Innovation Program Manager

Who We Are

Exponential Science is a foundation led by visionary founders Dr. Paolo Tasca and Nikhil Vadgama, who have advanced emerging technologies through education, research, and innovation. Recognising the power of the convergence of technologies such as blockchain, AI, and IoT to tackle complex multidisciplinary challenges, they founded Exponential Science as a natural evolution of their long-standing work, aiming to strive towards a more inclusive and innovative future for all.

Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Innovation Program Manager to join our Innovation Team. This role will collaborate closely with our venture arm to design, coordinate, and execute hackathons, boot camps, and other innovation initiatives throughout the year in the distributed ledger technology (DLT) space. The ideal candidate will combine technical knowledge with exceptional event management skills to create engaging experiences that drive innovation and identify promising ventures.

Role And Responsibilities

Program Design and Execution

• Develop and manage comprehensive hackathon programs, boot camps, and innovation challenges aligned with our strategic objectives in the DLT ecosystem
• Coordinate with technical teams, mentors, judges, and sponsors to ensure successful program delivery
• Create engaging problem statements and challenges that address real-world issues in blockchain and related technologies
• Implement effective participant recruitment strategies to attract diverse and talented developers, entrepreneurs, and innovators
• Manage program logistics, timelines, and resources to ensure the smooth execution of events
• Foster collaboration between technical teams, business units, and external partners to drive innovation
• Facilitate innovation workshops and design thinking sessions to solve complex challenges
• Align innovation activities with business objectives and market opportunities
• Establish clear KPIs to measure the impact and effectiveness of innovation initiatives
• Create dashboards and reporting systems to communicate innovation outcomes to stakeholders
• Analyse innovation performance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
• Create open innovation challenges to tap into collective intelligence and diverse perspectives
• Community and Ecosystem Building
• Cultivate relationships with developer communities, academic institutions, startups, and corporate partners
• Build and maintain a network of mentors, industry experts, and technical advisors to support program participants
• Create opportunities for meaningful connections between participants and the venture investment team
• Document and showcase program outcomes through various channels to amplify impact
• Identify promising projects and teams for potential follow-on investment or incubation
  
  

Skill Requirements

• Proven experience managing hackathons, innovation programs, or similar technical events in the blockchain or wider deep-tech space
• Strong understanding of DLT technologies, Web3 ecosystems, and adjacent fields like AI and IoT
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and complex timelines
• Outstanding communication and presentation abilities to engage effectively with technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience in building and nurturing developer communities and innovation ecosystems
• Understanding of open source ecosystem development and models
  
  

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape the future of blockchain innovation by nurturing emerging talent and ideas
• Access to a global network of blockchain innovators, investors, and resources
• Competitive remuneration and performance-based incentives
• The chance to work at the intersection of education, research, and venture capital in cutting-edge technologies