Manager Corporate Innovation

Last Date to Apply: 20th October, 2025

Employment Type: This is a full-time role. 

Grade: This is a job group 3 role. 

Location: This role is based in Islamabad, Pakistan

About the Role:

The Innovation team at Telenor Pakistan drives corporate innovation by bridging startups, ecosystem partners, and internal business units to unlock new growth opportunities. Through flagship programs like Telenor Velocity, Duckstories, and internal innovation initiatives, we accelerate high-impact ideas, build thought leadership, and embed a culture of innovation within the organization.

This role positions Telenor as a leading corporate accelerator and innovation partner in Pakistan, strengthening our startup collaborations, community presence, and internal capabilities while aligning with Telenor's 2026 strategy. You will be shaping the future of innovation, startups, and digital services, work in a collaborative, diverse environment that values creativity, experimentation, and new mindsets and gain exposure to ecosystem-level partnerships, thought leadership, and corporate strategy.

Your Impactful Goals will include:

• Startup Pilots: Facilitate annual startup pilot integration within AgriTech, HealthTech, Insurance, Content, or IoT domains, enabling synergies with Telenor's core business.
• Thought Leadership: Establish Telenor as a thought leader in the startup ecosystem through quarterly external speaking engagements of TP employees and when required support in launching of white papers, policy briefs etc.
• Community Building: Foster internal engagement amongst employees through flagship programs and training.
• Ecosystem Branding: Expand the reach of Duckstories, Telenor's flagship storytelling platform, by producing podcasts annually and growing it into a recognized hub for entrepreneurial resilience.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with internal and external stakeholders to deliver innovative initiatives aligned with year-end business targets.

Your Typical Day look like:

• Startup Acceleration & Pilots
• Scout, evaluate, and onboard growth-stage startups aligned with strategic domains.
• Design acceleration roadmaps and mobilize internal teams to execute pilots.
• Track pilot success through adoption, revenue impact, and long-term integration.
• Thought Leadership & Ecosystem Engagement
• Facilitate TP leaders/employees as speakers at external forums (local and international).
• Facilitate and launch policy briefs and reports that shape the startup ecosystem.
• Represent Telenor Innovation at conferences, judging panels, and roundtables.
• Internal Innovation Enablement
• Run innovation meetups monthly and mentor hub activities for Telenor employees.
• Conduct Design Sprint roadshows across regions and deliver trainings on innovation mindset for TP employees.
• Enable CXO and leadership involvement in internal innovation forums.
• Duckstories & Digital Presence
• Facilitate in producing Duckstories podcasts, engaging leading entrepreneurs and changemakers.
• Grow Duckstories into a regional storytelling platform that normalizes failure as part of innovation.
• Work with teams to manage Telenor Innovation's digital channels, PR/digital releases, and website.
• Collaboration & Events
• Execute hackathons, MoU ceremonies, and product launches with ecosystem stakeholders.
• Partner with internal CFTs (cross-functional teams) on innovation
  projects.

Your Career Path

This role provides unique exposure to:

• Innovation - driving pilots, design sprints, and business challenges.
• Startup Ecosystem Leadership - engaging with accelerators, founders, and global stakeholders.
• Thought Leadership & Branding - positioning Telenor as the leading innovation partner in Pakistan.
• Growth opportunities exist both laterally and vertically within Innovation, Partnerships, and Ecosystem Engagement.

What We Are Looking For:

Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.

Work Experience:

• Proven experience in startups, accelerators, or corporate innovation.
• Track record of program management and ecosystem engagement.
• Experienced in Design Thinking or Design Sprints.
• Experience in managing events and working in cross-functional teams.
• Experience in thought leadership, community building, or product management is a plus.

Functional Skills & Knowledge Areas:

• Strong program management and stakeholder alignment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and content development skills.
• Knowledge of Pakistan's startup ecosystem and corporate innovation models.
• Self-driven, entrepreneurial mindset with passion for driving internal innovation and startups.

Why should you join us at Telenor?

At Telenor Pakistan, we're more than just a workplace-we're a community where learning and growth are at the core of everything we do. We provide a platform that nurtures your professional and personal development, empowering you to excel in your chosen field and realize your potential in a dynamic, collaborative environment. As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity and inclusivity, fostering an open and flexible environment where new ideas are welcomed.

As a learning organization, we value curiosity and innovation, encouraging hands-on experiences and continuous growth. Our culture, built on Telenor's four guiding behaviors, sets us apart:

• Always Explore:    We believe growth is achieved through daily learning. We encourage you to challenge norms, embrace curiosity, experiment, and learn from every step.
• Create Together:  We know that diverse teams yield the best solutions. By bringing together varied perspectives, we support, share, and help each other succeed.
• Keep Promises:    Trust is essential to all relationships. We take ownership and pride in delivering with accuracy and integrity.
• Be Respectful:      We prioritize empathy and respect, meeting everyone at eye level, listening intently, and showing care.

Join us to be mentored, empowered, and inspired and become part of a team that positively impacts over 40 million lives every day