Innovation Project Manager

Company Description Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Japan is establishing a new Digital Innovation entity in India to accelerate growth through customer intelligence, digital platforms, connected experiences, and next-generation mobility solutions. Headquartered in Bengaluru, this organization will combine Honda’s global scale with India’s technology ecosystem to build capabilities that directly influence product strategy, customer growth, and new business creation across India and other high-growth markets. Role Description We are looking for an Innovation Project Manager to lead the execution of Honda’s startup collaboration and innovation initiatives in India.

This role will serve as the central coordinator between startups, incubators and Honda’s internal teams. You will be responsible for managing innovation programs from opportunity identification through POC/pilot execution and scale-up, ensuring alignment across stakeholders and driving measurable business outcomes. This role is ideal for someone who excels at program execution, stakeholder management, and navigating ambiguity while working across multiple teams and external partners.

Key Responsibilities Drive PoCs and pilot programs with startups across product, engineering, marketing, and business teams Build and manage relationships with startups, incubators, accelerators, universities, and ecosystem partners Identify external solutions aligned to Honda priorities such as mobility, EV, AI, connected services, customer platforms, and analytics Create program roadmaps, milestones, governance models, and success metrics Coordinate internal stakeholders across product, engineering, legal, procurement, strategy, and operations Manage timelines, budgets, contracts, dependencies, risks, and escalation points Translate ambiguous innovation goals into clear execution plans Track progress and present structured updates to leadership Build repeatable playbooks for startup collaboration and innovation delivery Qualifications Required 5 years of experience in Startup/Vendor related Project Management, Innovation, Strategy Execution, or related roles Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a relevant field Proven experience managing complex cross-functional programs Experience working with startups, incubators, accelerators, or external partners Strong planning, prioritization, and stakeholder management skills Ability to drive execution in fast-moving and ambiguous environments Strong communication and presentation skills Preferred Experience in automotive, mobility, EV or digital product environments Familiarity with startup ecosystems in India Experience managing vendors, commercial discussions, or partnership programs PMP, Scrum, or equivalent certifications are a plus Experience in new business creation or corporate innovation programs Why join Lead innovation programs with direct leadership visibility Work closely with India’s startup ecosystem and future mobility players Help shape new digital products, services, and business models Strong long-term career growth potential