Job Purpose
This role is responsible for driving and management of the innovation process within Stanbic. This involves defining new technology and proposing innovation opportunities, verifying new business needs and translating these to demand, managing ongoing infrastructure improvement and innovation processes to ensure evolution of service that meets business needs and requirements
To develop new business innovation, adopting and applying both leading innovation methodology and emerging technologies to create new/alternative/disruptive business solutions that are commercial, viable and profitable and enable Stanbic Bank market competitiveness
To lead and direct the development of the innovation strategy, within the bank, with the aim of simplifying delivery of the organisation to clients, including leading edge strategic solutions, coordination and execution. To drive and co-ordinate proposition development based on client needs and product expertise across the bank.
Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities
Develop strategy and manage business performance for solutions and innovation
• Contribute to the development of DTI strategies and drive execution and oversight, as a member of DTI Manco.
• Devise an implement solutions and innovations strategy for DTI and for the various customer segments.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership and be responsible for formulating the strategic direction of solutions and innovations within a specific sector and ensure the execution thereof in line with the business strategy.
• Set the strategic direction for solutions and innovation within a specific sector whilst aligning the objectives with overall Stanbic goals.
• Evaluate the external environment continuously and assess the impact on the Business Unit’s activities. Where required, discuss any changes which may result in an overall strategic impact with the Executive and thereafter make the agreed amendments to plans.
• Allocate resources across the business unit to ensure that strategic and tactical plans are enabled at all times.
• Communicate the strategy to the solutions and innovations team and ensure a deep understanding across the whole business.
• Investigate existing marketing and business practices and recommend opportunities to enhance revenues
Ensure efficient and effective client value propositions and product innovation
• Deliver compelling and differentiated value propositions for clients that create sustainable competitive advantage.
• Define customer to ensure that propositions are properly targeted and results are measured.
• Utilise and interpret client data to maximise the opportunity for new sales and cross sales.
• Articulate the opportunities and define key product features to enable Product Heads to build or source the appropriate products.
• Ensure new products and innovation are prioritised and co-ordinated.
Ensure an efficient and effective leadership and staffing process
• Manage the bank’s contribution to external accelerator programs
• Advise senior management on technical strategy
• Manage proactive collaboration within the bank and external parties focused on the incubation of ideas through to proof of concepts, leading to the execution of innovative customer propositions
Ensure efficient and effective stakeholder engagement
• Develop relationships with key external stakeholders proactively, these include local regulators relevant to the business, product heads, key suppliers and external regulatory bodies to ensure the Bank receives appropriate co-operation when required and that the Group meets and is seen to meet regulatory compliance.
• Build and develop relationships across the firm with various stakeholders with the intention of breaking down silos to maximise business growth.
Manage the risks in the business
• Review and approve assurance and audit scope documentation as well as findings.
• Review open audit or assurance items and follow up with teams on open or overdue items.
• Oversee the development of risk metrics and risk appetite threshold setting.
• Drive a culture of proactive compliance.
• Interact with specialist risk areas (operational risk, financial crime risk management, information security risk etc.) to ensure that business risk management requirements are addressed in all these frameworks.
Keep abreast of industry specific knowledge and key developments
• Represent the bank in industry working groups and/or committees.
• Keep abreast of local and international developments with regards the relevant developments and ensure that this knowledge is filtered through to the rest of the team
• Attend various committee meetings and occasionally conduct presentations at industry specific forums
Innovation culture promotion
• Promote and constantly adjust a culture of innovation that is responsible and responsive to its own actions.
• Support the establishment of and participate in digital communities of practice. Participate in multi-stakeholder solutions that boost creativity, innovation and collaboration across product lines, such as open innovation and idea generation platforms, encouraging and facilitating proposals from bank staff for digital propositions
Innovation championing
• Act as an ambassador for digital innovation, advocating, evangelising and generating interest in the innovative digital ventures, products / services.
• Support the New Business Lead with implementing plans to persuade, influence and disseminate innovation knowledge, best practice and competencies across the bank to deepen understanding on how to grow and promote innovation in their areas to remain conscious, deliberate and iterative
Technology & Architecture
• Develop and promote best practices for Continuous Integration.
• Provide technical insights and feedback on implementation of initiatives /migration.
• Participate in architecture design teams.
• Develop applications on complex projects, components, and subsystems for the department.
• Recommend development testing tools and methodologies and review and validate test plans.
• Develop comprehensive documentation for multiple applications or subsystems.Participate in establishing full project life cycle plans for complex projects across multiple platforms within the bank
• Advise on solution development
• Perform independent and complex technical and functional analysis for multiple projects supporting several divisional initiatives
Financial Management
• Design and manage programs to facilitate revenue growth from new businesses and efficiency improvements across the Bank
People
• Manage the bank’s contribution to external accelerator programs
• Advise senior management on technical strategy
• Manage proactive collaboration within the bank and external parties focused on the incubation of ideas through to proof of concepts, leading to the execution of innovative customer propositions
Physical Infrastructure
• Provide infrastructure pre-design support
Risk, Regulatory, Prudential & Compliance
• Advise on risk assessment and risk management strategies for projects.
Strategy
• Develop innovation strategy and framework
• Lead the collaboration, acceleration and execution of innovation activities, aligned with the priorities of the bank
• Develop infrastructure capacity components and provide input on end to end solution design
Preferred Qualification and Experience
First Degree in Information Technology and Business Commerce.
At least (8) years’ relevant experience with more than three (3) served in a senior level in the financial services industry.
Have proven success in executing complex programs and working with all levels of stakeholders from senior executives to individual contributors and possesses start-up, incubator, entrepreneurial, innovation experience and digital mind-set.
Other Minimum Qualifications, certifications or professional memberships
Knowledge/Technical Skills/Expertise
Behavioural Competencies
Developing Strategies
Generating Ideas
Providing Insights
Interpreting Data
Convincing People
Establishing Rapport
Making Decisions
Resolving Conflict
Embracing Change
Producing Outputs
Upholding Standards
Technical Competencies
Strategic Planning & Reporting
Policy Development
Scenario Development
Project Administration Skills
Product development
