Sr. Director, Research & Development

Sr. Director, Research & Development remote type Hybrid locations Charlotte, North Carolina time type Full time posted on Posted 3 Days Ago job requisition id R48513 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. Senior Director, Xylem Innovation Labs Shape the future of water through innovation, partnerships, and enterprise growth. This is a rare opportunity to lead and scale one of the most ambitious enterprise innovation platforms in the industrial and water sector. Xylem Innovation Labs (XIL) is Xylem’s enterprise platform for external innovation, venture engagement, ecosystem partnerships, and emerging growth opportunities across water, infrastructure, climate, and industrial technology. Following a successful build phase, XIL is entering its next chapter: evolving into a globally scalable and commercially integrated growth engine for the enterprise. The Sr. Director, Xylem Innovation Labs will shape this next phase — setting strategy and long-term vision, driving enterprise alignment, and ensuring innovation translates into measurable commercial impact. XIL operates across the full innovation lifecycle, from discovery and ecosystem engagement through commercialization and enterprise scale-up. Reporting to the Chief Innovation & Products Officer (CIPO), this leader will operate with significant autonomy and visibility across executive leadership, customers, venture partners, startups, and the broader innovation ecosystem. Key Responsibilities Enterprise Innovation Leadership Lead the evolution of Xylem Innovation Labs as Xylem’s enterprise platform for external innovation and growth Define and scale innovation capabilities across venture engagement, partnerships, incubation, commercialization, and new growth opportunities Shape how Xylem identifies, evaluates, commercializes, and scales emerging technologies and business models Drive enterprise alignment around innovation priorities, investment decisions, and long-term growth opportunities Provide strategic insight to executive leadership on emerging technologies, market shifts, and innovation investment priorities Venture, Ecosystem, and Commercialization Strategy Lead Xylem’s approach to external innovation across venture ecosystems, startups, strategic partnerships, and emerging technology engagement Guide strategic “make, partner, or buy” decision-making through market intelligence, technology scouting, and ecosystem insight Ensure innovation efforts are connected to clear commercialization pathways and measurable business outcomes Represent Xylem externally across venture, startup, customer, academic, and industry ecosystems as a credible and influential innovation leader Help strengthen Xylem’s external profile through thought leadership, ecosystem engagement, and strategic industry relationships Enterprise Integration and Operational Excellence Establish the governance, operating cadence, and cross-functional alignment required to scale innovation as an enterprise capability Ensure external innovation efforts are integrated into business, product, engineering, and commercial priorities across the organization Drive disciplined prioritization, resource allocation, and performance measurement across the innovation portfolio Build scalable mechanisms that accelerate the transition from innovation discovery to enterprise adoption and growth Organizational Leadership and Influence Lead and develop a high-performing global team Influence across a highly matrixed enterprise through strong executive communication, credibility, and relationship-building Foster a culture that balances entrepreneurial thinking with operational discipline and enterprise execution Qualifications & Experience 15–20+ years of experience across innovation, venture capital, strategy, entrepreneurship, product, operations, or related leadership roles Experience spanning both entrepreneurial environments and large, complex global organizations Strong background in industrial, water, climate, infrastructure, energy, or related sectors Demonstrated success building, scaling, and operationalizing innovation, venture, or growth platforms with measurable commercial impact Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and influence senior leaders, external stakeholders, and partners Experience driving enterprise initiatives across cross-functional and matrixed organizations Strong people leadership skills with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams Operational mindset with the ability to move between strategy and execution Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred Why This Role Shape the future direction of enterprise innovation at Xylem Operate at the intersection of industrial technology, venture, and commercialization – building scalable growth capabilities with enterprise impact Help define how emerging technologies become real-world solutions for customers and infrastructure systems globally Additional Information Hybrid role based in Charlotte, NC; Relocation preferred Up to ~30% global travel 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