Join our Whatsapp Channel - CLICK HERE

Innovation & Strategy Manager

Position Overview

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Innovation & Strategy Manager will lead the development and execution of innovative products, digital solutions, and business processes that drive customer acquisition, business growth, and financial inclusion among individual and SME emerging consumers. The role is responsible for establishing and managing the organization's innovation framework, ensuring that innovation initiatives align with strategic business objectives while delivering measurable commercial value.

The successful candidate will oversee the entire innovation lifecycle—from identifying customer needs and evaluating new opportunities to leading project implementation and measuring outcomes. In addition, the role will spearhead fundraising initiatives by building strategic partnerships with donors, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), innovation funds, and other stakeholders to secure grant funding and co-financing for innovation projects.

Working closely with executive leadership, business development, technology teams, external partners, and cross-functional stakeholders, the Innovation & Strategy Manager will champion a culture of continuous innovation, customer-centric product development, and agile project execution that strengthens the organization's competitive position.

Key Responsibilities

1. Innovation Strategy & Business Growth

Develop and implement the organization's innovation strategy in alignment with overall business objectives.
Build and manage a sustainable innovation framework that promotes continuous improvement and customer-focused innovation.
Identify opportunities to increase customer acquisition and market penetration through innovative products, services, and technology solutions.
Drive innovation initiatives that support business growth across individual and SME customer segments.
Establish clear innovation roadmaps with measurable performance indicators and delivery timelines.
Promote a culture of creativity, experimentation, and continuous learning across the organization.

2. Product Development & Customer Innovation

Design and develop innovative insurance products, digital services, operational processes, and customer experience solutions.
Conduct market research and customer analysis to understand evolving customer needs and emerging market trends.
Build data-driven customer insights to support product design and service enhancements.
Collaborate with Business Development and other departments to identify underserved market opportunities.
Lead the co-creation of customer-centric solutions with internal teams and external partners.
Monitor product performance and recommend enhancements to improve customer satisfaction and business performance.

3. Project Management & Innovation Delivery

Lead innovation projects from concept development through implementation and post-launch evaluation.
Assess the commercial viability, financial impact, and strategic value of proposed innovation initiatives.
Develop detailed project plans, implementation schedules, budgets, and risk management frameworks.
Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to agreed quality standards.
Apply agile project management methodologies to accelerate innovation delivery.
Monitor project progress and provide regular updates to executive leadership.

4. Partnership Development & Fundraising

Develop strategic partnerships with donors, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), innovation funds, technology companies, financial institutions, and ecosystem partners.
Lead fundraising initiatives aimed at securing grants and co-financing for innovation projects.
Identify funding opportunities that support organizational innovation priorities.
Prepare high-quality grant proposals, funding applications, business cases, and partnership presentations.
Build long-term relationships with development partners to support sustainable innovation initiatives.
Manage donor engagement throughout the project lifecycle and ensure compliance with funding requirements.

5. Market Research & Competitive Intelligence

Continuously monitor local, regional, and global market trends affecting financial services and insurance innovation.
Evaluate emerging technologies, digital platforms, and industry best practices.
Identify opportunities to strengthen the organization's competitive advantage through innovation.
Conduct competitor analysis and recommend strategic improvements.
Share market intelligence with senior leadership to support informed decision-making.
Evaluate new business models that enhance customer value and operational efficiency.

6. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

Build strong working relationships with internal departments, project teams, and executive leadership.
Coordinate innovation initiatives across business functions to ensure alignment and successful execution.
Facilitate workshops, brainstorming sessions, and innovation forums to generate new ideas.
Engage external partners in collaborative product development initiatives.
Ensure effective communication between project teams and organizational leadership.
Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and innovation.

7. Business Analysis & Strategic Reporting

Prepare business cases, feasibility studies, and cost-benefit analyses for innovation initiatives.
Present project updates, recommendations, and performance reports to the CEO and senior management.
Monitor innovation project performance against agreed objectives and KPIs.
Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including implementation plans, budgets, and stakeholder reports.
Support strategic planning initiatives through research, analysis, and performance evaluation.

8. Governance & Continuous Improvement

Ensure innovation initiatives comply with organizational policies, governance standards, and regulatory requirements.
Promote continuous improvement across innovation processes and project management practices.
Evaluate completed projects to capture lessons learned and improve future innovation delivery.
Exercise delegated authority in accordance with approved organizational policies.
Perform any other duties assigned by executive management.

Qualifications

Applicants should possess:

Bachelor's Degree in Actuarial Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Commerce, or another related discipline.

Professional Qualifications

The ideal candidate should have:

Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Scrum, or equivalent).
MBA or a relevant postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.

Experience

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

Minimum five (5) years' experience in innovation, strategy, product development, or project management within the financial services industry.
Proven experience leading innovation initiatives from concept to implementation.
Demonstrated success managing cross-functional innovation projects.
Experience securing grants, donor funding, or development financing for innovation initiatives.
Strong commercial experience evaluating project viability and return on investment.
Experience working with strategic partnerships and external stakeholders.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

The ideal candidate should possess strong knowledge of:

Innovation management frameworks.
Product development and customer experience design.
Agile project management methodologies.
Strategic planning and execution.
Financial services and insurance markets.
Business case development and commercial analysis.
Fundraising and grant proposal development.
Data analysis and customer segmentation.
Digital transformation and emerging technologies.
Stakeholder engagement and partnership management.

Core Competencies