Business Transformation Consultant

Job Description

Overview

Compass Digital Ventures (CDV) is the innovation and corporate venture arm of Compass Group, focused on driving the future of foodservice through open innovation. CDV works with the startup and venture capital ecosystem to identify strategic opportunities, innovative pilots, and cutting‑edge technologies. Through CDV we create pathways for successful and disruptive startup solutions to grow and enhance the business and operations at Compass.

Role

Innovation Associate at CDV will be instrumental in identifying, vetting, and nurturing innovation opportunities and startup partnerships that align with our strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Challenge Yourself with Multiple Pilot Projects – Proactively manage the end‑to‑end innovation process, from deal sourcing and PoC design to pilot evaluation and strategic alignment.


• Thesis Building and Developing Expertise in Specific Areas
  
  
  
  • Develop a deep understanding of specific innovation areas (e.g., FinTech, AI in Food retail).
  
  
  • Stay up-to-date on industry trends and emerging technologies within your expertise area.
  
  
  • Identify themes and validate the thesis through secondary and primary research and meetings with startups.
  
  
  
  


• Startup Deal Sourcing
  
  
  
  • Identify and evaluate innovative startups that align with investment/thesis areas and can progress through PoC, pilot, and commercial implementation.
  
  
  • Build a network to source new opportunities.
  
  
  • Discuss and defend opportunities with the CDV team, articulating strategic fit for Compass.
  
  
  • Conduct due diligence for strategic opportunity and defend why those areas are strategic for us.
  
  
  • Scope and oversee PoCs and pilots to validate viability and scalability.
  
  
  • Collaborate with the Venture Build‑Ops team to manage PoC and pilot processes and build the funnel.
  
  
  • Define success metrics and assess outcomes to deliver clear learnings and potential commercialization pathways.
  
  
  • Help build a repeatable, scalable process and create an “innovation pilot playbook.”
  
  
  
  


• Strategic Collaboration and Cross‑Functional Engagement
  
  
  
  • Engage with businesses to understand their needs and explore innovative solutions.
  
  
  • Align with Compass Digital and business stakeholders to understand unmet needs and problems.
  
  
  • Run strategic sessions and workshops to dive deeper into business needs.
  
  
  
  


• Objectives and Success Metrics
  
  
  
  • Develop deep knowledge in specified investment/thesis areas and leverage insights to impact CDV’s research and strategy.
  
  
  • Successfully identify and onboard startups, guiding them through PoC and pilot process with clear objectives and measurable success metrics.
  
  
  • Build and refine a standardized pilot/innovation process.
  
  
  • Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, positioning CDV as a trusted innovation partner.
  
  
  
  

Additional Information

Seniority Level: Associate

Employment Type: Full‑time

Job Function: Project Management, Business Development, Strategy/Planning

Industries: Venture Capital and Private Equity, Software Development, Food and Beverage Services