HUB Manager, Wayra Barcelona

AREA DESCRIPTION:

At Wayra, we scale start-ups.

We are the world’s most global, connected and technological open innovation hub. We operate in 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Wayra is the open innovation arm of Telefónica. Wayra connects Telefonica and technological disruptors around the world. As their preferred strategic partner, we scale them up to accelerate both businesses. Wayra is the instrument of transformation of Telefónica focusing on core technologies such as IoT, cybersecurity, advanced data analytics or artificial intelligence.

Telefónica is one of the largest telcos in the world and continuously ranks among the best employers in different markets, including Spain. With more than 120,000 employees in 24 countries, we are shaping the digital world of tomorrow. Our mission is to make our world more human by connecting lives. At Telefónica, we believe it is people that give purpose to technology, and not the other way around.

MISSION:

Wayra´s mission is to connect innovators with Telefónica and generate joint business opportunities. We are the interface between Telefónica and entrepreneurial ecosystems across the globe.

We are looking for the HUB Manager to lead Wayra in Barcelona. While managing the Wayra hub and representing the company in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the ultimate objective of this position is to drive additional revenues (or cost efficiencies) for Telefónica by connecting start-ups with Telefónica business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, execute and lead Wayra operations in Barcelona. This includes scouting, screening, selection, investment and nurturing of tech start-ups, helping them to implement and accelerate the execution of their plans by contributing to Telefonica with innovative and differential products
• Partner effectively with the Telefonica team, as an internal customer, to maximise the benefit that Wayra start-ups can bring to the business – whether driving new revenue streams, cost efficiencies, supporting transforming the culture in Telefónica, and position Telefónica as a leading innovative digital company
• Identify, select and invest in high-quality tech start-ups in collaboration with Telefónica and the global team
• Maximize the investment portfolio value
• Proactively manage the portfolio of invested companies, elevating the potential of portfolio companies via the global network and 350 million of clients of Telefónica
• Represent Wayra internally and externally in the interest of Telefónica
• Plan and coordinate Wayra Barcelona and its operations, assigning resources to effectively and efficiently meet assigned targets and objectives
• Build, coach, manage and motivate a high-performing Wayra team to deliver agreed plans on time
• Support Telefónica-appointed sponsors in their role of providing guidance to Wayra companies and link to Telefónica business
• Actively collaborate with related units in Telefónica Group, and other Wayra Hubs and the innovation funds
• Establish strategic relationships and alliances with relevant stakeholders (other corporates, VC funds, universities, governments, organizations linked with entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Long-term experience as an entrepreneur or in the entrepreneurial ecosystem or VC industry in Spain and Europe, including a personal network of contacts with relevant stakeholders in the ecosystem
• Experience in leading a corporate accelerator, open innovation projects and/or start-up selection and investment processes is not a must, but will be highly valued
• Sound business, commercial and technology background and expertise, having the required understanding to manage the start-up portfolio and take/assess any decisions required
• Experience in leading and motivating teams
• Experience of managing a complex eco-system of stakeholders
• Extremely strong communication skills, being able to (1) inspire entrepreneurs in Wayra (2) build strong relationships with Telefónica Sponsors and C-level executives (3) engage with the external communications of relevant stakeholders (universities, technology companies, financial institutions, media & press, etc)
• Strong analytic capabilities, high negotiation skills and strategic visión

LANGUAGES:

Fluent Spanish and English speaker.

Portuguese is a plus.

If you join Telefónica

You join almost 100 years of history, you join a team of 106 nationalities present in more tan 35 countries. You join a team that works to connect people wherever they are. We are leading the digital revolution with the enthusiasm of the first day in all our businesses, creating the best digital ecosystem for our clients: network, IoT, cloud, security, innovation etc. Here, at Telefónica you count with everything you need to be the best you. We need people like you that wants to take this challenge of creating the Telefónica of tomorrow.

Telefonica is committed to the new working ways. Under our proposition “Disconnect to Reconnect” we have applied the Digital Disconnection.

#WeAreInclusive

We strongly believe diverse and inclusive teams become more innovative and they achieve improved results. Telefonica aims to promote and guarantee a place for everyone, just the way we are: gender, age range, sexual orientation and/or identity, culture, creed, disability or any other personal condition.