open innovation jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for director open innovation in Indiana is $103,569.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,558.00 and $157,957.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Open Innovation, and why are they important?

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 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 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 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 popular job titles related to Director Open Innovation jobs in Indiana? For Director Open Innovation jobs in Indiana, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Open Innovation jobs in Indiana look for? The top searched job categories for Director Open Innovation jobs in Indiana are:
What cities in Indiana are hiring for Director Open Innovation jobs? Cities in Indiana with the most Director Open Innovation job openings:
Director Open Innovation jobs near you
Director, Open Products Engineering

Director, Open Products Engineering

NOVAE LLC

Markle, IN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Headquartered in Markle, IN, Novae is the leading manufacturer of open and enclosed trailers and truck bodies in North America, operating 13 distinct brands including Midsota®, CAM Superline®, Sure-Trac®, Cargo Express®, Formula Trailers™, H&H Trailers®, LOOK®, Pace American®, Impact, Compass, ITI Cargo™, and Aluma. Founded in 1995, Novae has more than 1,500 employees and more than 20 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. Novae maintains an active dealer network of more than 1,000 partners.

The company is uniquely positioned to grow its current revenue of $500M based on its multi-brand offerings that encompass multiple market verticals. The Company enjoys a strong market position and there is a significant opportunity to implement an accelerated growth agenda, while implementing management processes, systems, and approach that leverage existing assets, positions and investments.

For this next phase of growth, the company has transitioned from a founder-driven to a professionally managed enterprise, supported by a well-rounded board. The business has a defined Operating Agenda that focuses on Growth and Margin improvement while introducing multiple new-to-the-industry practices.

Novae, from its very inception, has had a strong focus on growing its business and people together. Its approach is 1 to offer quality products with great service, deal fairly with people, and recognize that suppliers, employees, community and customers are all important to success. Novae’s purpose is to create opportunities for people to make their lives better and to leave a legacy of positive impact.

The Director of Open Products Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership for all engineering functions across Novae’s Open Trailer and Truck Bed business. This role is responsible for product development, engineering standards, talent leadership, innovation, and cross-functional execution to support business growth, operational excellence, and customer outcomes.

This leader will partner closely with Operations, Product, Sales, Supply Chain, and Finance to align engineering strategy with enterprise priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Engineering Strategy & Leadership

  • Define and execute the enterprise engineering strategy aligned with business objectives.
  • Lead and develop engineering leaders across multiple disciplines and locations.
  • Establish and maintain engineering governance, standards, processes, and best practices.

Product Development & Innovation

  • Oversee product design, development, validation, and lifecycle management.
  • Drive innovation initiatives focused on performance, quality, cost, safety, and scalability.
  • Ensure customer and market requirements are translated into effective engineering solutions.

Operational Excellence

  • Partner with Operations to improve manufacturability, reliability, and quality.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives including cost reduction, standardization, and efficiency.
  • Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards.

People & Talent Management

  • Build a high-performance engineering organization through hiring, development, and succession planning.
  • Coach and mentor engineering leaders; foster a culture of accountability and collaboration.
  • Support performance management, career pathways, and leadership readiness across engineering teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Collaborate with Product, Sales, and Commercial teams to support growth initiatives.
  • Partner with Supply Chain and Manufacturing on sourcing, tooling, and production readiness.
  • Support M&A integration and due diligence from an engineering perspective as needed.

Financial & Business Acumen

  • Manage engineering budgets, capital requests, and resource planning.
  • Evaluate trade-offs between investment, risk, cost, and long-term value.
  • Contribute to enterprise-level planning and decision-making.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/ QUALIFICATIONS / ATTRIBUTES

  • 10+ years of progressive engineering experience with senior leadership responsibility.
  • Strong mechanical background
  • Mobile/RV/Automotive industry experience preferred
  • Off-Shore engineering experience
  • Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams in a complex, multi-site environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence at the executive level.
  • Deep understanding of product development, manufacturing processes, and systems thinking.
  • High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment to safety and quality.
  • Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
  • Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills to identify opportunities for sales process improvements and develop and implement new strategies.
  • Financial skills and business acumen to understand sales profitability and opportunities.
  • Proven experience in negotiating outcomes that align with organizational strategies.
  • Experience in developing, conducting, and sharing market research.
  • Strong computer skills with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Visual, CAD, and related software.
  • Highly motivated self-starter with an inclination to consistently apply critical and analytical thinking skills.
  • Travel to site locations approximately 25% of the time.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Travel up to 30% as needed.
  • Collegial and collaborative, but also determined and focused. Gets things done without creating unnecessary noise and conflict.
  • Eager to work through the current transformation and then under the next owner the subsequent transformation.
  • North America expertise, including Canada and Mexico
  • “Practical process” focused – gets results by changing the systems and processes people work within.
  • “Midwestern values” that mirror Novae’s workforce and customer base; not a “cuff link” or “intellectual” but a hands-on practical leader.
  • Daily on-site presence in Markle IN is required.

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field required; advanced degree preferred.