Venture Innovations Manager

OverviewCompass Digital Ventures (CDV) is the innovation and corporate venture arm of Compass Group, focused on driving the future of foodservice through open innovation. CDV works with the startup and venture capital ecosystem to identify strategic opportunities, innovative pilots, and cutting-edge technologies. Through CDV we create pathways for successful and disruptive startup solutions to grow and enhance the business and operations at Compass.As an Innovation Associate at CDV, you will be instrumental in identifying, vetting, and nurturing innovation opportunities and startup partnerships that align with our strategic goals.ResponsibilitiesThis role requires a proactive, analytical thinker with a passion for innovation and the ability to manage multiple pilot projects.You will support the end-to-end innovation process, from deal sourcing and proof of concept (PoC) design to pilot evaluation and strategic alignment, leading the opportunity.Work closely with startups, Compass Group operators and clients to drive CDV’s mission to become the epicenter for the food retail tech space and to drive innovation in the industry.Thesis Building and Developing Expertise in specific areas: develop a deep understanding of innovation areas (e.g., FinTech, AI in Food Retail) to provide thought leadership and insights, stay up-to-date on industry trends and technologies.Identify themes within the broader category and validate the thesis through secondary and primary research and meetings with startups.Startup Deal Sourcing: identify and evaluate innovative startups aligned with our investment/thesis areas and capable of progressing through PoC, pilot, and commercial implementation; build a network to source and find new opportunities; discuss and defend opportunities with the CDV team.PoC / Pilot Program Oversight: conduct due diligence for strategic opportunities and defend why those areas are strategic; scope and oversee PoCs and pilots to validate viability and scalability; collaborate with the venture build-ops team to manage the process and build the funnel; define success metrics and assess outcomes; help build a repeatable, scalable process and an “innovation pilot playbook.”Strategic Collaboration and Cross-Functional Engagement: engage with business units to understand needs and explore innovative solutions; align with Compass Digital and stakeholders to understand unmet needs; run strategic sessions and workshops to dive deeper into business needs.Objectives and Success MetricsDevelop deep knowledge in specified investment/thesis areas and leverage insights to impact CDV’s research and strategy.Identify and onboard startups, guiding them through PoC and pilot processes with clear objectives and measurable success metrics.Build and refine a standardized pilot/innovation process, ensuring a structured pathway from concept to commercialization.Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, positioning CDV as a trusted innovation partner within the industry and for Compass.About UsCompass Group Canada is part of a global foodservice and support services company that’s the 6th largest employer in the world, with 625,000 employees. We are in schools, colleges, hospitals, office buildings, senior living communities, tourist attractions, sports venues, remote camps and military installations and more, across Canada and 50+ other countries. We welcome diverse candidates and are committed to an inclusive workplace.Compass Group Canada is committed to nurturing a diverse workforce representative of the communities in which we operate. We encourage and are pleased to consider all qualified candidates, without regard to race, color, citizenship, religion, sex, marital/family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal status, age, disability or need for accommodation. For accommodation requests during the hiring process, please contact PeopleHub@compass-canada.com for further information.Why work with Compass Digital? We are a member of Compass Group North America, leading the design and development of technology products and services in foodservice and hospitality. Compass Digital began as an innovation startup and now supports technology and innovation across North America. Our team includes user experience designers, developers, data scientists, project managers, business analysts, marketers and technology implementation managers, all focused on human-centered innovation in the industry.Seniority level: Entry levelEmployment type: Full-timeJob function: Product Management and MarketingIndustries: Food and Beverage ServicesFor more roles and to set job alerts, visit our careers page. Markham, Ontario, Canada. #J-18808-Ljbffr