Cradle Fund Hiring! Full Time BIG Programme Venture Specialist in Federal Territory - Ricebowl

Summary of the Role

Internally, you serve as a key player for the BIG Programme, assisting in the formulation and refinement of the programme’s general strategy. You are responsible for ensuring that the programme remains relevant by identifying emerging market trends, optimizing programme innovation architecture, and aligning the programme with national development plans.

Externally, you are the architect of the Corporate Innovation Program. A member in a multi-disciplinary team to design, validate, and implement new ventures that aim to achieve specific, high-stakes outcomes. By managing the transition from Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to live deployment and national scale, you ensure that innovation is not just "theater," but a core driver of high-value job creation and global competitiveness for Malaysia.

Job Description

General BIG Programme Strategy & Policy Support

•Liaison with ministerial stakeholders (e.g., MOF, MOSTI, MDEC) to ensure the company’s activities are at the forefront of national agendas.

•Design and oversee the programme’s internal "Rules of Engagement" for innovation, balancing institutional risk appetite with the need for rapid experimentation.

•Identify gaps in the national tech landscape and advise the company on how to pivot its strategy to fill those voids through new partnerships or policy recommendations.

Venture Architecture & Execution

•Evaluation of corporate innovation proposals. You are identifying high-potential ventures that meet the programme's strict scoring criteria (Financial Impact, Frontier Tech, and National SDGs).

•Serve as the "Expert-in-Residence" for participating corporates. You will provide high-level guidance on venture building, sharing experience-backed insights on de-risking innovation, achieving product-market fit, and navigating the transition from MVP to live implementation.

Programme Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

•Provide direct support to the Programme Lead on strategic initiatives, urgent priorities, and special projects as required.

•Report regularly to the Programme Lead on programme progress, emerging risks, and stakeholder feedback to enable informed decision-making.

•Support other team members on an ad-hoc basis, stepping in to assist with workload management, deadline-critical tasks, and cross-functional projects that advance programme objectives.

Job Experience & Qualification

Qualification

•Bachelor’s degree in any field (Business, Management, Innovation, Economics, Engineering, or related fields preferred).

Experience

•5+ years of professional experience in venture building, corporate innovation, strategy consulting, or related fields.

•Proven track record of evaluating and launching ventures, innovation programmes, or investment portfolios with quantifiable impact (revenue growth, job creation, or market expansion).

•Experience working with C-suite executives and board-level stakeholders, including presenting strategic recommendations and securing high-stakes approvals.

•Direct experience interfacing with government agencies or ministerial stakeholders, understanding policy frameworks and public sector engagement protocols.

Skill Competencies

•Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to drive organizational strategy, identify market opportunities, and influence C-suite and ministerial-level decision-making.

•Venture Evaluation Expertise: Deep experience in assessing innovation proposals, venture building, and understanding venture economics from concept to scale.

•Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, including government ministries, corporate leadership, and boards.

•Executive Communication: Outstanding presentation and storytelling skills, with ability to translate technical complexity into compelling strategic narratives for senior audiences.

•Innovation & Risk Management: Understanding of how to balance institutional risk appetite with entrepreneurial experimentation and rapid iteration.

•Commercial Acumen: Strong grasp of business models, revenue growth strategies, financial impact assessment, and portfolio performance management.