Manager - Innovation & Research

The Innovation & Research Department drives the exploration, research, validation and development of AI products to meet evolving market demands, developing AI transformation solutions for SMEs, and exploring frontier AI and emerging technologies in the industry.

The Manager - Innovation & Research supports the Chief Innovation & Research Officer (CIRO) in managing the innovation and research portfolio and leads the AI team in researching, developing and validating advanced AI solutions for the construction industry.

1. a recognised university degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Engineering, Construction, Information Technology or a related discipline a postgraduate degree or relevant professional qualification will be an advantage
2. not less than 10 years relevant post-qualification experience in innovation and research, artificial intelligence, digital technology, technology development or related fields, preferably with experience in leading multidisciplinary technical teams and managing research and innovation projects
3. strong knowledge and practical experience in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, including large language models, agentic AI, multi-agent systems, machine learning, knowledge graphs, computer vision, multimodal AI and related technologies
4. proven experience in managing the end-to-end innovation and product development lifecycle, including opportunity identification, needs analysis, technical research, proof of concept, prototyping, testing and validation, business case development and transition towards production or industry adoption
5. sound understanding of AI engineering and enterprise AI architecture, including data and retrieval architectures, AI/ML platforms, cloud infrastructure, MLOps/LLMOps, AI evaluation, guardrails and responsible AI governance, with the ability to provide technical direction and review complex AI solutions
6. strong research, analytical, problem-solving and project management skills, with the ability to evaluate emerging technologies, define research and validation methodologies, assess technical feasibility and translate research findings into practical and scalable industry solutions
7. demonstrated leadership and people management capabilities, with the ability to lead and develop researchers and engineers, manage multiple concurrent initiatives, establish priorities and ensure effective delivery against agreed objectives
8. good understanding of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry and technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), digital twins, construction robotics and smart construction technologies will be an advantage
9. excellent interpersonal, stakeholder management, presentation and report writing skills, with the ability to collaborate with internal departments, industry practitioners, technology companies, academic and research institutions, Government and other external stakeholders and
10. good command of both written and spoken English and Chinese a self-motivated, innovative and results-oriented team player with strong professional integrity

(Applicants who do not possess the required qualifications and experience may be considered for other positions within the organization.)

1. to support the Chief Innovation & Research Officer (CIRO) in formulating and implementing the innovation and research strategy, priorities and programmes, and managing the overall innovation and research portfolio
2. to lead and manage the AI team, comprising AI researchers, AI engineers and other technical resources, including work planning, resource allocation, technical direction, project coordination and staff development
3. to lead the identification, assessment and prioritisation of emerging technologies and innovation opportunities, translating validated industry needs and pain points into research, development and innovation initiatives
4. to oversee the end-to-end innovation and product lifecycle, including needs analysis, research, proof of concept, prototyping, testing, validation and business case development, and assess the technical feasibility, industry value and readiness of solutions for further development or scale-up
5. to provide technical leadership and oversight for AI and emerging technology initiatives, including research methodologies, solution architecture, engineering quality, evaluation, safety, scalability and relevant AI governance requirements
6. to manage proofs of concept, pilot projects, industry validation and product development in collaboration with internal departments, industry stakeholders, subject matter experts, academic institutions and technology partners
7. to support the CIRO in managing the innovation pipeline, including project prioritisation, resources planning, progress and risk monitoring, performance evaluation, and recommendations on whether initiatives should proceed, be refined or discontinued
8. to monitor emerging technologies, research developments, standards, best practices and relevant case studies, and provide technology intelligence, technical assessments, business cases and recommendations to the CIRO and senior management
9. to facilitate the transition of validated solutions from research and development towards implementation and industry adoption, and promote a culture of innovation, experimentation, evidence-based research and continuous learning and
10. to carry out any other duties as assigned from time to time by the Executive Director or Department Head.

The position is on a renewable fixed-term contract (subject to performance and operational needs) for a period of 2 years.

Please click the below Apply Online to complete the application form and upload the updated curriculum vitae, the results of English and Chinese Language obtained in public examinations, current and expected salary together with a covering letter stating one's suitability for the job on or before 14 October 2026.

For further details on CIC please refer to website:.