Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Sr. Director, Xylem Innovation Labs (XIL)
The Role
This is a rare opportunity to lead and scale one of the most ambitious external innovation platforms in the industrial and water sector.
Xylem Innovation Labs (XIL) is Xylem’s enterprise engine for external innovation, venture engagement, and ecosystem-driven growth. Following a successful build phase, XIL is now entering its next chapter: institutionalizing external innovation as a repeatable, scalable, and commercially impactful growth capability across Xylem.
The Sr. Director, Xylem Innovation Labs will own and evolve this platform end to end—setting enterprise strategy, establishing governance and operating cadence, allocating resources, and ensuring external innovation translates into measurable growth, margin, and strategic advantage. Reporting to the Chief Innovation & Products Officer (CIPO), this leader will operate with significant autonomy and visibility, partnering directly with the ELT/segment leadership and representing Xylem with senior external stakeholders.
This role is designed for a leader who has successfully navigated both entrepreneurial and large corporate environments, and who is motivated by the opportunity to scale innovation at enterprise level while representing Xylem externally with credibility and impact.
Essential Duties & Principal Responsibilities
Lead and Scale Xylem Innovation Labs
- Own the enterprise mandate, strategy, operating model, and performance of Xylem Innovation Labs as Xylem’s central external innovation and venture platform.
- Take XIL from its initial build stage into its next phase as a formalized, repeatable, and globally scalable capability embedded in how Xylem drives growth.
- Establish enterprise governance (e.g., investment committee/portfolio reviews), KPIs, funding models, and operating rhythms that institutionalize external innovation across the enterprise.
- Anticipate future innovation needs and evolve XIL to include new models such as incubation, growth ventures, and new business creation as Xylem’s strategy matures.
Oversee Venture, Open Innovation, and Market Intelligence
- Lead Xylem’s venture and open innovation portfolio, including investment strategy, fund partnerships, startup engagement, governance, and portfolio value creation.
- Oversee technology scouting, market intelligence, and ecosystem sensing to inform enterprise strategy and executive “make / partner / buy” decisions.
- Build and manage a high-quality external pipeline of technologies, startups, and partners aligned to enterprise and segment priorities.
- Ensure all external innovation activity is strategically focused, globally relevant, and connected to real business needs.
Scale the Partnerships Accelerator and Drive Commercial Impact
- Own the strategy and evolution of Xylem’s Partnerships Accelerator as a differentiated sourcing and validation engine for external innovation.
- Partner with Commercial Partnerships and segment leaders to drive clear commercialization pathways (pilot → scale), including business cases, value realization, and executive decision points.
- Embed external technology partnerships into standard product management, engineering, and development processes to ensure innovation flows into the core business.
Enterprise Leadership, External Representation, and Strategic Storytelling
- Serve as an enterprise leader responsible for translating external innovation strategy and performance into clear, compelling narratives for executives, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Represent Xylem Innovation Labs externally with leaders across venture capital firms, startups, academic institutions, industry peers, strategic partners, and enterprise customers.
- Build and maintain a strong external profile and engage in thought leadership for Xylem as a credible, disciplined, and impactful innovation partner.
- Engage selectively with strategic enterprise customers, using innovation as a value-added differentiator that strengthens relationships and drives long-term growth.
Build Teams, Culture, and Influence at Scale
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing XIL team spanning venture, partnerships, open innovation, and ecosystem engagement.
- Drive innovation outcomes through influence, relationships, and credibility across segments and functions in a global, matrixed organization.
- Foster an entrepreneurial mindset while ensuring rigor, governance, and enterprise alignment.
Qualifications & Experience
- 15–20+ years of professional experience across innovation leadership, venture capital, strategy, entrepreneurship, or related domains.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree required, with a demonstrated combination of technical and business experience (e.g., engineering, technology, product, strategy, venture, or commercial leadership).
- Proven ability to operate effectively in both entrepreneurial environments and large, complex global organizations.
- Meaningful experience with venture capital and/or corporate venture activities, including investment evaluation, governance, partnerships, or portfolio engagement.
- Track record of designing and scaling innovation, venture, or growth platforms.
- Strong executive presence and storytelling capability, with the ability to influence senior leaders and external partners.
- Demonstrated ability to set enterprise priorities, allocate resources, and drive cross-segment alignment through executive governance and operating cadence.
- Experienced people leader with the ability to attract, develop, and retain talent.
- Hybrid role, based out of Charlotte, NC.
- Up to ~30% travel, global in scope.
Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.
At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.
Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation
