Innovation Project Manager
Ahlstrom · Pont-Évêque, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
- On site
- Full-time
- $120,000 / year
- Pont-Évêque, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Job highlights
- Lead complex innovation projects for sustainable materials.
- Drive strategic initiatives across R&D and Commercial.
- Manage multidisciplinary teams globally.
- Influence innovation governance and decision-making.
- High visibility role with leadership potential.
About the role
Innovation Project Manager
Ahlstrom is accelerating its growth through breakthrough innovation. We’re looking for an experienced project manager capable of delivering complex innovation projects. In this role, you will lead complex, cross-functional innovation projects that drive our strategic agenda in safe and sustainable specialty materials. You will collaborate across R&D, Commercial, Operations, and external partners to deliver impactful, market-driven solutions. This is an exciting opportunity with high visibility, strategic influence, and future leadership potential as we continue to strengthen our global innovation capabilities.
Purpose Of The Job / Position Description
Lead the execution, coordination, and delivery of complex innovation projects with significant business relevance. Drive project strategy, planning, alignment, and decision-making across technical and commercial functions. Lead multidisciplinary teams in the role of project manager and ensure effective collaboration between R&D, Marketing & Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Business Development. Influence innovation governance through preparation and facilitation of stage-gate and steering committee reviews.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead and manage innovation projects from early feasibility to implementation, ensuring timely delivery and measurable outcomes.
- Develop robust project plans, business cases, budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Coordinate and influence cross-functional teams globally, ensuring alignment around project goals and milestones.
- Facilitate effective decision-making by synthesizing complex inputs into clear options, recommendations, and implications.
- Navigate competing priorities and interests across teams, driving alignment and timely resolution of issues.
- Ensure innovation projects are grounded in commercial logic and contribute measurably to performance, competitiveness, or growth.
- Communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
- Conduct structured project reviews and ensure adherence to innovation governance processes.
- Contribute to improving project management methodologies by embedding learnings from past projects into governance standards and review cycles.
Qualifications
Work experience needed
- Minimum 5-8 years of experience in project management, preferably in industrial B2B and innovation/product development environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-year, or high uncertainty projects in a matrixed, multinational context.
Primary Competencies (mapped To Job Role)
- Strong leadership and project management capabilities.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and senior stakeholder management skills.
- Strategic thinking with strong business and financial acumen.
- Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across functions.
- Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable operating with ambiguity.
- Fluent in English; ability to work effectively in a multicultural organization.
Additional Competencies/ Other Requirements
- Travel may be required.
- Team-oriented, proactive, transparent and collaborative working style.
About Ahlstrom
Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.
Key skills/competency
- Project Management
- Innovation Management
- Product Development
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Stakeholder Management
- Strategic Planning
- Business Acumen
- Risk Management
- Change Management
- Sustainable Materials
Skills & topics
- Innovation Project Manager
- Project Management
- Innovation
- Product Development
- B2B
- Sustainable Materials
- R&D
- Cross-functional Teams
- Stakeholder Management
- Ahlstrom
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 5-8 years of project management experience in B2B innovation and product development.
- Showcase leadership: Emphasize experience leading complex, multinational, and high-uncertainty projects.
- Demonstrate influence: Provide examples of influencing without authority and driving cross-functional alignment.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss strategic thinking, business acumen, and managing ambiguity.
- Align with values: Articulate how your accountability, growth mindset, and teamwork align with Ahlstrom's values.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What type of innovation projects will I manage as an Innovation Project Manager at Ahlstrom?
- As an Innovation Project Manager at Ahlstrom, you will lead complex, cross-functional innovation projects focused on driving the company's strategic agenda in safe and sustainable specialty materials. These projects span from early feasibility to implementation, aiming to deliver impactful, market-driven solutions.
- What is the required experience for the Innovation Project Manager role at Ahlstrom?
- Ahlstrom requires a minimum of 5-8 years of experience in project management, ideally within industrial B2B and innovation/product development environments. Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-year, or high-uncertainty projects in a matrixed, multinational context is also essential.
- How does Ahlstrom foster employee growth and development?
- Ahlstrom is committed to attracting, retaining, and energizing passionate people by investing in professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth. They aim to cultivate a growth mindset among their employees.
- What are the core values at Ahlstrom?
- Ahlstrom's core values include Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care, and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere. They strive to uphold high standards of corporate citizenship.
- What kind of collaboration can I expect as an Innovation Project Manager?
- You will collaborate across R&D, Commercial, Operations, Procurement, and Business Development teams, as well as with external partners. The role involves leading multidisciplinary teams and ensuring effective collaboration globally to achieve project goals.
- Is travel required for the Innovation Project Manager position?
- Yes, travel may be required for the Innovation Project Manager position. Candidates should be prepared for potential travel as part of their role.
- What is Ahlstrom's mission and business focus?
- Ahlstrom's mission is to 'Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World.' They are a global leader in sustainable specialty materials, focusing on areas like Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials.