Lead Researcher at HF Group

Overall Job Purpose

The Lead Researcher will be responsible for using research and analysis to find changes or opportunities in the market. The role holder will then suggest business improvements by using analytics and will provide data and analysis to the team when necessary.

Principle Accountabilities

• Work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data engineers and other teams to generate hypotheses and plans for high-impact research that helps us better understand our existing and potential customers and how to create a better product that solves their problems and meets their needs.
• Lead the research for teams (internal or external), suggesting the best approach and methods to use so we’re capturing the right insights that help us grow and develop our products within the overall group strategy.
• Plan and run qualitative studies, including field observations and interviews, diary studies remote and in-person concept testing and usability studies for existing and future products.
• Identify actionable insights through quantitative methods such as large-scale surveys, and use basic statistical concepts to ensure findings are robust.
• Evaluate and explore information architecture, using tree-tests, card-sorts and whatever other methods are appropriate
• Collaborate closely with the analytics team to make sure our qualitative insights are also enhanced by robust quantitative analysis whenever possible, and run some basic quantitive analysis yourself
• Communicate research findings to inform business decisions through the best possible means ranging from presentations, workshops, reports or whatever mechanism gets the insights into our decision-making.
• Maintain an understanding of external competitive digital developments and their impact on our business and innovation strategy;
• Watch the activity of our competition in Kenya as well as trends in the global financial industry then make recommendations on how the Bank can improve customer experience.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited University
• Masters Degree is an added advantage
• Experience in conducting market research geared towards product development in the financial services sector.
• At least 4 years’ experience in Banking.
• In-depth knowledge and experience in market data collection and manipulation.
• Experience in using agile methodologies
• Experience in Business or policy related publications
• At least 3 years’ experience in active research

Key Competencies and Skills

• Planning, documentation, budgeting, resource planning for all research projects.
• Determine and select options to achieve goals and/or resolve ad hoc emergent issues.
• Managed delivery teams assigned to innovation products within the specified timelines
• Monitor development and implementation of innovation projects within the defined timelines.
• Quickly and appropriately respond to, or drive, change, while maintaining flexibility and focus.
• Influence others through personal advocacy, vision, and build a solid platform for change. 
• Persists to complete tasks / responsibilities, even in the face of difficulties, is optimistic and tenacious all through.
• Data analytics skills especially experience in R, Python or SQL
• Project Management skills
• Machine learning techniques
• Formative & summative usability research methods
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group; developers, product owners, and subject matter experts.
• Resolves conflicts by demonstrating leadership and appropriate decision-making competencies
• Results oriented, excellent interpersonal skills, analytical thinker, problem solving skills, good communicator, innovative, self-driven and a team player who can work with minimum supervision.
• Exceptional skills in problem solving, ideation and communication
• Thought innovation and critical thinking.

Application Deadline: 23 March 2023