Innovation project manager: job description

An Innovation Project Manager plays a main role in driving organizational innovation, leading strategic projects that fuel revenue growth, improve competitiveness, and shape long-term business performance. Positioned at the intersection of creative thinking and strategic execution, this senior-level job involves analyzing complex challenges, identifying opportunities, and implementing innovative solutions across departments and industries.

By managing cross-functional teams and applying project management methodologies (agile), Innovation Project Managers oversee the development and delivery of new products, services, processes, or organizational models. Their responsibilities extend to change management, risk management, and aligning innovation with business goals.

These experienced professionals are in high demand across diverse sectors including IT, healthcare, finance, mobility, insurance, and urban planning. They also thrive in fast-paced environments such as digital startups, global corporations, and manufacturing firms leading transformation initiatives. Whether working on-site or in a remote/hybrid model, Innovation Project Managers are essential in navigating emerging trends and ensuring project success through collaboration, planning, and continuous improvement.

The key responsibilities of an Innovation Project Manager include:

• Analyzing the company’s internal and external environment and identifying its needs,
• Spotting innovation opportunities,
• Designing innovative solutions using design thinking methods,
• Coordinating internal and external stakeholders,
• Project management,
• Managing innovation networks,
• Leading change initiatives,
• Implementing innovation and transformation projects,
• Preparing projected budgets in collaboration with accounting teams,
• Activating funding levers,
• Overseeing technological development,
• Drafting project specifications and requirements,
• Evaluating the value created by strategic recommendations,
• Monitoring new products and services throughout their lifecycle,
• Protecting intellectual property rights through patents, trademarks, or design registrations,
• Conducting ongoing technological watch activities.

An Innovation Project Manager must demonstrate the following skills, typically developed through academic training:

• Researching market trends,
• Project management: Proficiency in methodologies like Agile and Scrum,
• Technological expertise: Understanding and use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and Big Data,
• Data analysis: Using data analysis tools,
• Technology scouting and monitoring.

Essential personal qualities for the role include:

• Creativity, ingenuity, open-mindedness, and curiosity for inventive problem-solving,
• Leadership skills to motivate teams,
• Strong communication skills to liaise with operational staff and management,
• Persuasion and initiative to convince executives to adopt proposed solutions,
• Organizational and analytical skills to assess data and recommend tailored solutions,
• Tenacity to overcome challenges,
• Stress resistance and the ability to think clearly under pressure.

Academic pathways, whether through continuing or initial education, vary, but a master's degree (Bac+5 level) is typically required. Engineering degrees, specialized master's programs, management master's degrees, and MBAs from top business schools are preferred.

The Advanced Masters in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management offered by emlyon business school is a focused program designed to prepare you to tackle entrepreneurial innovation challenges. Open to students with a strong academic background and a Bac+4 or Bac+5 degree, this Specialized Master’s is accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles. It ranks first in the 2024 Eduniversal ranking for the best Masters, Advanced Masters, and MBAs in Entrepreneurship.

Taught in English on the Paris or Lyon campuses with an international seminar week, this elite training program enables you to build expertise in both entrepreneurship and innovation, studied in synergy.

Thanks to the work-study format, you will immediately apply your academic knowledge to real-world business challenges. emlyon’s academic and administrative teams will support you to ensure your apprenticeship is a springboard for a dynamic career.

The School places a strong emphasis on students' professional integration and actively facilitates entry into the job market. If a recruiter spots a student who matches their needs during a work-study placement, it’s common for a permanent contract to be signed before graduation.

With 100% of graduates securing employment within six months of completing the program, this Advanced Master’s offers an outstanding gateway into the innovation sector.

The salary of an Innovation Project Manager depends on factors such as experience, the prestige of their degree, the size of the company they work for, and the industry sector.

At the beginning of their career, the average salary ranges between €35,000 and €45,000 annually. However, higher salaries are possible, particularly for graduates from prestigious programs targeted by high-paying companies.

After a few years of experience, an Innovation Project Manager's salary can exceed €70,000. As their career progresses, they can also seize international opportunities to increase their responsibilities and earnings.

With experience, an Innovation Project Manager can move into roles such as Head of Innovation, R&D Project Manager, Digital Transformation Consultant, Entrepreneur, or Intrapreneur.

They can continue growing within their company, join a consulting firm, or start their own business.

If they choose to launch a company after studying at emlyon, they can benefit from the school’s innovation-focused incubator and the support of a vast network of over 48,000 alumni and 2,200 corporate partners.

If you're looking for a strategic job that challenges you to combine creative thinking, leadership, and project management across complex and evolving business landscapes, the role of Innovation Project Manager could be your ideal career path. This position puts you at the heart of organizational transformation, leading cross-functional project teams to drive innovation in product development, digital strategies, and beyond.

To succeed in this rapidly changing global environment, you need more than technical knowledge—you need the right mindset, methods, and leadership training. The Advanced Master in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management at emlyon business school is built precisely for that. Designed for aspiring professionals ready to lead with confidence, the program equips you with cutting-edge project management tools, strategic frameworks, and hands-on experience to successfully manage every stage of the innovation process.

Highly ranked and internationally recognized, this program opens doors to global opportunities, from senior project management roles to corporate innovation leadership. Whether your ambition lies in tech, health, sustainability, or business consulting, you'll graduate ready to build solutions that matter.
Explore the program today, connect with our advisors or ambassadors to learn more about the curriculum, career outcomes, or flexible payment options. Because every successful project starts with the right plan and the right education.