Job Openings at Equity Bank

Role Purpose

The Innovation Manager helps shape the culture and processes required for innovation to succeed in the organization. The Innovation Manager will also manage relationships with external innovation partners such as Universities.

Qualifications

Role and Responsibilities

Main responsibilities

• Manage and supervise staff within the innovation unit by providing day to day leadership including managing the department’s budget and performance.
• Maintain an understanding of external competitive digital developments and their impact on our business and innovation strategy;
• Define and prioritize key innovation and research projects across themes and divisions based on a carefully drawn selection criteria.
• Design, develop and manage the research agenda of The Group on key priorities identified.
• Develop and enhance cutting edge research in The Bank based on macro and micro factors and also lead in periodic review of customer trends, products and services.
• Provide market research, analyses and insights into latest industry trends and new innovations that will inform the business strategies.
• Analyze trends and market disruptions and searching for emerging new market opportunities.
• Lead and drive a culture of innovation, actively seeking ways to enhance the capability and performance efficiency, efficacy and success of the Group..
• Orchestrate internal and external idea management processes to generate new ideas to feed into the innovations process.
• Present viable ideas to senior management and seek approval for execution. Provide regular updates on progress to Management.
• Play a key role in building and managing strategic alliances and business partners.
• Develop IP strategies, including IP management, protection and the implementation of  technology licensing protocols.
• Cultivate a results-driven CoE by executing meaningful improvements organization-wide.
• Provide direction and oversight in ideation practices, including adoption and resulting impact
• Oversee and manage innovation investments.
• Conduct a regular cadence of communication meetings to detail opportunities, barriers and contingency plans when projects are not within schedule.
• Aggregate business use cases information in order assist leadership to prioritize and manage resources of enterprise.
• Monitor performance of implemented innovative ideas and prepare performance reports.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with both internal and external regulatory requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality of the Innovation Ideas in line with the Group’s Non-disclosure agreements and best practices as required

OTHER

• To safeguard and promote the group’s  image with the public within the scope of duty.
• Any other duty that may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Preferred Skills

• Insatiable curiosity and hunger to learn
• Deep insight into business and technology in different industries and disciplines
• Leadership: getting people to buy in on a vision
• Analytical skills: ability to look at the world and situations objectively
• Entrepreneurial spirit: Drive to get things done and not overanalyze
• Mental toughness and ability to overcome critique and failure
• Creativity and empathy

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree in an accredited university
• Master’s degree preferred
• Professional qualifications in innovation or strategy related courses.

Preferred experience

10 years’ experience in product management, banking, strategy and / or innovation.

go to method of application »

Description

Job Purpose:

Use research and analysis to find changes or opportunities in the market.  This person will then suggest business improvements by using analytics and will provide data and analysis to the team when necessary. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain an understanding of external competitive digital developments and their impact on our business and innovation strategy;
• Analyse trends and market disruptions; and search for emerging market opportunities.
• Proactively seek out new opportunities for The Bank to offer new products / services.
• 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 customers’ experience.
• Use data about our customers to determine trends and gaps in our offering and make recommendations on improvements.
• Assist the team with analysis on the impact of new innovations.
• Recommend methods that we can use to collect more information about our customers with a view to using that data to improve the services and products we offer to them.  The goal is to use data and information about our customers to predict their behaviour and offer products and services just when they need them.
• Prepare and present proposals and business cases for new idea implementation to senior management/ Committee for feedback and recommendation Monitor progress of Idea Implementation, stakeholder management; prepare reports and communication for the same to ensure a successful roll out.
• Stakeholder management to ensure the Group strategic objectives relate to the digital agenda are met.
• Collect, analyse and report on customer feedback on The Group’s products and services.
• Coordinating with internal process stakeholders to convert action plans to active processes.
• Monitor performance of implemented innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships and prepare reports on their performance.
• Make recommendations for enhancement or discontinuation of initiatives and partnerships based on Management Information and recommendation from management.
• Support in preparation of Internal Communication to the Bank in regards to innovation initiatives and processes. Move each new approved idea through the project phase in conjunction with all stakeholders in the innovation process to logical conclusion.
• Manage and maintain the department’s calendar of events, documentation & communication in an organised manner that is within the Bank’s standards.
  COMPLIANCE
  • Ensure compliance with both internal and external regulatory requirements in the normal course of duty
  • Maintain confidentiality of the Digital Innovation Ideas in line with the Bank’s Non-disclosure agreements and best practices as required

• OTHER

  • To safeguard and promote the bank’s image with the general public within the scope of duty.
  • Any other duty that may be assigned by the Supervisor

Qualifications

 Academic and Professional Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in an accredited University
• Product development experience
• Professional qualifications in SQL query, research skills
• Masters in a Business related degree is an added advantage.
• At least 2 years’ experience in Banking