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.
Help shape the future of water through innovation, investment, and strategic partnerships.
We are looking for a Ventures Manager to help identify, evaluate, and advance high-potential innovation and venture opportunities that align with our strategic priorities. This role sits at the intersection of venture investing, corporate strategy, innovation, and business development, with a focus on surfacing emerging technologies, building strategic partnerships, and supporting investment activity that can create long-term value.
The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of commercial acumen, analytical rigor, strategic thinking, and relationship-building ability. You will work cross-functionally with leaders across the organization and externally with founders, investors, accelerators, and strategic partners to strengthen our innovation ecosystem and expand our visibility into disruptive technologies and business models.
What You’ll DoVenture Pipeline & Opportunity Sourcing- Source and evaluate promising startups and venture opportunities across water, sustainability, climate-tech, industrial, and digital infrastructure sectors.
- Conduct initial opportunity screening and strategic fit assessments aligned with company priorities.
- Partner with internal innovation and scouting teams to perform market sizing, commercial assessments, financial analysis, and competitive landscape reviews.
- Build and maintain relationships with venture capital firms, accelerators, incubators, and external innovation partners to create early visibility into emerging companies and technologies.
- Prepare investment memos, due diligence summaries, and executive-ready materials for leadership and investment committee review.
- Maintain the venture investment pipeline and portfolio databases, supporting quarterly portfolio reviews and monthly business development updates.
- Support and help manage direct equity venture deals in partnership with Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Corporate Development, Legal, Finance, and business leaders.
- Collaborate with business stakeholders to build financial models and business cases for venture and strategic investment opportunities.
- Track and report the performance of LP investments and venture portfolio activity.
- Partner with Accounting and Finance teams to support capital calls, distributions, and investment reporting.
- Help ensure investment data, reporting materials, and portfolio insights are clear, accurate, and actionable.
- Participate in LP activities and innovation ecosystem programs, helping internal stakeholders engage in events, webinars, surveys, and market intelligence activities that generate strategic value.
- Identify emerging market trends, whitespace opportunities, and gaps in product or solution offerings, then translate those insights into strong business cases.
- Communicate recommendations effectively to stakeholders across product management, R&D, sales, marketing, business development, and strategy functions.
- Support innovation strategy discussions by connecting external market developments to internal growth priorities.
- Build and manage relationships with other corporate venture groups, strategic investors, and innovation teams globally.
- Identify co-investment opportunities, shared investment theses, and collaboration models that can support startup growth and strategic value creation.
- Represent the company in multi-corporate venture networks, strategic consortiums, and industry coalitions.
- Facilitate introductions, joint diligence, and cross-corporate exploration sessions to expand strategic partnership opportunities.
- Work closely with business leaders to convert collaboration opportunities into commercial, technical, strategic, or investment outcomes.
- Represent the company at industry conferences and innovation events, both in person and virtually.
- Leverage agile tools and collaborative technologies to improve team communication and promote an innovation-focused culture.
- Take on additional responsibilities and strategic projects as needed.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, science, or a related field; MBA or master’s degree preferred.
- 8–12 years of experience in venture capital, growth equity, corporate venture, corporate strategy, corporate innovation, business development, or related fields.
- Demonstrated ability to assess emerging technologies, markets, and business models for strategic and commercial relevance.
- Strong skills in financial modeling, investment analysis, market assessment, and business case development.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling executive-level materials.
- Experience working with senior internal and external stakeholders, including founders, investors, corporate partners, and cross-functional business leaders.
- Strong analytical capability, with the ability to synthesize large and varied data sets into actionable insights.
- Comfort operating independently in a fast-paced, globally distributed, and evolving environment.
- High levels of curiosity, adaptability, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
- Proven ability to work effectively across teams, functions, and time zones.
This is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping how innovation creates value in critical sectors including water, sustainability, climate, and digital infrastructure. As Ventures Manager, you will help connect the organization to transformative ideas, strategic partnerships, and emerging technologies that can influence future growth.
If you’re energized by venture investing, innovation strategy, and building meaningful partnerships that drive business impact, we’d love to hear from you.
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
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