Director, Strategic Venturing

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We are looking for a Director, Strategic Venturing to join the UPM Innovation team.

Greetings from your future manager:

“At UPM, innovation is at the heart of our transformation. As Director, Strategic Venturing, you will build and lead UPM’s strategic venturing capability in close partnership with our businesses and corporate strategy. The role focuses on turning strategic intent into credible, decision-ready growth and venturing initiatives. If you are motivated by building something meaningful from the ground up and taking accountability in a complex industrial environment, I look forward to getting to know you.” - Raisa Vermasvuori, Vice President UPM Innovation

What you will do:

• Build and lead UPM’s Strategic Venturing team and capability, including developing venturing approaches, tools, and ways of working

• Define and drive UPM’s strategic venturing agenda in close collaboration with Corporate Strategy and Business Areas

• Support business areas in shaping, sharpening, and advancing strategic growth and venturing-related initiatives, ensuring strong strategic rationale and value-creation logic

• Own and manage UPM’s venturing and growth initiative portfolio, spanning both business-led initiatives and selectively identified new venture opportunities

• Establish governance, evaluation, and decision-making frameworks for venturing and growth initiatives, enabling informed investment, partnership, and scaling decisions

• Act as a senior sparring partner to business and strategy leaders on venturing-related topics

• Represent UPM externally and ensure learning and best-practice sharing across the venturing portfolio and the broader innovation ecosystem

Who you are:

• You have a master’s degree in business, engineering, or a related field; MBA or equivalent is an asset

• You have minimum 10 years of experience in corporate development, venture capital, strategy consulting, or innovation leadership

• You have a proven track record in shaping and advancing strategic ventures, growth initiatives, or partnerships beyond concept stage, ideally in or with large, complex organizations

• You are comfortable building venturing capability in environments where mandates and resources evolve over time, and you know how to create momentum and credibility before scale

• You have strong understanding of emerging technologies, sustainability trends, and innovation ecosystems

• You have excellent analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. You combine a strong strategic mindset with hands-on ownership and accountability for outcomes

• You are fluent in English; other languages are an asset

This is what we offer to you

• A meaningful job – We have an inspiring purpose ‘We create a future beyond fossils.’ Our work is impactful and transformative.

• A caring community – Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.

• Development opportunities – We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.

• Responsible employer - Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas from climate change to biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves.

Learn about our Rewarding and our Ways of working .

Additional information

The position is located in Helsinki, Finland.

The position holder will report to VP, Innovation.

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by February 22, 2026 . Please note that we accept only applications submitted through our online application system. We begin reviewing applications as they are received, and you may be contacted before the application deadline.

For support with submitting your application, please contact the HR Service Center at careers@upm.com or tel. +358204146600.

For UPM positions located in Finland, a security background check may be performed for those selected to UPM positions, in accordance with the company recruitment guidelines and the Security Clearance Act 726/2014.

UPM Innovation (UPM I) is designed to play a decisive role in fueling UPM’s performance today and shaping its growth and transformation tomorrow. Our ambition is to position UPM as a company-wide centre of excellence for innovation management; a trusted partner for businesses, supporting performance, growth and renewal and a platform for future capabilities, enabling UPM's long-term competitiveness.

UPM I stands for innovation with impact, aligned to strategy and powered by people.

UPM – we renew the everyday
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