Innovation Unit Head
Support the execution of the bank’s innovation strategy
Lead the development, implementation, and delivery of innovation initiatives that enhance digital banking services, improve customer experience, and drive operational efficiency. The role is responsible for managing the innovation pipeline, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, conducting market and customer research, and fostering a culture of innovation across the bank.
Key responsibilities
Leadership & people management
Define the unit’s objectives and KPIs in alignment with the department’s strategy.
Lead, coach, develop, and evaluate innovation unit employees to ensure high performance and continuous professional development.
Monitor attendance, approve leave, allocate resources, and ensure the effective delivery of the unit’s responsibilities.
Promote collaboration, creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team.
Innovation delivery
Manage the end-to-end execution of innovation initiatives from ideation through implementation and post-launch evaluation.
Coordinate the development of innovative digital products, services, and customer journeys across the bank’s electronic channels.
Support the implementation of digital transformation initiatives by identifying opportunities to simplify banking processes and improve customer experience.
Monitor innovation initiatives to ensure delivery within agreed scope, timelines, quality standards, and budget.
Market research & innovation development
Conduct market research, competitor benchmarking, customer analysis, and technology assessments to identify innovation opportunities.
Monitor global trends in digital banking, fintech, artificial intelligence, open banking, automation, and emerging technologies.
Prepare business cases, feasibility studies, and recommendations for new innovation initiatives.
Evaluate customer feedback and business requirements to recommend enhancements to digital products and services.
Cross-functional collaboration
Coordinate with retail banking, digital banking, IT, operations, risk, compliance, marketing, and other business units to successfully deliver innovation initiatives.
Facilitate workshops and working sessions to identify, evaluate, and prioritize innovation opportunities.
Support the implementation of customer-centric solutions that improve service quality and operational efficiency.
Partnership management
Coordinate with fintech companies, technology providers, and external partners during the implementation of innovation initiatives.
Support the evaluation of new technologies and partnership opportunities to enhance the bank’s innovation capabilities.
Monitor vendor performance and ensure successful delivery of agreed innovation outcomes.
Innovation governance & reporting
Maintain the innovation pipeline and monitor the progress of innovation initiatives.
Prepare periodic management reports, dashboards, and presentations highlighting project status, KPIs, risks, achievements, and business impact.
Ensure innovation initiatives comply with internal policies, regulatory requirements, information security standards, and governance frameworks.
Identify project risks and recommend mitigation plans.
Innovation culture
Support employee innovation programs, ideation campaigns, and innovation awareness initiatives across the bank.
Promote knowledge sharing and innovation best practices across business units.
Encourage continuous learning and adoption of emerging technologies.
Business continuity
Serve as a primary or alternate member of the bank’s business continuity plan (BCP) and officially established emergency response teams, carrying out assigned responsibilities to minimize business disruption during crises.
Requirements
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, information technology, computer science, engineering, or a related field.
Professional certifications in innovation management, digital transformation, agile, product management, design thinking, or project management are considered an advantage.
Experience
Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in digital banking, innovation, electronic banking, product management, digital transformation, or related fields.
Experience managing cross-functional projects and delivering digital initiatives within the banking sector.
Skills & competencies
Innovation and design thinking
Digital banking knowledge
Product and service development
Project and portfolio coordination
Business analysis and problem solving
Market research and competitive analysis
Customer experience (CX) awareness
Stakeholder management
Vendor and partnership coordination
Strong communication and presentation skills
Planning and organizational skills
Analytical and decision-making skills
Knowledge of banking products, services, and regulatory requirements
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the bank’s operating systems
Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities