Incubation Lead at MasterCard

Job description

Reporting to the head of Mastercard Labs for Financial Inclusion, this role of Director – Incubation Lead, MEA will be responsible for executing on projects and engagements within Mastercard Labs related to Mastercard QR (MPQR) across the region and provide support to other strategic labs projects across SA and SSA.

Director, Incubation Lead – Labs, MEA

• The role will act as a Labs product lead for new initiatives in the space of MPQR enablement and might expand to supporting similar strategic initiatives across Labs in SSA/SA
• Be the coordinating point for Labs strategic projects on MPQR
• The day to day go to person for labs related activities in the space of MPQR enablement projects with a focus on SSA/SA pilot initiatives
• Identify pilot partners and support conceptualization
• Support building business case, business model canvas, concept and initial napkin frames
• Plan brainstorming and ideation sessions with pilot partners
• Support development of Labs prototype – working closely with R&D team in prototype definition and design etc.
• Lead preparation and provide oversight of pilot projects end to end coordinating with relevant stakeholders across labs, digital, market, MD, sales etc.
• Support digital product lead in taking product through PME process, acting the Labs product lead through concept, prototype and pilot phases
• Provide broader support across innovation management activities in MEA including facilitation of innovation management events including ideabox, take initiative, innovation express and driving client engagement through management and update of Innovation showcases in the region
• Role is located in Nairobi with expectation to spend 25% time in Dubai to ensure integration with regional teams

All About You

The successful candidates will possess the following skills and competencies:

• Understand Innovation Methodologies – basic appreciation for innovation methodologies such as design thinking and agile development
• Excellent communicator - able to host and engage with senior clients and represent Mastercard Innovation capabilities
• Technology Enthusiast - Ability to grasp and stay abreast with latest technology and application in the space of payments
• Collaborator: Proven ability to work across different teams and functions; spends focused energy processing information, gaining deeper insights into problems, themselves and others as a result
• Innovative: track record to ideating and brining new solutions to life in corporate or startup environment
• Curious: Open to learning and exploring new technologies, information and practices; interested in understanding how things work
• Flexible: Remains engaged during stressful situations brought on by ambiguity and conflict
• Commercially savvy: Has a strong sense of commercial value both for clients and for Mastercard and can create value propositions that translate between these

And Will

• Demonstrated experience in innovation
• Entrepreneurial, experience in a start-up and corporate environment
• Demonstrated experience in new payment technologies
• Demonstrated ability to link technology and multiple aspects of payments business, i.e., understand technology and apply it to business challenges
• Experience with Innovation methodologies such as design thinking
• Experience with UI/UX design, prototype and concept development
• High energy, can-do attitude, strong desire to succeed
• Analytical and strategic skills
• Ability to creatively and effectively link technology and business
• Ability to act effectively as an ambassador for Mastercard Labs with external stakeholders
• Bachelor’s degree, MBA (preferred)

Mastercard is an inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process, please contact reasonable.accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.