Head of Innovation at Minet Kenya

Purpose for the Job

The Head of Innovation will lead the design, development, and execution of transformative insurance solutions to drive growth and competitive advantage. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong understanding of the insurance landscape, an ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, and a passion for delivering customer-centric innovations. The role is also responsible for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and creative thinking across the organization.

Duties and Responsiblities

Innovation Strategy and Execution

• Lead the end-to-end innovation process from ideation to commercialization of new insurance products, services, and distribution models.
• Design, test, and execute pilot initiatives, using customer and market data to refine offerings for optimal market fit.
• Build and manage a robust internal innovation pipeline aligned with the company’s strategic goals and market trends.

Product Development and Go-to-Market

• Develop compelling business cases for new product ideas, including market opportunity analysis, financial modelling, and risk assessment.
• Oversee timely go-to-market planning and execution, ensuring cross-functional alignment and efficient resource allocation.
• Monitor post-launch performance to inform iterative improvement and scaling decisions.

 Cross-Functional Leadership

• Coordinate with teams from all broking and consulting business units to ensure seamless product development and launch processes.
• Collaborate with BD and Marketing to drive market penetration, customer adoption, and product positioning.
• Ensure cross-functional teams work in an agile and collaborative environment to rapidly iterate and innovate.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a strategic liaison between the CEO and key stakeholders, both internal and external, to ensure alignment on innovation priorities and initiatives.
• Represent the organization in external innovation forums, strategic partnerships, and industry think tanks.

 Market Intelligence and Foresight

• Provide strategic insight into emerging technologies, regulatory changes, and market shifts that could impact the insurance industry.
• Conduct continuous competitor analysis, client insight gathering, and industry benchmarking to identify whitespace opportunities.

Culture and Capability Building

• Champion a culture of innovation across all levels of the organization through the creation of innovation hubs, workshops and other creative engagements.
• Mentor internal teams on innovation best practices and foster cross-departmental collaboration.

Key Competencies

• Ability to align innovation initiatives with our long-term goals and develop a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of the Kenyan insurance landscape, including regulatory requirements and emerging trends.
• Proficiency in leveraging digital tools, data analytics and automation to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
• Skill in identifying customer pain points and co-creating innovative products or services that meet evolving client needs.
• Competence in leading cross-functional teams and delivering innovation projects on time and within scope.
• Ability to drive organizational change and get buy-in from key inteal and exteal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills to identify market gaps, track competitors, and benchmark best practices globally and locally.
• 7 - 10 years of relevant experience with at least 3 - 5 years in innovation leadership roles, product development or digital transformation in insurance/Insurtech or financial services.

Knowledge And Skills Required

Professional and Academic Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a business-related field such as Commerce, Finance, or Economics is required.
• Professional certifications in Project Management or Innovation are desirable.
• A master’s degree such as an MBA in Strategic Management, Innovation, or Technology, or an MSc in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, or Digital Transformation will be an added advantage.
• A Diploma in Insurance (IIK) or Chartered Insurance Professional qualification (ACII) will be an added advantage.