About the Role:

As Principal Innovation Ecosystem Programs, you will lead the design and positioning of BHP’s Open House and Accelerator programs, helping connect business challenges with innovative solutions from across our global ecosystem. You will play a key role in translating strategic priorities into compelling problem statements, activating internal and external networks, and accelerating innovation outcomes through simplified, BOS-aligned ways of working. This role is focused on increasing ecosystem participation, enhancing innovation capability, and improving the pace at which ideas are converted into business value.
Working across diverse stakeholders, regions, and partners, you will help strengthen BHP’s innovation ecosystem and contribute to a safer, more productive, and more sustainable future.

Main Responsibilities:

• Drive ecosystem activation and positioning by developing business-aligned problem statements, mobilizing internal and external innovation networks, and expanding Open House participation across emerging regions.
• Design, deliver, and continuously improve Breakthrough Open House, External Open House, and Accelerator programs, increasing engagement, innovation capability, submission quality, and pace to value.
• Lead the review, assessment, and selection of opportunities across innovation ecosystem programs to maximize business impact.
• Embed BHP Operating System (BOS) ways of working through process optimization, automation opportunities, standardized practices, and enhanced user experiences.
• Strengthen ecosystem participation through regional engagement strategies, strategic partnerships, and alignment with jurisdictional priorities.

About You:

• 8+ years of professional experience.
• Proven experience designing and delivering innovation, accelerator, venture or ecosystem programs with measurable outcomes.
• Experience progressing opportunities from discovery through proof of concept and business handover.
• Demonstrated success using KPIs, customer insights and performance frameworks to improve results.
• Ecosystem and stakeholder engagement: Strong track record working with startups, external partners and internal stakeholders to generate innovation opportunities and deliver solutions.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving aligned decisions across complex environments.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within global, cross-functional teams.
• Strong customer focus and understanding of business and technical contexts.
• Strategic problem framing and storytelling: Ability to translate business priorities into compelling problem statements and innovation opportunities.
• Strong presentation, facilitation and storytelling skills to influence and engage diverse audiences.
• Operational excellence: Experience applying BOS, Lean, Agile or similar methodologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Proven ability to simplify processes through standardisation and automation.
• Commitment to safety, continuous improvement, customer value and waste elimination.
• Availability to work from the Santiago office under a hybrid work model.
• Fluency in english and spanish.