Manager, Innovation Portfolio

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils!

Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/caree r s

We are looking for a Manager, Innovation Portfolio to join the Innovation Excellence team.

Greetings from your future manager:

"At UPM, innovation decisions need to be based on clear data, priorities, and follow-up. As Manager, Innovation Portfolio, you will be responsible for making our innovation portfolio visible, comparable, and decision-ready by owning portfolio data, reporting, and supporting systems. This role is about turning complexity into clarity so leaders can make informed trade-offs and teams can focus on what matters most.” - Raisa Vermasvuori, Vice President UPM Innovation

What you will do:

• Manage and continuously develop UPM’s Group Innovation Portfolio, ensuring transparency, comparability, and alignment with strategic priorities

• Own portfolio data, reporting, and supporting systems and tools, ensuring data quality, usability, and relevance for leadership decision-making

• Prepare and support portfolio reviews and decision forums, enabling clear prioritization, trade-offs, and follow-up

• Analyze innovation performance, portfolio balance, and resource allocation, providing fact-based insights and recommendations

• Work closely with Innovation Excellence, Strategic Venturing, R&D, and business areas to ensure a consistent and reliable portfolio view across innovation horizons

Who you are:

• You have a Master’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Business, or related field; PhD is an advantage.

• You bring at least 5 years of relevant work experience in innovation portfolio management, technology or R&D management, or similar roles within global industrial environments

• You have hands-on experience with portfolio management, stage-gate processes, and innovation or R&D information systems

• You ensure initiatives progress through the innovation funnel based on complete, consistent, and decision-ready data

• You can work effectively across R&D, innovation, and business stakeholders, and are comfortable driving consistency without formal authority

• 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

Location of the position: Helsinki, Finland or Leuna, Germany (other major UPM locations may be considered).

The position holder will report to Director, Innovation Excellence.

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
Read more: upm.com

Follow us on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | X | #UPM #materialsolutions #WeRenewTheEveryday

#LI-HYBRID

#LI-POST