Strategic Program Manager, External AI Ecosystem Partnerships

We are Lenovo. We do what we say. We own what we do. We WOW our customers. Lenovo is a US $69 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #196 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company with a full-stack portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-ready, and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets), infrastructure (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), software, solutions, and services.

Lenovo’s continued investment in world-changing innovation is building a more equitable, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY).

As the Program Manager for LATC’s External AI-Ecosystem Partnerships, you will be the operational backbone of our global research collaboration strategy. You will initiate and manage a diverse portfolio of AI-heavy engagements involving top-tier universities, AI startups, and industry partners to ensure that external AI innovation translates into concrete value for our technology roadmaps. The ideal candidate is a pragmatic, self-starting, disciplined project leader who can bridge the gap between academic research, industrial development, and commercial product requirements.

You must be deeply versed in the current AI landscape, including key players, emerging models, and industry trends, and drive the entire lifecycle of an engagement - from initial intake and technical evaluation to legal coordination and milestone-based delivery.

• Portfolio Management:
  Oversee the day-to-day operations of a global AI-focused research portfolio, ensuring that all projects maintain a rigorous cadence of technical reviews and progress tracking.
• AI landscape scouting:
  Stay current on the AI ecosystem to help identify high-potential startups and academic labs that align with our strategic goals.
• Engagement Lifecycle:
  Lead the intake process for new proposals, facilitating collaboration between internal research engineering teams and external partners to define clear technical scope and deliverables.
• Operational Rigor:
  Maintain the internal governance framework, including standardized evaluation rubrics, project scoring, and "go/pivot/no-go" decision gates.
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  Act as the primary liaison between RD, Legal, Intellectual Property (IP) teams to streamline contracting and data governance.
• Outcome Tracking:
  Monitor the delivery of high-value artifacts - such as code, AI models, and technical prototypes - to ensure they meet integration-readiness standards.
• Talent Visibility:
  Support programs that enhance the Lenovo brand within the AI research community, including managing fellowships, internships, and our presence at major conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML).

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree required, Masters preferred.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum 8 years of industry experience.
• Program Leadership:
  Significant experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder RD programs or innovation portfolios.
• AI knowledge:
  Exposure to current AI technology stack, including familiarity with LLMs, generative AI, machine learning workflows, and key companies/researchers shaping the industry.
• Operational Excellence:
  Proven ability to manage recurring review cycles, maintain project hygiene, and track milestones across dozens of active work streams.
• Strategic Alignment:
  Ability to evaluate technical proposals against business roadmaps and identify potential for product integration.
• Contracting IP Fluency:
  Experience working with Legal and IP teams to navigate research agreements, Statements of Work (SOWs), and IP boundaries.
• Communication:
  Exceptional skills in translating complex AI research progress into executive-level reporting and portfolio summaries.

• Graduate degree (MS or PhD).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

The base salary range budgeted for this position is $180k to $250k. Individuals may also be considered for bonus and/or commission. Lenovo’s various benefits can be found here:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any federal, state, or local protected class.