Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Innovation Strategy & Execution (30%)

• Support the development and execution of the Bank’s innovation strategy aligned with business and digital transformation objectives.
• Identify emerging market trends, technologies, and customers’ needs to inform innovation opportunities.
• Develop and manage the innovation portfolio and pipeline.
• Drive innovation initiatives that support customer acquisition, engagement, revenue growth, and operational excellence.
• Promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across the Bank.
• Innovation Ideation & Incubation (20%)
• Lead innovation ideation sessions, design-thinking workshops, hackathons, and innovation challenges.
• Evaluate, prioritize, and develop innovative concepts into viable business opportunities.
• Build and manage processes for idea generation, assessment, incubation, and commercialization.
• Facilitate rapid prototyping and proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Drive experimentation and agile innovation methodologies.

Product & Solution Development (10%)

• Collaborate with product teams to convert innovative ideas into customer-centric digital solutions.
• Support the design and development of new digital products, channels, and service propositions.
• Ensure innovation initiatives address customer pain points and market opportunities.
• Participate in business case preparation and innovation investment assessments.
• Drive continuous enhancement of existing products and services.

Ecosystem & Partnership Development (10%)

• Establish and manage relationships with fintechs, startups, accelerators, innovation hubs, universities, and technology providers.
• Identify strategic partnership opportunities that enhance KCB’s digital capabilities.
• Evaluate fintech and technology solutions for potential collaboration or integration.
• Support ecosystem development initiatives and innovation partnerships.
• Represent the Bank in industry innovation forums and engagement platforms.

Customer Experience & Market Research (10%)

• Conduct customer research, market analysis, and trend assessments to identify innovation opportunities.
• Monitor local and global developments in banking, fintech, digital payments, AI, and emerging technologies.
• Utilize customer insights to improve products, services, and customer journeys.
• Promote human-centered design and customer-centric innovation practices.

Project Management & Governance (10%)

• Manage innovation projects from concept to implementation.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of innovation initiatives.
• Monitor project performance, milestones, budgets, and outcomes.
• Maintain governance controls for innovation projects, pilots, and proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Ensure successful transition of validated innovations into mainstream business operations.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting (10%)

• Track innovation initiatives against defined business objectives and KPIs.
• Measure innovation outcomes, adoption rates, customer impact, and commercial benefits.
• Prepare innovation dashboards, reports, and management updates.
• Monitor return on investment and business value realization from innovation projects.
• Develop recommendations to strengthen innovation effectiveness and scalability.

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Academic & Professional

Particulars Detail Specific Field or Qualification Need Type[1]

Education Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university RQ

Professional Qualifications Product Management, Project Management, AGILE Practices AA

Master’s degree Business related AA

Experience

Total Minimum Cumulative No of Years’ Experience Required 5

[1] Need Types are: RQ = Required, AA = Added Advantage

• Support the development and execution of the Bank’s innovation strategy aligned with business and digital transformation objectives.
• Identify emerging market trends, technologies, and customers’ needs to inform innovation opportunities.
• Develop and manage the innovation portfolio and pipeline.
• Drive innovation initiatives that support customer acquisition, engagement, revenue growth, and operational excellence.
• Promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across the Bank.
• Lead innovation ideation sessions, design-thinking workshops, hackathons, and innovation challenges.
• Evaluate, prioritize, and develop innovative concepts into viable business opportunities.
• Build and manage processes for idea generation, assessment, incubation, and commercialization.
• Facilitate rapid prototyping and proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Drive experimentation and agile innovation methodologies.
• Collaborate with product teams to convert innovative ideas into customer-centric digital solutions.
• Support the design and development of new digital products, channels, and service propositions.
• Ensure innovation initiatives address customer pain points and market opportunities.
• Participate in business case preparation and innovation investment assessments.
• Drive continuous enhancement of existing products and services.
• Establish and manage relationships with fintechs, startups, accelerators, innovation hubs, universities, and technology providers.
• Identify strategic partnership opportunities that enhance KCB’s digital capabilities.
• Evaluate fintech and technology solutions for potential collaboration or integration.
• Support ecosystem development initiatives and innovation partnerships.
• Represent the Bank in industry innovation forums and engagement platforms.
• Conduct customer research, market analysis, and trend assessments to identify innovation opportunities.
• Monitor local and global developments in banking, fintech, digital payments, AI, and emerging technologies.
• Utilize customer insights to improve products, services, and customer journeys.
• Promote human-centered design and customer-centric innovation practices.
• Manage innovation projects from concept to implementation.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of innovation initiatives.
• Monitor project performance, milestones, budgets, and outcomes.
• Maintain governance controls for innovation projects, pilots, and proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Ensure successful transition of validated innovations into mainstream business operations.
• Track innovation initiatives against defined business objectives and KPIs.
• Measure innovation outcomes, adoption rates, customer impact, and commercial benefits.
• Prepare innovation dashboards, reports, and management updates.
• Monitor return on investment and business value realization from innovation projects.
• Develop recommendations to strengthen innovation effectiveness and scalability.

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
• Product Management, Project Management, AGILE Practices (Added Advantage)
• Master’s degree in a business-related field (Added Advantage)