Job Title

About Lowe’s & Catalyze Lowe’s is a Fortune-100 home improvement leader, serving millions of customers across the US . Lowe’s India is our global capability centre, building next-gen technology, data and business capabilities that power the enterprise.Catalyzeis Lowe’s open innovation and venture platform in India , partnering with high-potential startups, VCs, accelerators, and academia to solve real business problems, build differentiated capabilities, and shape the future of retail technology. We run pilots, forge strategic partnerships, and are now also managing an investment pipeline aligned to Lowe’s strategic priorities.Role Overview We are looking for aSenior Manager – Innovation & Ventures (Catalyze)to help scale Catalyze into a globally respected retail innovation and startup partnering platform. This is atechno-business leadership roleat the intersection of: Retail technology and product innovation Startup partnerships, pilots and venture investments Ecosystem building (VCs, accelerators, academia , corporates) Internal stakeholder management with senior tech and business leaders You will own and drive key parts of the Catalyze charter , from startup sourcing and evaluation, to pilot design and execution, to building the partnerships engine and demand-generation motion for Catalyze.What You Will Own & Drive 1. Problem Discovery and Solution ScopingLead consultative workshops with internal stakeholders (business and technology teams) and external partners (startups, VCs, Academia, Accelerators and others) to identify and prioritize critical pain points and innovation opportunities at LowesCollaborate with startups to define and document clear problem statements, solution requirements, and integration strategies 2. Venture pipeline & startup evaluation Build and manage astrong, qualified pipelineof retail-tech startups across key focus areas (AI/GenAI, e-commerce, supply chain, store tech, prop tech, etc.). Conductfirst-level technology and business due diligence, product walkthroughs, architecture and integration feasibility, scalability, security posture, and roadmap alignment. Assessstrategic fit and commercial potentialfor both partnerships and investments: value proposition, GTM model, traction, business model, and alignment to Lowe’s priorities. Prepareclear, insight-led assessmentsand recommendations for internal leadership, including problem-solution mapping, impact hypothesis, and risk/mitigation views. 3. Pilot scoping, program management & ROI Work with internal product, tech, data and business teams toidentify real problems / opportunity areasthat can be addressed via startups. Translate these intowell-scoped pilots / POCs : objectives, success metrics, timelines, resource needs, and integration points. Runend-to-end program managementfor startup pilots , governance, cadence, issue resolution, risk management, and stakeholder alignment. Buildbusiness cases and ROI storiesfor impactful pilots (revenue, efficiency, experience, risk); support scale-up recommendations and hand-offs to owning teams. 4. Ecosystem partnerships (VCs, accelerators, academia, platforms) Build and nurturestrategic relationshipswith VCs, CVCs, accelerators, incubators, and academic institutions to access high-quality deal flow and co-innovation opportunities. Createrepeatable partnership models(e.g., co-innovation programs, themed cohorts, challenge programs, demo days, joint research/PoV development). Work closely with the Catalyze leadership to evaluateco-investment opportunitiesand participate in investment-related workflows with the corporate venture / finance / legal teams. 5. Internal stakeholder management & influence Act as atrusted partnerto senior leaders across Product, Technology, Data, Operations and Business functions. Shape and communicatecompelling narrativesthat link startup solutions to Lowe’s strategic priorities and business outcomes. Drivecross-functional alignmentfor pilots and partnerships – ensuring expectations, roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and governed. 6. Marketing, events & demand generation for Catalyze Partner with marketing / communications teams tobuild Catalyze’s brandin the global startup ecosystem. Own and driveflagship innovation events(e.g., Innovation Xchange, ecosystem roundtables, themed showcases) end-to-end – from concept to curation to on-ground execution. Design and run ademand-generation enginefor Catalyze: open calls, curated outreach, themed scouting, thought-leadership content, and ecosystem engagement. Represent Catalyze and Lowe’s atexternal events, panels, and forums , speaking credibly on innovation, retail technology, and startup collaboration. 7.Process Improvement and Program Management : Drive continuous process improvement for the evaluation, selection, and execution of startups and solutions Implement best practices for managing innovation programs, ensuring efficiency and smooth execution of POCs Oversee reporting and communication to senior management, providing updates on progress, potential risks, and key milestones 8. Internal Innovation and Thought Leadership: Promote a culture of innovation within Lowe's by organizing paper presentations, masterclasses, workshops, hackathons, and other initiatives to engage and inspire employees Collaborate with Lowe’s business and technology teams to foster an innovation culture and drive idea generation within the company 9. Staying Ahead of the Curve: Continuously monitor and analyze industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape to identify new opportunities and inform Lowe's innovation strategy Disseminate knowledge and insights to internal stakeholders through reports, presentations, and workshops 10.Team Management: Lead a small team to execute strategic innovation initiatives and manage programs from discovery to implementation Provide guidance and support to team members in their professional development and growth, fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance Effectively delegate tasks, monitor progress, and provide constructive feedback11. Communication and Reporting: Communicate effectively with leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners, providing regular updates on progress, challenges, and opportunities Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations and reports, showcasing the impact and value of Catalyze initiatives 12. Ways of working & team leadership Bringstructure, urgency and disciplineto a lean, high-performing team with strong technical depth. Mentor and upskill team members onbusiness acumen, stakeholder management, communication, and ecosystem engagement . Help evolveframeworks, playbooks and operating modelsso Catalyze can scale impact without losing agility.What You Bring Must-have experience 10+ yearsof total experience, with a strong mix of: Corporate innovation / startup partnerships / corporate venture OR Top-tier consulting / VC / accelerator experience with deep exposure to tech startups OR Product / business roles in high-growth B2B technology startups (bonus if in retail / commerce / SaaS / data/AI). Proven track record ofevaluating technology products and startupsfor fit, feasibility, and business impact. Hands-on experience indesigning and running pilots / POCs , from scoping to execution to impact measurement. Demonstrated ability towork with senior stakeholders(Director+ / VP / CXO level) and influence decisions with structured thinking and clear communication. Experience inecosystem engagement- VCs, accelerators, communities, academic programs, or similar. Techno-business acumen Strong understanding ofmodern technology stacks , especially in areas like cloud, data/AI/GenAI, APIs/integration, and digital commerce. Ability togo deep enough with engineering teamsto understand constraints and integration considerations, while alsospeaking the language of business leaders(P&L impact, CX, efficiency, risk). Skills & attributes Strategic and structured thinkerwho can connect the dots between tech, business, and ecosystem dynamics. Excellent communication skills: crisp writing, board-ready decks, and comfort presenting to senior leaders. Strongprogram management and execution muscle: you can move complex, multi-stakeholder work from idea to impact. Partnership mindset: long-term orientation, win–win thinking, and the ability to build trust quickly with startups and external partners. Highownership, curiosity and bias for action: comfortable operating in ambiguity, building playbooks where none exist.Good to Have Prior experience inretail, e-commerce, or adjacent consumer sectors . Prior role incorporate venture / CVC / fund / investment teamor exposure to early-stage investing. Engineering / technical degreewith an MBA or equivalent business qualification. Experience working acrossglobal markets (US / Europe / APAC) .Why This Role Matters Catalyze is at an inflection point , with growing visibility, increasing startup and VC interest, and a clear mandate from leadership to drive impact at scale. AsSenior Manager – Innovation & Ventures , you will be akey builder of this next phase : shaping how Lowe’s partners with the global startup ecosystem, how we pick and scale the right bets, and how innovation translates into real outcomes for the business. If you thrive at the intersection oftechnology, business, and ecosystemsand want to help shape the future of retail innovation at a Fortune 50 scale, we’d like to hear from you.